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Windows Start Not Working - FIXED

Dan G 0 Reputation points
2025-11-20T17:45:07.6133333+00:00

Neither my Windows key nor clicking the start button will show the start menu.

To try and fix this issue I have:
Restarted explorer

Ran DISM and SFC

Ran these commands in powershell:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

I'm just pretty frustrated as nothing seems to be working.

EDIT: IT IS JUST WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN.

I guess if you have this issue and have done all of this just wait a few hours.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Start Menu

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  1. Clary-N 5,780 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-11-21T00:27:03.4433333+00:00

    Hi Dan G,

    Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand you’ve faced an issue where the Windows Start menu wouldn’t open (both the Windows key and the Start button were unresponsive), and I’m glad to see that it has now been resolved.

    From your description, it’s likely Windows completed background repairs or finished pending updates, which can restore Start menu responsiveness. The steps you tried—restarting Windows Explorer, running DISM/SFC and re‑registering app packages—were exactly the right actions and often help stabilize shell components while those repairs complete.

    I would like to suggest a few tips to help prevent a repeat in the future:

    • Keep Windows up to date and reboot after updates: Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. When cumulative updates install, a restart ensures the shell (Start menu) initializes cleanly.
    • Safe Mode test: Boot into Safe Mode to see if the issue disappears. If it works there, it usually points to a third‑party driver or service.
    • Profile health check: If the behavior persists, create a new user profile and test. If the new profile is stable, migrate your files and settings.

    If you run into this again, please let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot further.

    Best regards.

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