How to fix the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10

[JamieKavanagh]

When upgrading from previous versions of Windows, some users have reported issues with either or both the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10. Now the Start Menu has made a welcome return, we at least want to be able to use it. So if you’re having issues with either of these, here’s how to fix the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10.

Start Menu fixes
If the Start Menu is having trouble soon after an upgrade, we should first check for file corruption.

1. Open a CMD window with Administrator privileges.
2. Type or paste ‘sfc /scannow’ and hit enter.
3. Let the process run and assess the results.
4. If the process finds integrity violations, allow it to fix them.
5. Type or paste ‘DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth’ if the process cannot fix them. This will download updates that hopefully will.

Use advanced startup mode
1. Click on the Windows button to access the start panel.
2. Select Power, then Shift and left click on Restart.
3. Once the computer has rebooted into advanced startup mode, select Troubleshoot.
4. Select Reset this PC.

This will reset the PC and offer the option to keep files and settings.

Create a new account
One very successful way of fixing the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10 is by creating a secondary account. It is a bit laborious, but is one of the most effective tricks should the previous two not work.

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to access Task Manager.
2. Click File and Run new task.
3. Type ‘CMD’ into the box and make sure to select ‘Create this task with administrative privileges’.
4. Type or paste ‘net user Admin123 APassword /add’.
5. Type or paste ‘net localgroup Administrators Admin1234 /add’.
6. Log off your current session and log into the new one using the username Admin1234 and the password you added at APassword or use APassword as the password.

The Start Menu and Taskbar should work now. You can now migrate all your data over to the new account and use Windows 10 normally!

More Windows 10 fixes can be found here:
How to stop wake timers in Windows 10
How to open the On Screen Keyboard in Windows 10 when your physical keyboard isn't working
How to run compatibility mode in Windows 10

View all of our Windows 10 Tutorials