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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The “Critical Error: Your Start menu isn’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in” message is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Windows Start failures can involve an update or installation, a crashed process, package activation, or a configuration such as a policy or customization. Work through the checks below to find evidence for the relevant branch before trying more disruptive repairs.
Start with what changed
Note when the error began and whether it followed a Windows update, a registry edit, a change to folder permissions, a Start customization, a policy or device-management change, or installation of a driver or application. Record your Windows version and build by pressing Win+R, entering winver, and selecting OK. These details can help narrow the cause; the wording of the dialog does not identify it on its own.
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Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance recommends considering update history, recent registry or folder changes, and Group Policy or mobile device management settings. It also distinguishes deployment or installation problems from application crashes and Start configuration issues. Read Microsoft’s Start menu troubleshooting guidance.
Check whether the Start menu package is present
Start’s experience host is named Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost, and its process is StartMenuExperienceHost. A package check can help identify an installation or registration problem, but it is not a universal first repair.
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Check the current user
Open PowerShell as the affected user, without elevation, and run:
Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHostIf the command returns package information, the package is present for that user. If it returns no result, that is a clue to investigate—not proof of the cause or a reason to download a package from an unofficial source.
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Check all users when appropriate
An administrator can open an elevated PowerShell prompt and check registrations across user accounts with:
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Get-AppxPackage *StartMenu* -AllUsersMicrosoft documents a registration procedure for cases where the package exists but is not registered for the affected user. Follow Microsoft’s instructions carefully: the registration command should be run in a non-elevated PowerShell prompt for the intended user. Running it elevated can target a different account context. Microsoft warns that unsupported manual installation methods are unreliable if the package is absent for every user. See Microsoft’s package and registration guidance.
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Look for a crash or package activation failure
Event logs can show whether the Start host is crashing or failing to activate. In Event Viewer, inspect the Application log for Event IDs 1000 and 1001 associated with StartMenuExperienceHost.exe. For activation problems, check Microsoft-Windows-TWinUI/Operational for messages such as “Package was not found” or “Package could not be registered.”
Depending on the symptoms, Microsoft also identifies AppX deployment, Shell-Core, AppReadiness, PushNotification, CloudStore, and Start layout logs as potentially useful. Related failures may involve explorer.exe, Search, or ShellExperienceHost.exe, so note the process and event details rather than assuming Start itself is the only component involved. The Microsoft troubleshooting guide describes these diagnostic paths.
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Repair Windows system files if corruption is plausible
If system-file corruption is a reasonable possibility, Microsoft recommends installing available Windows updates and restarting first. Then open Command Prompt as administrator and run the commands in this order:
-
Run
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthand wait for it to report successful completion.Best Value
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After DISM finishes successfully, run
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Microsoft Support says, “System File Checker (SFC) is a Windows tool that checks system files for corruption and helps fix problems that may cause Windows to malfunction.” These tools address Windows image and system-file integrity; they are repair attempts, not a guaranteed cure for every Start menu failure. See Microsoft’s System File Checker instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Isolate third-party software when Start is installed but will not run
If the Start component is installed but not running, Microsoft suggests testing in Safe Mode or using msconfig to isolate third-party drivers and applications. This can help determine whether software outside Windows is involved. On a work- or school-managed PC, ask the administrator to review policy, device-management settings, folder permissions, or relevant logs before changing them yourself.
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Choose the next step based on the evidence
| Check or action | What it helps investigate | Risk and audience |
|---|---|---|
| Review update history and recent changes | Whether the issue began after an update, configuration change, or new software | Low-complexity check for any user |
| Check package registration and Event Viewer | Whether Start is missing, unregistered, crashing, or failing activation | Diagnostic; some checks require an administrator, and registration must use the intended user context |
| Run DISM and SFC | Possible Windows image or system-file corruption | Supported repair attempt requiring an elevated Command Prompt; not a guaranteed fix |
Try Safe Mode or isolate software with msconfig |
Whether third-party drivers or applications affect a running Start component | Diagnostic isolation; change startup settings carefully |
Do not assume the message always means a bad update, corrupted user profile, antivirus conflict, or damaged system files. Avoid routine registry deletions and destructive package-folder cleanup based on anecdotal fixes; they can create additional problems without establishing the cause. Microsoft’s cited PC-reset and Startup Repair instructions address File Explorer issues, not a proven universal repair for this exact Start message. Use recovery options only when the evidence and applicable Microsoft guidance support that escalation, and check the data implications before proceeding.
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