How do I Reset or Restart Start Menu in Windows 11?

The Start menu of Windows 11 lets you access all the installed applications on your PC and even allows you to access power options. From the Start menu, you can quickly open an application, shutdown, or restart your computer. Now, you understand the necessity of the Start menu. What will you do if your Windows 11 Start menu suddenly stops working? It is not an installed application on your PC that you will reinstall. However, you can reset or restart with built-in methods that may help you.

If, for any reason, your Windows 11 Start menu is not working, this gearupwindows article will help you.

How do I Restart the Start Menu in Windows 11?

Like other programs, Windows 11 Start Menu also uses a process that runs in the background. If the Start Menu does not work properly or the icons are not clear, a simple restart of its process may help you recover them without rebooting your computer.

You can restart the Start menu in Windows 11 using the following three methods:-

  1. Using Task Manager
  2. Via Command Prompt
  3. Through Windows PowerShell

How to Restart Windows 11 Start Menu using Task Manager?

Perhaps, Task Manager is the easiest way to restart the Start menu on Windows 11 PC. Perform the following steps to restart the Start menu:-

Step 1. Launch Task Manager by using the shortcut keys Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

Step 2. Now, please navigate to the Processes tab and find the Start process under it. Right-click on the Start process and select the End task. Alternatively, select the Start under the Processes tab and then click on the End task button at the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.

After doing the above steps, Start Menu will disappear and appears again automatically. That means the Start process will restart automatically within the next few seconds. Now, click on the Start button on the taskbar. The start menu should work properly.

Due to some reason, if the Start process does not run automatically, click on the File menu and then select the Run new task option.

In the dialog box, paste the following command and then click OK:-

C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe

Now, the Start process will begin. You can check now, and the Start Menu should work perfectly.

How to Restart Windows 11 Start Menu through Windows PowerShell?

If you prefer to restart Windows 11 Start Menu using Windows PowerShell, use these steps:-

Step 1. First, open PowerShell as an administrator.

Step 2. In the elevated PowerShell window, type the following and hit Enter key on the keyboard:-

Once you complete the above steps, the Start Menu process will exit and restart automatically.

How do I Restart the Start Menu via Command Prompt on Windows 11?

Follow these steps to restart the Start Menu via Command Prompt on Windows 11:-

Step 1. Open the Command Prompt with administrative power.

Step 2. Type the following command and hit Enter from the keyboard on the Command Prompt window:-

taskkill /im StartMenuExperienceHost.exe /f

You should receive a message, “SUCCESS: The process “StartMenuExperienceHost.exe” with PID 11440 has been terminated.”

Now, the Start process will stop and start automatically.

Step 3. If the Start process cannot wake up automatically, execute the following command again:-

start %windir%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe

Once you complete the above steps, the Start menu will start working again.

How to Reset the Start Menu in Windows 11?

Resetting is different than restarting the Start menu. The above method is used to restart the Start menu, but Resetting is different. Resetting is going to restore the Start menu to its original state completely. If you have made several changes to your Start menu, all are going to be erased automatically. So, if you don’t want to eliminate your Start menu settings, please use the above-mentioned restarting steps only.

How to Reset the Start Menu in Windows 11 using Windows Registry?

Since we will modify Windows Registry in this method, we recommend you take a full backup of the registry and create a system restore point. In case something goes wrong, you can restore your PC to its previous working state.

Those who have made several changes to Windows 11 Start menu and want to remove them completely, do the following:-

Step 1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. In the Run box, type the following and hit Enter from the keyboard or click the OK button:-

regedit

If the User Account Control dialog opens, click the Yes button to open the Registry Editor window.

The above action will open Registry Editor.

Step 3. In the Registry Editor window, from the left sidebar, navigate to the following key:-

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount

Step 4. Right-click on the DefaultAccount key and select the Delete option.

Step 5. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

Step 6. Now, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

After executing the above steps, click on the Start button to see Windows 11 Start menu layout. You will notice your customization has gone, and it is reset to factory default.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Start menu of Windows 11 is a vital component of the operating system, allowing easy access to all installed applications and power options. However, there may be times when the Start menu stops working, causing inconvenience to the user. In such situations, restarting the Start menu process via Task Manager, Windows PowerShell, or Command Prompt can resolve the issue. Additionally, resetting the Start menu to its original state can be achieved by modifying the Windows Registry. It is essential to note that resetting the Start menu will erase all previous customization, so it is recommended to use this method only if necessary.

Leave a Reply