In Windows 11, the start menu button may not open, and the taskbar may not work. Usually, this problem appears after the next update; when using the program to change the visual appearance of the start menu and taskbar, you made any changes to the registry or third-party programs, like CCleaner for cleaning junk files, deleted the necessary keys in the registry. Here we will explain all possible ways to fix when the start menu does not open, and the taskbar does not work in Windows 11.
How to Fix Windows 11 Start Menu And Taskbar Not Working Error?
1. Restarting services
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. In the “Processes” tab, find “Explorer” and right-click on it, then “Restart”. Wait 15 seconds and check the start menu with the taskbar.
If the start menu does not open, and the taskbar does not work, then go to the “Details” tab and complete the task of the following services in order:
ShellExperienceHost.exe
SearchIndexer.exe
SearchHost.exe
RuntimeBroker.exe
2. Scanning for viruses
Viruses can damage essential system files responsible for the start menu and taskbar. Use a scanner like DrWeb to check your system for viruses. Alternatively, you can run Windows Defender Offline.
3. Running SFC and DISM
If the viruses were found and removed in the above way, then there is a possibility that the system files were deleted. Also, if these system files are damaged, then the start menu and taskbar will not work as expected. Therefore, we will check and restore the system files.
Press Win + X and select “Windows Terminal Admin” to run it with elevated rights. Next, enter the below commands, waiting for the end of the process after each command. Next, restart your PC.
sfc /scannow DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4. Third-party software
If you are using third-party software to change the appearance and advanced features of the start menu or taskbar, then uninstall it. Here is a list of the most popular ones. In addition, if you used any settings in the program, then try to return everything to default and then delete.
Open Shell Classic Start WinAero Tasbar TaskbarX
5. Re-registering modules and index
If the start menu button and taskbar are still not working, you can reinstall Windows 11 essential elements, reinstall the module and applications, and register it repeatedly.
Press Win + X and select PowerShell (Admin). Enter below two commands in turn, then restart your PC. When you enter the second command, there will be red text; ignore it.
Get-appxpackage -all * shellexperience * -packagetype bundle |% {add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($ _. Installlocation + “\ appxmetadata \ appxbundlemanifest.xml”)}
Next press Win + R and enter control /name Microsoft.IndexingOptionsto open indexing options.
- In the indexing options, click on “Change”.
- In the new window, uncheck the boxes everywhere and click OK.
- Click on “Advanced”.
- In a new window, “Rebuild” and OK.
6. Reinstall UWP
Reinstalling essential UWP apps resolves the problem with the Start menu opening and the taskbar not working in Windows 11.
Press Win + X, select PowerShell (Admin) and enter the command below. You will see red text, do not worry; wait for the process to end and restart your PC,
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$ ($ _. InstallLocation) \ AppXManifest.xml”}
7. Creating Xaml
The start menu and taskbar in Windows 11 are applications written in Xaml. Applications need access, and if you inadvertently blocked it in UAC, it won’t work. Let’s set the rule using the registry.
Press Win + R and type Regedit to open the Registry Editor. In the registry, go along the path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced
- Right-click the Advanced folder and New > 32-bit DWORD Value.
- Name the new parameter EnableXamlStartMenu .
- Double click on it and set the value to 0.
8. Official Method via Taskbar
Windows 11 users reported that Start and Taskbar were unresponsive. So Microsoft provided steps to get back into a working state on your PC.
- Using CTRL-ALT-DEL open Task Manager.
- Select “More Details” to expand Task Manager.
- Now go to “File” and select “Run new task”.
- Enter “cmd” in the “Open” field.
- Now you have to paste the following (In bold):
reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0
- Hit the enter button, and then your PC should reboot to fix the issue.
