My Windows 11 Start Button is no longer working.

Anonymous
2024-03-18T17:15:44+00:00

Hello,

Since yesterday my Windows 11 Start Button is no longer working.

It animates when I click it, but nothing else happens, also, my taskbar keeps switching on and off.

I don't know whether that is relevant or has anything to do with the problem, but two days ago I had Windows updates two days on the trot.

I have tried a number of recommended solutions, like commands in Pwoer shell, sfc /scannow, the DISM commands, updating my graphics drivcer, registry hacks, tried to re-install Windows but gave up when I saw I couldn't keep my files.

In short, none of the above have worked.

The thing is, some things I cannot do, like check my updates etc., as some Windows key commands don't work, eg. Windows + I.

Has anyone got any further advice for me, please?

Thank you very much in advance.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-01T15:01:16+00:00

    Hi

    I faced the same problem a few days ago. I have two accounts that work fine on my laptop, but when I created a third account I had a problem with Start button. I had tried different solutions but nothing helped. In the end, I found a recommendation in Community to remove/rename C:\Users{Problem account}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows folder using a different account, so the system can re-create it properly. I tried it, Start menu problem is gone, but I had an error with opening files like jpg.

    My solution was to delete C:\Users{Problem account}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell folder using a different account. Now everything works fine.

    bro you are a life saver had same issue with just 1 account, tried everything but only this solution worked thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-19T22:58:55+00:00

    Hi,

    I used System File Checker (SFC) to check and repair my installation. It said it didn't find any errors but my activation disappeared right after doing the check. I ended up having to download the most recent Windows 11 release, installing it, and activating it with my original key. That fixed all my issues. I think I had previously said I just rolled it back but that failed the next day when Windows Update decided I needed an update, etc. It sure seems like this issue comes about for a variety of reasons and there's not just 1 thing to fix it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-02-11T08:33:09+00:00

    You can repair node.js to correct 24h2 start menu not working issue & taskbar icons right click not working issues

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-02-09T02:52:18+00:00

    ReInstalled Windows 11 again and problem resolved. I have observed that my Taskbar again not showing all icons often when Windows at sleep. So everything I go to Taskbar Settings and click "Show Taskbar on all Windows" & "Hide taskbar..." then unclick it to refresh Taskbar to normal.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-02-08T22:14:26+00:00

    I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. I figured out what was causing my issues a few hours ago. I cleaned dusted the inside of my machine a couple of weeks ago and also replaced the thermal paste on my CPU, which is something I do every 1-2 years. It had been about 18 mos. since I built this machine so it was time. Anyway, apparently I knocked a SATA cable off one of my HDDs while I was doing all the maintenance. Then, when I did the most recent update, my problems began. I went back into the machine this afternoon and found the dangling SATA cable. I plugged it back in, put it all back together, and started the machine up. That's all it took. It's back to 100% now.

    Point being is that, very often, the problems and their causes don't make any outward sense. Who would have thought an unplugged SATA cable would cause Taskbar and/or Activation issues? Then again, anyone who's been working with PCs for any amount of time would know that it can seem like the problems are almost always caused by random, seemingly unrelated, things.

    Hopefully, this will help others who find themselves having "weird" issues.

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