How to Fix Windows Start Menu Not Working

You can use the Windows key on your keyboard to access the start menu or other system setup. The Microsoft logo appears on the Winkey, another name for this Windows key. When you press this Winkey on your keyboard, the start menu will give you easy access to the search bar and system program shortcuts. However, if windows start menu not working with this key on your computer, it could be incredibly frustrating. It’s possible that the Windows key won’t work for some Windows 10 users.

Using keyboard shortcuts like Winkey + R or Winkey + I to open Run or Settings will not work if your Windows 10 start button or Winkey is broken. Please follow this technique to fix your Windows 10 start button if it isn’t working, as it is critical for performing shortcuts.

How to Fix Windows Start Menu Not Working

Why is the windows start menu not working?

If windows start menu not working, there could be a variety of causes. Some of the most prevalent explanations include the following:

• Your keyboard may be malfunctioning, or you may be using a faulty keyboard. The problem is most likely Windows-related if the problem persists even after switching keyboards.
• By pressing the Windows key unintentionally, you may disable the Windows key’s primary functions.
• The start button can also be disabled by a third-party application, malware, virus, or game mode.
• The Windows 10 start button can sometimes freeze if you use outdated or incompatible drivers.
• The Windows key functionality may need to be activated manually to use the Windows OS registry editor.
• The filter key function in Windows 10 causes issues with the start button.

As a result, these are some reasons why the windows start menu is not working.

Fixing a broken Windows button on your computer or laptop is easy if you follow our guide.

Method 1: Sign out and re-login to your account

You can fix Windows key-related issues with an easy re-login. How to log out and re-enter your account:

1. Click on the Windows logo or the Start button.
2. By clicking on the profile symbol, you can log out of your account.
3. Log into your account by entering your password.
4. Make sure your Windows key is working correctly.

Method 2: Disable the Game Mode in Windows 10

If you’re running Windows 10 in gaming mode, you’re to blame for the issue with your start button. If the Windows button isn’t working, try disabling the game mode.

1. Go to the Windows taskbar, click the Windows icon, and type settings to find the settings menu. Use the search results to open Settings.
2. To go to the gaming section, use the menu.
3. Go to the left-hand navigation panel and click on the Game Mode option.
4. Finally, make sure that the Game Mode setting is turned off.

Press the Windows key to see if the game mode has been disabled.

Method 3: Enable the Windows key within the Registry Editor

You may enable and disable keyboard shortcuts in Windows using the registry editor. It is possible to disable the Windows key in the registry editor of your computer. If your Windows 10 start button isn’t working, you can use registry editing to activate the Windows key:

1. Enter “run” in the search field on the Windows menu.
2. Enter regedt32 and click OK in the Run dialog box.
3. If a confirmation window pops up, click Yes.
4. Once the registry editor is opened, go to HKEY LOCAL MACHINE under Computer in the navigation pane.
5. The System link is at the bottom of the page.
6. Press the button that says “CurrentControlset.”
7. You can click the Control folder icon.
8. Scroll down to find the Keyboard Layouts directory.
9. Delete any scancode map registry entry by selecting Delete from the context menu of a right-click.
10. Click the Yes button if a warning message appears.
11. Restart your computer and see if the Windows key now works.

The scancode map registry entry key may not exist on your PC if you can’t find it. Try the following fixes to fix the frozen Windows 10 start menu.

Method 4: Run System File Checker Scan

The SFC scan system file checker tool is included by default in Windows 10. You can find corrupted files with a scan with SFC. To fix the problem of the Windows button not working, use these instructions to run an SFC scan:

1. To open the Run search box, click the Windows symbol in the taskbar and type Run.
2. To open the command prompt as an administrator, type cmd into the Run dialog box and click Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
3. Yes, I would like to make changes to my device.
4. sfc/scannow is now ready to be entered into the command line.
5. Allow the system to scan and restore any corrupted files automatically. Do not close the system’s window or quit the window.

Restart your computer to see whether this fixes the problem of the non-functioning start button in Windows 10 after the scan is complete.

Method 5: Use Powershell Command

The PowerShell command can help you perform several actions to fix issues with your system if you desire to do so. Numerous users could fix the Windows start menu not working problem by running the PowerShell command.

1. After clicking on the Windows icon, type “run” into the search field in the search window that appears.
2. Enter PowerShell in the Run dialog box from the search results. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter on your keyboard to open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
3. Select YES when asked if you want to make changes to your device.
4. Enter the following command and press the Enter key to complete the process. Using this command is as simple as copying and pasting: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation) \AppXManifest.xml”}
5. Upon completion, you can check if the Windows key is now working on your computer.

Method 6: Disable the Filter keys feature on Windows 10

Window key functionality is sometimes hindered by the filter key feature of Microsoft’s Windows 10. If your Windows 10 start menu freezes, you can disable the filter keys by doing so:

1. Use the search results page to open the Control Panel.
2. Set the View mode to category.
3. You can find the Easy Access settings here.
4. You can change how your keyboard works by clicking on the “Ease of Access” tab.
5. Remove the checkmark next to “Turn on Filter Keys.” Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Using the Windows key on your keyboard to see if it is working properly is now possible.

Method 7: Use the DISM command

If you want to fix the Windows 10 image, you can use the DISM command instead of the SFC scan.

1. To open the Run dialog box, type “run” in the system’s search bar.
2. To open the command prompt as an administrator, use Ctrl+Shift+Enter while holding down the Ctrl key.
3. To allow the app to make changes to your device, press the YES button on the app’s main screen.
4. Enter the following command into the command line: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
5. Type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth to complete after the last command.
6. Upon completing the command, restart your computer to see if the Windows key now works correctly.

Method 8: Update Video and Sound drivers

The Windows key may not work, or the start menu may freeze if you use out-of-date visual and sound device drivers on your computer. If the problem persists, try updating the drivers for your sound and graphic cards.

1. Click on the Windows icon in the Windows taskbar and then go to Device Management.
2. Using the list of search results, open up the Device Manager program.
3. To access the audio and video, and gaming controller, double-click it.
4. Do a right-click on Audio Driver and then select Update driver.
5. Search for drivers automatically by clicking the Search for Drivers button. It will immediately upgrade your sound driver. In addition to this, you may also manually update your sound driver, but this procedure may take a long time for some users.

Method 9: Check for new Windows updates

You may be experiencing problems with your Windows key because your PC is running an older version of Windows. Because of this, Windows 10 needs to be updated regularly. Due to unexpected challenges, you may have to download updates occasionally with Windows 10 manually. Using the following procedures, you can see if your PC has any available Windows updates.

1. You can access the Settings program by searching for it in the taskbar’s search box.
2. Click on “Security & Updates”.
3. Using the Windows Update menu, click on the option to check for updates.
4. Your system will notify you of any upcoming upgrades as the last step. To download any available updates, you can click Install Now.

To see if this method solves the inoperable start menu once Windows 10 has been upgraded, you can try it yourself.

Method 10: Restart Windows Explorer

Restarting the Windows Explorer may have worked for some folks to fix the Windows key not working on Windows 10. Restarting Windows Explorer also triggers a restart of the start menu.

1. Select the task management option by pressing the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Alt + Del.
2. Select the Process option from the menu.
3. You may find Windows Explorer by going down the page and looking for it.
4. If all else fails, you can right-click and select “Restart.”

You can test the start menu’s functionality after Windows Explorer restart.

Method 11: Create a New User Account

You may need to create a new user account if the Windows 10 Start Menu still won’t appear on your computer. Creating a new Windows user account worked for many people experiencing problems with their Windows keys. To create a new user account on your computer, follow these steps.

1. Search for settings in the search box by clicking on the Windows icon. You can also use the Windows + I keys on your on-screen keyboard to go to the settings menu.
2. You’ll want to go to the “Accounts” area.
3. From the left-hand menu, select Family and Other Users.
4. Select the option to ‘Add a user to this machine.’
5. As a result, a Microsoft account window will pop up, asking if you have the sign-in information for the person in question. If you do not have a Microsoft account, it will establish a new user account. You can utilize a new Microsoft account to create a new user.
6. Go to the Add a user without a Microsoft account menu and pick that option.
7. Creating a username and password for your new account is the last step. To save your selections and begin the registration process, click Next.

Using your new user account, you may now utilize your Windows key.

Method 12: Run a Malware Scan

Some viruses and malware can interfere with the Windows key’s functionality. As a result, you can run a system scan to look for malware and viruses. A free version of Malwarebytes, a powerful antivirus application, is available. An alternative antivirus application is available for you to utilize. After a virus scan, it will restore the Windows key’s functionality.

1. You may get Malwarebytes and set it up on your computer.
2. After starting the software, select the Scan option.
3. Re-press the start scan button.
4. Take a break and let Malwarebytes finish scanning your computer for malware and viruses. A harmful file can be deleted quickly after the system has been examined.

Method 13: Reinstall Windows 10

You can reinstall Windows 10 from the beginning if none of the preceding solutions work. However, be sure to have your Windows 10 license key handy. Having a fast USB flash drive or external SSD is also helpful when installing Windows 10.

FAQs

Why is the windows start menu not working?

If your Windows 10 start button isn’t working, several possible problems are. Either your machine is in gaming mode, or a third-party program prevents you from pressing the start button. However, make sure your keyboard isn’t faulty; if all the keys work, the problem is most likely Windows-related.

Why is the windows start menu not working?

Your Windows key may stop working if you enable the filter keys on your computer. The Windows button may become inoperable if you use outdated sound and card drivers. As a result, updating your video drivers and checking for Windows updates should resolve the problem with the Windows key.

What to do when the windows start menu not working?

To fix the Windows 10 start button, follow the instructions in this article. The game mode and the filter keys option on your computer may be interfering with your start button, so you may want to try turning them off.

Thanks for reading, and we hope you were able to fix the Windows 10 start button problem with this information. The comments area is open for any further questions concerning this article.