How to Fix Start Button Not Working in Windows 10

The Windows key on your keyboard is really useful whenever you need to access your start menu as well as navigate to any setting on your system as well. This Windows key is also known as the Winkey, and it also has a Microsoft logo on it. Whenever you press this Winkey on your keyboard, the start menu then pops up, and you can easily access the search bar or execute shortcuts for your system applications. However, it can be very frustrating if you guys lose the functionality of this Windows key on your system as well. Many users may also face this issue of the Windows key not working on their Windows 10 system as well. Just read this article to know all about How to Fix Start Button Not Working in Windows 10.

Well, in case your Windows 10 start button, as well as the Winkey, is not working. Then you won’t be able to execute any shortcuts like Winkey + R in order to open Run or Winkey + I to open settings. As the Windows key plays a crucial role in executing the shortcuts as well. We also have a guide that you guys can follow to fix Windows 10 start button not working.

How to Fix Start Button Not Working in Windows 10

Why is Windows 10’s is Start button not working? 

There may be a lot of reasons why your Windows key is not working on your Windows 10 system as well. Some of the common reasons are as follows, have a look:

• Well, the problem may be with your keyboard itself, or you guys may be using a damaged keyboard. But, if the problem does not really go away even whenever you change your keyboard. Then it is probably a Windows problem actually.
• You might accidentally turn on the gaming mode, which avoids you from using the Windows key for its primary functions.
• A third-party software, application, malware, as well as game mode, can also turn off the start button.
• A lot of time using outdated drivers or incompatible drivers can also freeze the Windows 10 start key as well.
• You guys might need to manually enable the Windows key function within the Windows OS registry editor as well.
• Windows 10 also has a filter key feature, that mane time causes issues along with the start button.

So, these were also a few of the reasons behind the Windows 10 start menu frozen issue as well.

Turn off the Game Mode in Windows 10

Well, if you use the game mode on your Windows 10 system, then it is actually the reason why you guys are facing the issue with your start button. Just follow these steps in order to fix the Windows button not working via disabling the game mode:

• Tap on your Windows icon from the taskbar and then type settings in the search bar. Open Settings from the search results as well.
• Head to the Gaming section from the menu.
• Tap on the Game Mode tab from the panel on the left as well.
• At last, make sure you turn off the toggle next to Game Mode.

After you turn off the game mode, click the Windows key on your keyboard to check if it works or not.

Sign out and re-login on your account

Many times a simple re-login can help you fix the issue with your Windows key. Here is how you can sign out of your account and re-login:

• Just move your cursor and tap on the Windows logo or the start menu.
• Tap on your profile icon and choose Sign-out.
• Now, you need to type your password and re-login into your account.
• Finally, check if your Windows key is actually working or not.

Turn on the Windows key within the Registry Editor

The Windows registry editor actually has the ability to enable or disable your keyboard keys. You guys may accidentally turn off the Windows key in the registry editor of your system. Thus, to fix Windows 10 start button not working, you guys can also follow these steps to turn on the Windows key using registry edit:

• Tap on the Windows menu and then type run in the search bar.
• When you open the run dialog box, then type regedt32 in the box and tap OK.
• If you get any confirmation message, just tap on YES.
• Now after the registry editor opens, head to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
• Tap on the System.
• Click on CurrentControlSet.
• Now tap on the Control folder.

• Just scroll down and open the Keyboard Layouts folder.
• Now, if you guys see any scancode map registry entry, just make a right-click on it and tap on delete.
• Tao on YES if any warning message pops up on your screen actually.
• At last, restart your PC and check if the Windows key starts working on your system.

But, if you are unable to find the scancode map registry entry key, then it might also not be available on your system. You can just try the next methods in order to fix Windows 10 start menu frozen.

Use Powershell Command | Start Button Not Working

If you guys want to make adjustments to your system, then the PowerShell command can also help you execute various commands. In order to fix the issues in your system. A lot of users were able to fix the start menu not working issue via performing the PowerShell command.

• Tap on the Windows icon and just type run in the search box.
• Now open the Run dialog box from the search results and type PowerShell in the box. Tap on Ctrl + Shift + Enter on your keyboard to open the PowerShell along with administrative permissions.
• Tap on YES whenever you see the prompt message that says ‘do you guys want to make changes on your device.
• Now, you need to type the following command and click on enter. You can also directly copy-paste the above command.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation) \AppXManifest.xml”}

• Just after the command completes, you can also check if the Window key starts working on your system as well.

Use DISM command

DISM command is really much similar to an SFC scan, however, executing a DISM command can also help you repair the image of Windows 10.

• Just open the Run dialog box via a searching run in the search bar of your system.
• Type cmd and tap on Ctrl + Shift + Enter from your keyboard in order to launch the command prompt along with administrative permissions.
• Tap on YES to permit the app order to make changes on your device.
• Just type the following command in the command prompt:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup 

• After the command completes, just type another command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth, and now wait for it to complete.
• When the command completes, you can also restart your computer and then check if the Windows key starts working properly or not.

Check for new Windows updates | Start Button Not Working

You guys may be using an outdated Windows version on your system. And it might actually be the reason why your Windows key is not functioning properly as well. Thus, make sure you keep your Windows 10 up to date. Windows 10 automatically download the updates as well. However, sometimes because of unknown issues, you may have to download the updates manually. Just follow these steps to check for available Windows updates for your system:

• Head to your search bar in the taskbar and head to the Settings app.
• Tap on Update and Security.
• Now under Windows Update, click on check for updates.
• At last, your system will automatically show you the available updates. You can tap on Install Now to download the available updates if any.

After updating your Windows 10, you can also check whether this method could fix the start menu not working in Windows 10.

Restart Windows Explorer

Many users could fix the Windows key not working in Windows 10 via restarting the Windows explorer. Whenever you restart Windows Explorer, you guys will also force the start menu in order to restart as well.

• Tap on Ctrl + Alt + Del from your keyboard and choose task manager.
• Tap on the Process tab.
• Just scroll down and then locate Windows explorer.
• At last, make a right-click and choose Restart.

After the Windows explorer restarts, you can just check if your start menu is working properly or not.

Run a Malware Scan

Many, the malware or virus on your system may avoid the windows key from functioning properly. Thus, you can run malware as well as a virus scan on your system. You can also use the free version of Malwarebytes, which is good antivirus software. You guys also have the option of using any other antivirus app of your choice. Running a malware scan will also remove harmful third-party apps or software that was actually causing the Windows key from losing its functionality.

• Just now download and install Malwarebytes on your system.
• Open the software and tap on the Scan option.
• Again, tap on the start scan button.
• At last, wait for Malwarebytes to finish scanning your device for any virus as well as harmful apps too. If you guys find any harmful files after the scan, you can just easily remove them from your system.

Conclusion

Well, That is all from my side. If you want to know more about this article or have any queries. Then feel free to ask me anything in the comments section below.

Have a Good Day!

Also See: How to Fix Windows 10 Freezing on Startup