13 Fixes for Start Menu Button not Working on Windows 10

The Start Menu button has been a critical part of Windows since the creation of the Windows 95 OS. It is because of this reason that when the Start Menu button is not working, it feels very frustrating. Sometimes, the Start menu button may not even be showing on Windows.

Luckily, there are several ways to get the Start button working again. We will discuss those ways in this article and let you know the causes and factors you must consider.

How can I fix a broken Start button in Windows 10?

1. Show hidden taskbar

Press the Windows + I together to start the Settings window.
Then select Personalization.
After then, click on the Taskbar option.
Under the Taskbar options, turn on Lock the taskbar.
After that, turn off the Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode or Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode.

2. Scan for malware

In the search box, search for Windows Security.
Click on the relevant search result to open the application. Now click Virus & threat protection.
Afterward, click on the Scan options to view all available scans.
Choose the Full scan option and click the Scan now button to do a deep scan on your PC for viruses or malware.

3. Scan system with SFC

Begin by pressing the Windows key, enter cmd in the text entry, and select Run as administrator.
Now enter the following code and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
You must wait until the process is complete, as it may take a while.
The solution will automatically be applied when found.
Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.

4. Uninstall problematic apps

First, click on the Search icon on the Taskbar and enter control panel in the text box. Click the app to open it.
Then click on Programs.
Afterward, select Programs and Features in the next window.
Then right-click on the problematic app and click on Uninstall to remove the app.
Restart your computer.

5. Run Windows Diagonostic tools

Firstly, click the Search icon on the Taskbar and enter memory diagnostic in the entry box.
Now click on the Windows Memory Diagnostic app to launch the tool.
Now in the Windows Memory Diagnostic window, click Restart now and check for problems (recommended) to run diagnostics immediately.
Allow the tool to check for memory problems. Afterward, Windows will display the test result for you.

6. Update drivers

Begin by opening Settings by pressing Windows, and I keys together and click on Update & Recovery.
Then check for updates under Windows Updates.
If one is available, click on Check for updates and follow the instructions to update it.
Finally, restart the PC to complete the process.

7. Repair Windows files

7.1. Run DSIM the normal way

First, press the Windows key, enter cmd in the text box, and select Run as administrator.
Now enter the following command in the Command Prompt and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Now, wait until the scan is done.
Finally, restart your PC.

7.2. Run DSIM with installation media

Insert your Windows 10 installation media.
Secondly, press the Windows key, enter cmd in the text box, and select Run as administrator.
Then enter the following commands in the Command Prompt and press Enter after entering each:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Afterward, enter the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Of course, ensure you substitute the X value with the letter of the drive installed on your Windows 10 computer.
When the process is complete, restart your computer.

8. Perform a system restore

Firstly, press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog on your PC and type rstrui. Press Enter after to open it.
Click on Choose a different restore point when the System Restore wizard opens.
Then click on the Next button to continue.
On the next window, choose your restore point and click Next.
Allow the process to run and complete.
Finally, click Finish when the restore is complete.

9. Update device operating system

Press Windows + I to open Settings and select Update & Security.
Afterward, click on Check for updates to see relevant updates.
Now, download and install available updates, and the drivers will automatically update.

10. Reset the PC

Use the Window + I hotkeys together to open the Settings menu, click on Update & Privacy and then select Recovery.
Under Reset this PC, click on Get started.
In the following window, choose the Keep my files option to prevent losing important data. However, note that this option will remove apps and undo settings.
Select the way you would want to reinstall Windows. We recommend you use the Local reinstall, but if you have some system files, go for the Cloud download option. However, this may contain corrupted files.
After that, click Next.
Then, select additional settings and click on Confirm to approve the settings.
On the next screen, click on Reset.
Wait patiently until the reset process is prepared.
Your computer will restart, and you should wait for a while until the process is finished.

11. Reboot the system in Safe Mode

Click the Power icon on the login screen, hold Shift, and select Restart accordingly.
Choose Troubleshoot from the next menu options.
Once done, select Advanced options.
Afterward, click Advanced options to access other options. Now click Startup Settings.
After that is done, click Restart.
Press 5 on your keyboard to start Safe Mode with Networking.

12. Create a new local administrator account

12.1. Sign in with Local Account

Press the Windows + I keys together to open the Settings menu.
Once Settings opens, select the Accounts option.
Under Accounts, select the Your info option. Some Windows 10 versions may be available under the Email & accounts option instead.
After that, choose Sign in with a local account instead. This link is available if you use a Microsoft account and may not see it if your device is on a network.
Then enter your Microsoft account password and click Next.
Enter a new account name, password, and password hint, then click Finish and sign out.

12.2. Create the new Administrator account

Press the Windows + I keys together to open the Settings menu.
Once Settings opens, select the Accounts option.
Then select Family & other users.
Under the Other users section, select Add someone else to this PC.
If your OS is Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Professional, provide a username and a password, then choose Next.
If your OS is Windows 10 Enterprise, choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, then select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Set a username, password, and password hint.
Then click Next and click Finish.

12.3. Use Family & other users

Press the Windows + I keys together to open the Settings menu.
Once Settings opens, select the Accounts option.
Then select Family & other users.
Under Your family or Other users (if your OS is Windows 10 Enterprise), select the account you created, then select Change account type.
Under Account type, choose the Administrator option and then click OK.

12.4. Delete the old Administrator account

Press the Windows + I keys together to open the Settings menu.
Once Settings opens, select the Accounts option.
Then select Family & other users.
Under Other users, choose the old administrator account, then select Remove and click Delete account and data.
After removing the old account, restart your device and sign in with the new account again.

Note that you should only use this if solutions 12.1. to 12.3. fail to resolve your issue.

13. Restart Windows Explorer

Press the ctrl + shift + esc keys to open the Task Manager.
Then, find the Windows Explorer process.
When you find it, right-click on the process and click Restart or click on the process and click Restart at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Wait for the Windows Explorer to restart, then check if the error is fixed.

Why doesn’t the Start button work on Windows 10?

Several reasons may be responsible for the Start menu button not working on your Windows 10 computer. One or several of the following reasons below may be responsible:

Incomplete OS update: When you do an update for your operating system and the update failed to execute fully, it may lead to the Start button and even the search not working.
Update bug: Your system may encounter a bug during an update. This can also lead to problems.
Corrupted system files: When the system files have been infected by malware or virus from malicious software, this can lead to the issue.
Corrupted user-account files: The issue may arise when malware corrupts the user-account files.
Outdated Drivers: Drivers can also prevent the Start button from working correctly. The drivers need to be up to date at all times.
System Software Conflicts: System software conflicts can also cause the Start button not to work. If there is a conflict between two pieces of software, it can cause the Start button to become unresponsive.

The solutions above will fix your Start menu button not working. But note, if you plan to do a full reset of your computer to solve the problem, do a backup of your computer so that you can restore your system to how it was before and not lose any important files.