Windows 10 includes a bunch of new features and improvements, and perhaps two of the biggest additions are the new Start menu and Cortana. These two new experiences are meant to help us get things done quickly, but nothing always is perfect. It’ll come the time when the Start menu won’t open or Cortana won’t launch due to internal errors, corruption, or other problems.
One way you can identify and fix many of the problems related with the Start menu on Windows 10, or if you’re having issues opening Cortana, is to use the “Start Menu Troubleshooter”.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to use the troubleshooter to fix any issues when you have problems with the Start menu or Cortana on Windows 10.
Before diving into the troubleshooter, you want to make sure of two things. First, restart your computer, as this simple step could be the solution. Second, make sure your computer is up to date by going to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update and click Check for Update. The problem could be a bug in the operating system and the update could contain the fix.
How to fix the Start menu and Cortana
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Download the Start menu troubleshooter using this direct download link.
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Double-click the *.diagcab file to start the process.
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Click Next, and the troubleshooter will go through a set of automated steps to find and repair any issues.
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If the troubleshooter wasn’t able to find anything wrong, you can simply click the Close button to complete. If there was a problem by default the fix will apply automatically.
You can also click the view detailed information link before closing the window to view the troubleshooter report. The report includes everything the troubleshooter checked to try repairing the Start menu and Cortana, including issues with registry keys, Live Tiles database and application manifest corruption, and other important details.
At this point, you should be able to restart your computer and everything should work as expected. However, if that’s not the case, you should look for an alternative solutions, such as adding a new user account to see if the problem persist, or you can also try resetting your computer to its default settings.
Did the troubleshooter fix your problem? Let us know in the comments below.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].