How to reset Start menu to fix problems on Windows 11

• To fix Start menu problems on Windows 11, run the PowerShell command:
  Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage.
• This will reset the Start menu without deleting custom settings. You can also restart the service using Stop-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost" -Force to fix glitches.

UPDATED 7/8/2025: On Windows 11, you can use a PowerShell command to reset the Start menu components and resolve common issues. The command will come in handy when the menu fails to open, freezes, or behaves unexpectedly.

The Reset-AppxPackage command option allows you to reset the Start menu and other components, as well as built-in apps (such as Microsoft Store, Windows Security, and others), to resolve issues when it’s impossible to uninstall or reset the component using the Settings app.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to reset the Start menu components and resolve issues on Windows 11.

Reset Start menu with PowerShell on Windows 11

To reset the Start menu to fix problems on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

   Quick tip: If the Start menu doesn’t open, use the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keyboard shortcut (or right-click the Taskbar and choose the “Task Manager” option) to open Task Manager, click the “Run new task” option from the top-right, type powershell, check the “Create this task with administrative privileges” option and click the “OK” button, and continue on step 3.

2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to reset the Start menu components and press Enter:

   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage

   

Once you complete the steps, the Start menu app will reset without affecting the custom settings you may have configured.

Restart Start menu process

Alternatively, you can also restart the Start menu service through PowerShell to resolve issues:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to stop the Start menu service and press Enter:

   Stop-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost" -Force

   

4. Type the following command to confirm the service restarted again and press Enter:

   Get-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost"

After completing the steps, the service should restart, and the Start menu should function properly again.

If you’re experiencing issues with the Start menu, the problem may be related to your current user profile. You can always create a new local account on Windows 11 to confirm if the Start menu works. If it does, then transfer your files and settings to the new account, delete the old account, and then link the local account to your Microsoft account.

Update July 8, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.