Windows 10 Start Button Not Working? Top 7 Easy Fixes

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Can’t click your Start button anymore? You’re not the only one. The Windows 10 Start button not working is one of the most frustrating issues Windows users face—suddenly, you can’t open apps, search, or even shut down your PC the usual way. Whether it happens after an update, a crash, or for seemingly no reason at all, it’s disruptive and annoying.

But don’t worry—this guide walks you through 7 easy fixes that have helped thousands of users (including me) restore full functionality to the Start menu. I’ll also share a bonus tip on how to recover files in case your system crashed or froze during this issue. Let’s dive in.

Why Is the Windows 10 Start Button Not Working?

why-windows-10-start-button-not-working

There’s no single cause, but here are the most common ones:

  • Corrupted system files
  • Bugs introduced by a Windows update
  • Glitches in the Windows Explorer process
  • Corrupted user profiles
  • Third-party software conflicts

I first experienced it after a major update. The taskbar was still responsive, but the Start button did nothing—no animation, no menu, just a dead click.

Top 7 Easy Fixes to Try

🔁 Fix 1: Restart Windows Explorer

Sometimes a quick restart of the Windows shell fixes the issue.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Find Windows Explorer under “Processes.”
  3. Right-click and choose Restart.

This refreshes your desktop and taskbar without needing a full reboot. If you’re lucky, this is all it takes.

🛠️Fix 2: Run System File Checker (SFC)

Corrupted system files are a common cause.

run-sfc-system-file-checker
  1. Right-click the taskbar and open Task Manager > File > Run new task.
  2. Type cmd, check “Create this task with admin privileges,” and hit Enter.
  3. In Command Prompt, type: sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Windows will scan and fix broken system files automatically.

💻Fix 3: Re-register Start Menu with PowerShell

This command resets the Start menu components.

open-powershell-as-admin
  1. Open PowerShell as admin from Task Manager (same method as above).
  2. Paste this command: powershell Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
  3. Let it run and reboot your PC.

👤Fix 4: Create a New User Account

If your user profile is corrupted, creating a new one can fix it.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Task Manager > File > Run new task.
  2. Type netplwiz > OK.
  3. Click Add, create a new local account, and log in.

If the Start menu works on the new account, you’ll know it’s a profile issue.

🧹Fix 5: Remove Conflicting Apps

remove-conflicting-apps

Sometimes third-party apps like Dropbox, anti-virus tools, or even shell extensions interfere with system UI.

Try uninstalling recently installed programs from Control Panel > Programs or via Safe Mode.

⏪Fix 6: Use System Restore

If the Start button stopped working after an update or software change, roll your system back.

  1. Go to Advanced Startup (Shift + Restart from login screen)
  2. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore
  3. Select a restore point from before the issue started.

⚙️ Fix 7: Boot into Safe Mode

This helps identify if the problem is caused by third-party software.

  • Hold Shift while clicking Restart
  • Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings
  • Select Safe Mode with Networking

If the Start button works in Safe Mode, a background app is likely the cause.

Bonus: Recover Files Lost After a Crash or Force Restart

Sometimes fixing the Start button involves hard reboots, and that can lead to missing files. That happened to me.

After one of the fixes, I noticed a couple of video files were gone. Thankfully, I used a free recovery tool called WinfrGUI.

winfrgui-free

🔹 My Experience with WinfrGUI:

WinfrGUI is the graphical version of Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery tool. Here’s what I did:

  1. Downloaded it from the official site
  2. Selected the affected drive
  3. Ran a Deep Scan
  4. Found my deleted videos and restored them within minutes

It’s beginner-friendly and works wonders—definitely worth keeping on hand.

Download WinfrGUI Free

🧑‍💬 Real User Experience from Quora:

quora-experience

“My laptop froze completely after the Start menu stopped responding. After a hard reset, some files were missing. I used a file recovery tool WinfrGUI and got most of them back.” – Quora user, paraphrased from Quora thread

What If Nothing Works?

If you’ve tried everything and the Start button still won’t work:

  • Backup your files
  • Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to reinstall Windows 10
  • Or contact professional support

It’s not ideal, but a fresh install can guarantee a clean slate.

How to Prevent It in the Future

  • Pause Windows updates temporarily after major releases
  • Avoid installing unverified apps
  • Use System Restore and File History regularly
  • Don’t overload startup programs

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been battling with the Windows 10 Start button not working, I hope one of these fixes helped you out. In my experience, restarting Windows Explorer or running PowerShell commands usually does the trick. And if you ended up losing files in the process, tools like WinfrGUI can be real lifesavers.

Still stuck or found another solution? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear what worked for you.

Also Read👉 How to Force Quit on Windows When a Program Won’t Close