Easy Ways to Fix Windows Start Button Not Working

Is your windows start button not working? Similar to other common errors in windows, the start button issue is also correctable. Most probably, it is the button in the keyboard that might have stopped working. 

So, make sure your keypad is still working by pressing the windows button. If yes, then there might be a problem with the mouse, and you can fix it simply by unplugging the mouse and plugging it again into the socket. If the problem is still unresolved, then replacing the mouse with a new one can fix it. 

Apart from it, if the windows start button not working even after restarting your computer, it indicates that the operating system is the origin point of the issue. Following are some popular methods to fix this issue. 

Windows Start Button Not Working (Common Fixes) 

Followings are simple and common fixes to resolve the windows start button not working issue set in order from simple to complex. 

Logout From Your Windows Account to Login Again

• Press Alt and F4 tab together to open the shutdown windows graphical interface. 
• Select ‘Sign out’ from the dropdown menu. 
• Go to the login screen and enter your password to ‘Sign in’ again.
• Wait until the start menu icon appears and check if you can access it.  

Restart windows explorer in Task Manager 

• Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc
• Click on More Details 
• Scroll down to look for Windows Explorer and select it. 
• Right-click to select Restart from the options. 

Use Sfc Utility 

• Open the Run windows, press Windows and R together. 
• A box will appear; type Powershell in it. 
• Press Ctrl + Shift together, followed by OK to open Powershell in admin mode. 
• Type Sfc/scan now and enter. 
• It allows windows to scan and repair any corrupted system file.  

Resolve ‘Windows Start Button Not Working’ Issue Using DISM Utility 

• Open run windows by pressing Windows + R key together. 
• Type ‘PowerShell and press Ctrl + Shift together, followed by OK to open PowerShell in admin mode. 
• Type DISM/Online/Cleanup-image/RestoreHealth and press Enter. 
• It enables the DISM tool to detect and fix any issue in the disk files, causing the ‘windows start button not working.

Use Taskkill Command 

• Open Run Windows by pressing Windows + R together. 
• Type ‘Powershell,’ press Ctrl + Shift together, followed by ‘Ok’ to open Powershell in admin mode. 
• Type ‘Taskkill/f/IM explorer.exe to eliminate the explorer.exe. 
• Type Start explorer.exe to back up. 

Turn Off Game Mode 

• Open the setting window by pressing ‘Windows + I’ together. 
• Select Gaming from the multiple options that appear on the screen.
• Select Game Mode on the left navigation pane. 
• Switch the Game Mode off. 
• It may resolve the ‘windows start button not working issue. 

Turn Off Filter Keys 

• Open Run Windows by pressing Windows and R together.
• Type ‘Control’ in the bar and press Enter to open the control panel. 
• Click ‘Ease of Access’ appearing on the screen. 
• Click Change how your keyboard works. 
• Scroll down to find the ‘Make it easier section to type’ segment.  
• Find the ‘Turn on filter keys’ option to uncheck it. 

Rebuild Cortana to Fix Windows Start Button is Not Working 

• To open Run Windows, press Windows + R together.
• Type ‘Powershell’ and press Ctrl + Shift together, followed by ‘OK’ to open Powershell in admin mode. 
• Type ‘Get-AppXPackage-Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana|Foreach{Add-AppXPackage-DisableDevelopmentMode-Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppX Manifest.xml}. If the origin of the start button issue is Cortana, it will rebuild Cortana. 
• Exit out and check if you are now able to use the start button. 

Check for Updates Required 

• Open the settings by pressing Windows + I 
• Click Update & Security among the options 
• Go to Windows Update and click Check for updates. 
• If a new update is required, allow windows to download and update the latest package for you. 
• To execute the updates, restart your PC. 
• Now, the ‘windows start button not working issue may be resolved. 

Scan Your PC Against Malware 

• Open setting by pressing Windows + I together 
• Click on Update & Security 
• On the left, select Windows Security among the options. 
• Now, multiple options will appear on the right side; select ‘Virus & threat protection among them. 
• Perform a quick scan to ensure any cyber threat or malware is not infecting your PC because it may be a reason behind the ‘Windows start button not working’ issue. 
• If you are using some of the top antivirus software 2021 offered by third parties, perform a quick scan using them as well. 
• It might resolve the windows start button not working issue. 

Use Registry Editor to Fix Values 

• Open Run Windows by pressing Windows + R together 
• To open Registry Editor, type ‘Regedit and press ‘Enter’ 
• Navigate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Service\WpnUserService path on the left navigation pane
• Find out registry name ‘Start’
• Click twice on the ‘Start’ option. 
• Change the value to ‘4’ under volume data. 
• Click ‘OK’
• Navigate the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced path on the left navigation pane. 
• Find out the registry name EnableXMALStartMenu. 
• If there is no such registry name, create one by right-clicking and selecting New-DWORD (32-bit) Value. 
• Click twice on the EnableXMALStartMenu. 
• Enter value data to 0
• Hit ‘OK’ and restart your PC. 

Reset Your Computer 

• Open settings by pressing ‘Windows and I’ together. 
• Type ‘Reset This PC on setting search bar and press ‘Enter’ 
• To go to the recovery navigation pane, select Reset This PC
• Select ‘Get Started’ under ‘Reset This PC’
• Select ‘Keep My Files’
• If your PC has an internet connection, select ‘Cloud Download’.
• If your PC doesn’t have an active internet connection, select ‘Local Reinstall’. 
• When the reset process is completed, wait for the PC to restart. 
• If it didn’t resolve the issue, select ‘Removing Everything’. 

These methods are based on different reasons for the windows start button not working properly. If the issue is still unresolved, your PC might need the assistance of a hardware expert. 

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