Guide: Fix ‘Windows 10 Start Menu and Cortana Not Working’ Issue
Windows Start Menu is the ultimate way to quickly access everything you need to do on your computer. Want to quickly find a file, launch an app, add useful tools or maybe switch user profiles? You have to be at the Start menu. Cortana is really cool too featureBut what happens if these Windows Start Menu and Cortana stop working on your computer? If you try to use the Start menu and Cortana on your computer, a ‘Critical Error’ message will appear up on the screen, we have listed four troubleshooting options that can help you solve the problem in the section below.
This error is most common when a user tries to use Cortana or the Start Menu after a Windows update. Some other causes include the presence of malware on your computer or antivirus software that prevents it (read: Cortana and Start menu) from working. Whatever the problem, the methods below will get both elements working again.
1. Log out of current profile
By simply logging out of the profile you are currently signed in with and logging in again, you can fix the Start menu and Cortana errors on your computer. Normally, you want to sign out of the current profile from the Start menu, but since it won’t work, there are other ways to sign out. Here is how to go for it. Step 1: Tap the Windows key + X button on your keyboard to open the quick access menu. You can also just right click on the bottom left corner of your PC screen. Step 2: Tap the option ‘Shut down or sign out’ or hover your mouse over the option.
Step 3: Select Sign Out.
That would sign you out of the profile you are currently signed into. Now log into the same profile and check if Cortana and the Start menu are working. Restart your computer if they don’t work.
And if that doesn’t work, try the next method below.
2. Disable or update Antivirus
Some antivirus apps can cause the error ‘Start menu and Cortana not working’ to appear.up whenever you try to use Cortana or activate the Start menu on your device. That error is especially common among users who have Avast Antivirus installed on their PC.
If you cannot use your computer’s Start menu or Cortana and you have an antivirus program installed, you must update it to the latest version or one that is compatible with your PC’s operating system.
If Cortana and the start menu still don’t work after updating your antivirus, you should remove them. After that, restart your computer and check if the problem got fixed.
3. Create a new user profile
This is another solution that fixes the problem with the Cortana and your PC’s start menu not working. During the investigation, we found that some users who have struggled with this problem in the past were able to fix it by simply creating a new user profile on their computer.
That should work for you too, and here it is how to go for it. Step 1: Tap the Windows key + I button to display the Windows settings menu. Step 2: Select ‘Accounts’.
Step 3: Select ‘Family & Other Users’ in the right pane / section of the Accounts page.
Step 4: Scroll to the Other users section and tap on the ‘Add someone else to this PC’ option.
Pro Tip Disconnect your PC from the internet before proceeding. Otherwise, you would be forced to create an online Microsoft account (via email or phone number) for the new user profile. You don’t need that. Step 5: Fill in the required information for the new profile and tap Next.
To be on the safe side, you can create the profile without a password. However, using a password will protect your account, files, etc. Ahead, the next thing to do is give the new profile administrator privileges so that you can access your files. Step 6: Right click on the newly created user profile and tap ‘Change account type’ button
Step 7: Tap the Account type drop-down list button
Step 8: Select Admin and tap OK to save the change.
Finally, log out of the current profile and log in to our computer with the newly created profile. The Start menu and Cortana should now work. Use the new profile for a while and switch back to the old profile to see if the Start Menu and Cortana have returned to their normal state. If this doesn’t work, try the next method below.
4. Register Cortana again
Re-registering (resetting and reinstalling) the Cortana app using the Windows PowerShell also helps fix the start menu and Cortana problem not working. This gives them (Start Menu and Cortana) a refresh and gets them back to work.
Follow the steps below to get it done. Step 1: Tap the Windows key + R button to open the Run dialog box. Step 2: Type powershell in the box provided and tap OK or Enter on your keyboard.
This will start the Windows PowerShell console. Step 3: Tap or paste the code below into the PowerShell console and tap Enter on your keyboard. $ manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore). InstallLocation + ‘AppxManifest.xml’; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $ manifest
Step 4: Wait for the code to run (takes about 5 – 10 seconds) and restart your computer. Your PC’s start menu and Cortana should now work without an error when you log in after a reboot.
Back to the beginning
Without the start menu, there are many things you wouldn’t be able to do on your Windows PC. Plus, you miss out on the benefits of Cortana when it doesn’t work. Use one of the troubleshooting tips above to return both Windows elements to their normal error-free state on your computer. The next up: Can’t find some Windows 10 apps in your PC’s Start menu? The article below lists 10 different ways to fix this error so that you can access apps and programs on your computer. See.
Fix ‘Windows 10 Start Menu and Cortana Not Working’ Issue: benefits
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