Critical Error Your Start Menu Isn’t Working In Windows 10
Nelson Suggs
The critical error "Your Start Menu isn't working" on Windows 10/11 often occurs when certain files and settings become corrupted due to faulty software installation or uninstallation. This issue has been widely reported by Windows users on various forums, indicating its prevalence and impact. When confronted with this error, it can be frustrating as it hinders the smooth operation of the Start Menu, which is a fundamental component of the operating system. However, there are effective solutions available to resolve this critical error and restore the functionality of your Start Menu. Without any further ado, let's explore these solutions in detail.
A critical error start menu happens while the OS ends a program because of internal issues. These errors can be set off by memory usage errors, damaged documents, and so on. If you switch off your PC while an update is running, your files might become corrupted. It must be kept in mind that these problems can affect other components.
Thus, if you are welcomed with this error, "critical error start menu and Cortana aren't working, we'll try to fix it the next time you sign in," and you only have a choice to sign out; don't shut down your PC.
In order to rectify the critical error and restore the proper functionality of your Start Menu, you can explore a range of potential solutions. By employing the following methods, you can effectively address the issue:
Safe Mode allows your system to start with minimal resources, bypassing any potential conflicts or problematic software that may be causing you to get the "critical error your start menu isn't working" error message. By entering Safe Mode, you can isolate the problem and troubleshoot it more effectively. Here are the steps to boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10/11:
Creating a new administrator account can often resolve the "critical error start menu" by bypassing any corrupt user profile settings that may be causing the issue. By creating a fresh administrator account, you can ensure a clean environment for the Start Menu to function properly. To create a new administrator account on Windows 10/11, follow these steps:
If you still get the message stating "critical error start menu and cortana aren't working we'll try to fix it the next time you sign in," you can try disabling Cortana temporarily, which allows you to test if the error is caused by a problem with Cortana itself.
Running the System File Checker (SFC) is a potential fix for the critical error "Your Start Menu isn't working". System files are vital for the proper functioning of the operating system, and if they become damaged or altered, it can lead to various errors, including Start Menu problems. The SFC tool is a built-in Windows utility that checks the integrity of system files and replaces or repairs any files that are found to be problematic.
Updating Windows can often resolve the critical error "Your Start Menu isn't working" by installing the latest patches, bug fixes, and updates from Microsoft. These updates address known issues and vulnerabilities, including those that may affect the Start Menu's functionality. By updating Windows, you ensure that your operating system is up to date with the latest improvements and fixes.
Sometimes the Windows 10 start menu errors can occur after Windows 10 updates, and you're not alone in facing this problem. Fortunately, Microsoft has created a troubleshooter specifically designed to identify and resolve Start menu issues. Simply download the Troubleshooter, run it and adher to the on-screen tips for Windows 10 start menu critical error fix.
Reinstalling the Start Menu and re-registering Cortana can be another effective windows 10 start menu critical error fix. This critical error often occurs due to configuration issues or corrupt files related to the Start Menu and Cortana. By reinstalling the Start Menu and re-registering Cortana, you can reset their settings and resolve any underlying problems.
If you're still facing the critical error "Your Start Menu isn't working" on Windows 10, restoring the system to an earlier point can help resolve the issue. System restoration allows you to revert your computer's settings, programs, and system files to a previous state when the Start Menu was functioning correctly.
Note that system restoration will not affect your personal files, but it will uninstall any programs or updates installed after the chosen restore point. After the restoration, your system settings should be restored, and the critical error may be resolved.
If none of the previous methods have resolved the critical error "Your Start Menu isn't working" on Windows 10, resetting the computer to its factory settings can be a viable solution. Resetting the computer reinstalls the operating system, removes all installed applications and files, and restores the system to its original state.
If you have unfortunately lost your important files while attempting the above methods to fix the critical error "Your Start Menu isn't working" on Windows 10 and you don't have a backup available, 4DDiG Data Recovery is your go-to solution. It is a reliable and effective tool for recovering lost or deleted files from various storage devices, including hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards. Below are the key features it owns:
The Start menu is one of the most important elements of a Windows computer. It allows you to browse through all the installed applications and access them with a few clicks. However, like most other Windows elements, it isn't free from issues. For example, the Start menu critical error can lock you out of using the menu entirely.
The Start menu critical error is a serious Windows issue that forces the Start menu to stop and become unresponsive. When this error occurs, Windows throws an error message that says, Critical Error - Your Start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in.
Re-registering the Start menu is one of the best ways to troubleshoot any issues with it. It's very easy to re-register the Start menu; all you need to do is to execute a simple command in the PowerShell window.
To re-register the Start menu, open the PowerShell window with admin rights. As the Start menu is currently not usable due to critical error, you can use other ways to open PowerShell, combined with the ways to run a program with admin rights, to get the window open.
As aforementioned, this critical error can appear due to corrupt system files, and the best way to fix these files is to run an SFC scan. It is a built-in utility that looks for and resolves corrupt system files.
Despite how weird it sounds, Dropbox can sometimes be the reason behind the Start menu's issues. So, if you don't use Dropbox to store files on the cloud, consider uninstalling it to resolve the problem at hand.
The computer will start in the clean boot state on the next boot. Try to open the Start menu, and check if the problem is fixed. If yes, it means one of the services you disabled was causing the problem.
If you want to find it out, repeat the above process while slowly re-enabling the service until the error appears again. Once you narrow down which service is causing the problem, consider downloading drivers for the service if possible. You can also run an SFC scan if it's a Windows-based service.
The Start menu will become unresponsive and throw a critical error if you've installed a third-party Start menu like StartIsBack++ on your system. As a solution, uninstall all such applications from your computer and then check for the problem.
It can be the case that the critical error is confined to a single user account. You can change the user profile to see if the issue continues. When creating a new user account, make sure to opt for a local user account. It will ensure that your account information remains within your system instead of getting shared with Microsoft.
This approach won't completely solve the problem, but it's better than nothing as the last resort. If the Start menu is not throwing any error on another profile, you can permanently switch to that profile and make a fresh start.
Aman is a Windows specialist who covered the Windows ecosystem for MakeUseOf. He is an Android daily driver and a big gaming enthusiast who occasionally writes about these topics.
Aman has a Bachelor's in Information Technology, for which he studied various programming languages. However, his passion for writing and the Windows world motivated him to pursue a career in writing, leaving the programming scene behind. He put his years of Windows experience into words for MakeUseOf.
Before joining MakeUseOf, Aman wrote about the Windows ecosystem for TheWindowsClub, DigitBin, and GuidingTech.
You can also find Aman's work on How-To Geek, Android Headlines, Windows Latest, and GeekerMag.
Have you been caught up in the Windows 10 Start menu critical error that crashes your Start menu, blocks your access to the installed apps and Settings, or freezes your computer? Take it easy! Read this page to stop such a critical error and fix the access problem.
When you first came across the Windows 10 Start button not working problem due to the critical error message, do not hesitate to refresh your computer once or twice, or directly turn it off and restart. That's the safest and quickest way to determine how serious a problem you're getting.
Step 2. On the Settings panel, click Update & security and then Check for updates. If you're running Windows 10 version 1511, you should navigate to System > About > Version. Follow the wizard to install the most recent update that is currently available on your PC.
You should know that the Start menu issue is always there, accompanying each Windows 10 update, so you're alone. And Microsoft has developed a troubleshooter to help at least temporarily find and fix problems with the Start menu. Click the download link for Start menu troubleshooter and run it as the wizard instructs.
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