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Restore Start menu in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Stefan
Stefan
November 3 2021
Restore Start menu in Windows 10 or Windows 11

If the start menu won't open, stops working, or hangs, this article can help you.

The Start button is one of the most clicked items in Windows 10 or Windows 11. It is a path to go to other folders and open apps in Windows.

In the Start menu you will also find the pinned apps, all apps and recommended apps (commonly used apps and settings in Windows 11).

The Start menu is actually a modern or Universal Windows Platform (UWP) menu app. UWP apps can be used on all compatible Microsoft Windows devices, including PCs, tablets, Xbox One and more.

When the menu Startmenu no longer works, you can't do much in Windows anymore. However, in cases where the Start menu stops working or becomes unresponsive, the solution is quite simple and easy.

Restore Start menu in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. In the run window type and confirm with OK:

taskmgr

Task management will now start. Click More details and click Processes. Search for the process “Windows Shell Experience Host” and right-click on the process. Then click on end.

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard again. In the run window type and click OK:

powershell Start-Process powershell -Verb runAs

Click Yes to run PowerShell as Administrator. A PowerShell window will now open.

In the PowerShell window, copy and paste or type the following command:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restore Powershell start menu

Executing the above command will restore the start menu and start button for all users on the computer.

Read also
Add RAM, CPU, NIC and GPU to Windows 11 widgets

Start menu in Windows 11

The start menu is now available again. I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!

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30 comments

  2. I have implemented the above tip. But this had no effect. In red letters came the response from the system: “0x8007D23, The output is blocked because the output of a special profile is not allowed. Try to log in with an account that does not have a special profile. You can sign out and sign back in with the same account, or sign in with a different account.”
    That text also appears below in English. Then one: “NOTE: For additional information, look for {ActivityID] f74c9466-fdde-0000-5del-4cf7defdd901 in the Event Log or use the command line Get-AppPackageLog -ActivityID f74c9466-fdde-0000-5del-4cf7defdd901 At line: 1 char:76”.
    This is followed by a “DeploymentError”.

    Do you have an idea what else I could do to make the start button work? It works with the right mouse button, but NOT with the left mouse button.
    Mrsgr. André Hofman
    Oct 13 2023

    To answer

  3. This sounds like the problem I'm having. I start Windows 11, I get the PRIVATE window with the hourglass and after 10 or 20 seconds this window disappears and I get a completely black screen. NOTHING SO!!!! I can do ctrl+Alt+ del and then I can start task manager. Via task manager I can go to a file location and start Explorer. To desktop and there I can start Edge and now come here. I don't have START and therefore I won't get 20.000 euros. I don't have a “Windows Shell Experience Host” and Windows key + R doesn't work either, nothing actually works.
    So I can start powershell Start-Process powershell -Verb runAs via task manager. Then copy that tune in and I get a light blue line: Deployment operation process: blabla initiliazed
    And then I see the cursor blink until I weigh an ounce. Nothing happens at all.
    Restarting ends in black screen again 🙁

    Furthermore, new PC, only 1 game installed that I have been playing on this PC since December and which is no longer updated. Furthermore, a practically empty PC that is more than six months old that has never caused any problems before.
    HOW do I get my desktop back and Windows working normally?

    To answer

      1. This is not possible, because I said before NOTHING WORKS!
        I can't boot into safe mode because I can't boot up. And when I try this via the command line I get this:

        PS C:\Windows\system32> Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes
        The set command specified is not valid.

        So I can't boot safely.

        To answer

        1. If you bother to read the article. So shut down the computer 3 times and allow the recovery environment to load before Windows starts, then you can restore the computer.

          To answer

  5. My laptop won't shut down. and does not start after error message stopcodepage.fault in nonpaged area, I have done everything, but after shutting down the PC the same problem occurs again

    To answer

    1. Hello, here you can read more (technical): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/bug-check-0x50--page-fault-in-nonpaged-area

      This is related to faulty memory, attached hardware or faulty drivers. You can boot Windows into the advanced start options and then enter Safe Mode. After this, uninstall the faulty driver. It's impossible to say which, because I don't know what is associated with your PC. I also recommend disconnecting all USB devices and other connected hardware. No idea how? Consult an IT specialist in your area. Good luck!

      To answer

  6. Hi Stefan, thank you very much for this direction. Does your solution for the start menu no longer expanding (windows 10) also work if the “Windows Shell Experience Host” does not appear in your process list at all? So maw. not terminate the Windows Shell Experience Host (it isn't there at all), but paste the command into the PowerShell window and execute it? Thank you in advance for your response and kind regards, JaWi

    To answer

  7. Yes thank you. The menu is back. With your information the problem has been solved!!! This works better than the options offered to me by Windows. There I go through all kinds of options that have nothing to do with this problem.

    To answer

    1. Hello, it is not clear to me whether you mean only the Start menu or also the taskbar.

      1. To add the weather tile back to the Start menu, search for: weather. Right-click on the “Weather app” and click “Pin to Start”.

      2. To display the weather on the taskbar, right-click on the taskbar. In the menu, click on “News and interests” and then on “Show icon and text”.

      3. If you no longer have the weather app installed, you or someone else has deleted it on your PC... Then you can install it again by opening the Microsoft Store. Then search for “msn weather” and install the app. Then follow the above to display the weather app in the desired location.

      Good luck! Greetings, Stefan

      To answer

  12. Dear Stefan. Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately it doesn't work for me. The start menu and windows settings are gone. I can't even get to windows. Is there also a solution for this?

    To answer

    1. Hello, I recommend that you start Windows 11 or Windows 10 in safe mode: https://www.pc-tips.info/tips/windows-tips/windows-11-opstarten-in-veilige-modus/ (Windows 11) https://support.microsoft.com/nl-nl/windows/start-uw-pc-in-de-veilige-modus-in-windows-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 (Windows 10)
      Then, in safe mode, run SFC and DISM as described in this article: https://www.pc-tips.info/tips/windows-tips/3-tips-om-een-probleem-in-windows-op-te-lossen/
      Good luck! Greetings, Stefan

      To answer

  13. A handy tip on how you can provide the taskbar with a shortcut to a file or folder in W11. Thank you very much Stefan.
    Most explanations about W11 only show what is possible and how it works. I missed the toolbar addition in the toolbar, but with your tips I will see if I can restore this. I had my toolbar taskbar tilted all the way to the left with small icons in 2 rows.
    regards

    Ton

    To answer
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