The Top 7 Quick Fixes for an Unresponsive Windows Start Menu

Experiencing an unresponsive Windows start menu? There are ways for fixing it.

The Start menu is like a gateway to all the programs and files on your PC. Consequently, if the Start menu freezes, it becomes quite hard to get things done.

The good news is that it’s usually quite easy to make it responsive again. The following quick fixes allow you to get your system in perfect running order. They deal with any potential bugs and glitches behind an unresponsive Start menu.

1. Turn Your PC Off and On

The well-known IT Crowd catchphrase - have you tried turning it off and on again - is popular for a reason. So try it!

The method does work for most users. If not, keep going.

2. Restart

Instead of turning it off all the way, a restart may also do the trick. Here’s how to do it:

Close running applications
Press Windows and L keys to log out
Click the Power button (in the log-in screen)
Click Restart

Note: Some users believe that restarting multiple times can solve the persistent problem. However, if the Start menu still acts up after the second restart, you should try other ways to repair it.

3. Reset

Resetting your PC might take a bit more time compared to powering it off or restarting. But it’s the next line of defense.

Here we go:

Shut all the active applications
Hit Windows and L keys then click the Power icon
Hold the Shift key, then click Restart
Select Troubleshoot option
Click Reset this PC
Select the Keep my files option

Your PC will start resetting. It might take a while, so be patient until it’s done. Once your computer is running again, check if the Start menu has become responsive. If not, try some of the fixes below.

4. Update Windows

Lack of updates is probably one of the most common issues that can prevent the Start menu from running as it should. On the bright side, Windows updates are easy to initiate and usually don’t take that much time to complete.

Hold Windows key then press “i” to launch Settings
Go to Update & security
Click Check for updates
Select and run the available Windows updates

Tip: Since you cannot use the Start menu, you need to resort to hotkeys to access Windows Settings. If Windows + “i” doesn’t work, try Windows + R and run the following command: ms-settings

5. New User Account

Another quick fix is to create a completely new user account for Windows. The Microsoft account settings also transfer when you upgrade the new user account from the default local one.

Launch Task manager and click the File menu
Tick Create this task with administrative privileges
Type or copy - net user NewUsername NewPassword/add

Note: NewUsername and NewPassword should be your new username and password. It’s case sensitive but there shouldn’t be any spaces.

Restart Windows
Log into your new user account

Tip: After logging in, transfer all the settings and files and change the new user account into your Microsoft account.

6. Reinstall Apps

This method might seem a bit more complicated but there is no need to be intimidated. Just follow the procedure as listed below and you’ll be fine.

Access Task Manager
Open PowerShell as the system administrator
Copy the following line into PowerShell:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

There are two ways to copy the line. You can use Ctrl and V keys or right-click on PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and paste the line there. The line downloads and reinstalls all your Windows applications, which is going to take some time.

Tip: No need to stress about the red texts that might appear - just ignore them. Restart Windows when the system completes the installation.

7. Restart Windows Explorer

The reason for an unresponsive Start menu might be hidden in Windows Explorer. This method is quick indeed but it might not be as efficient as some of the previous ones. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to try restarting Windows Explorer since it might save you the trouble of creating a new account or reinstalling Windows apps.

Launch Task Manager by pressing Control + Shift + Esc
Select Yes in the UAC prompt and click More Details
Open the Processes tab
Scroll to Windows Explorer and right-click on it
Click Restart

The Final Fix

There is no reason for you to stress over an unresponsive Windows Start menu. Try one of the quick fixes above at a time and one of them will surely help. Most users start with the Restart method, but which fix would you try first?

It’s worth noting that antivirus programs can also cause the Start menu to freeze. So, you might want to try disabling or reinstalling them. But once you solve the problem, don’t forget to turn your antivirus back on, or else install a different one.