{Solved} Fix Start Menu and Cortana Aren’t Working Error

Windows 10 users do face some common issues. One of these is a critical error start menu, and Cortana isn’t working during which they lock up and become unresponsive. We can delay Rectifying Cortana error for a while, but start menu issues are of very important for everyday use. There are a number of reasons for this error such as Windows Configuration, and the other is antivirus software.

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When Windows 10 was launched, it received a great welcome as many people updated their Windows from Windows 8 to Windows 10 in less than 24 hours of its launch. But people were troubled and frustrated when the start menu began to misbehave.

The start menu is the option which displays everything that is on Windows, so naturally, it becomes annoying when it suddenly stops working and makes it nearly impossible to do anything on your PC.

How to Fix Start Menu and Cortana Aren’t Working Error

So if you are also facing these issues below are some ways to fix the critical error when start menu and Cortana aren’t working, and I hope your errors would be rectified soon and your PC will be working like usual again.

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Method 1: Checking and Repairing corrupt Window files

Window files sometimes become corrupt which creates a nuisance and makes it impossible to work on your PC as it stops the working of the start menu as well. But fortunately, Windows 10 has developed a way to resolving this.

1. Launch Task Manager – Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys at the same time and alternatively, right click on the taskbar and then select Task manager.

2. Run a new Windows task– When Task manager window opens, click on More details option and then select Run new task from the File menu.

3. Run Windows Powershell– Type PowerShell in the Run new task box and click on the option ‘create this task with administrative privileges’ and then click OK.

4. Run the system file checker– Type sfc in the window and press return key. Scanning will take some time, and it will be done with either of these results. Also, look up for any Critical Structure Corruption Error in Windows too.

Windows did not find any integrity violations or Windows resource protection found corrupt files and repaired them, or Windows resource protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix them.

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Method 2: Create New User Profile or Account

Creating a new user account is an excellent option to opt when start menu and Cortana aren’t working. All your settings would transfer to the new account when you will upgrade it from the default account. All the files would require to transfer from one account to the other. Your installed software won’t affect.

1. Launch task manager – Open task manager and choose Run new task from the File menu. Click on the box for Create this task with administrative privileges and type the new username and new password. Neither of them would contain spaces, and the password would be case sensitive.

2. Log into your new account – Restart your Windows and long into the new user account. Start menu must be working now. After this, you can change the local account to the Microsoft account for transferring your data.

Method 3: Refresh your PC

It is another way to fix the error when start menu and Cortana aren’t working. You can refresh your Windows 10 installation which is almost the same as reinstalling the operating system. This can also help you fix and Windows 10 Random Restart or Slow Shutdown Error.

Moreover, documents would remain the same, but you will need to reinstall the applications that are not part of Windows.

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Method 4: Reinstallation of all Windows apps

By downloading and reinstalling all Windows 10 apps, you can make your start menu work again. It This won’t be a challenging task as the Windows apps are built into Windows 10 and are readily available from Windows store. The reinstallation is automatic and quick so that it will take only a few minutes. You need to make sure that all your data should get save in these windows apps as a back up before as the process might delete any data that could be important for you.

1. For reinstalling launch the task manager and open a new PowerShell window.

When it is opened copy this line Get-AppXPackage –AllUsers I Foreach {Add-AppxPackage –DisableDevelopmentMode –Register”$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml’) and paste it into the PowerShell window.

2. Then wait until the time downloading and installation takes place and restart windows.

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Method 5: Boot into Safe Mode and then come back to normal mode

Though some people claim that it is only a temporary fix for the issue as the critical error again appears after some time. But still, this is one of the best ways to try to rectify the problem when start menu and Cortana aren’t working. As a lot of people have accepted that booting into safe mode and then returning to normal mode removes the critical error.

1. When Windows 10 starts, click on Windows key + L to log out.

2. Click on the Power button placed in the bottom right corner and then click restart and shift at the same time. Also, check for any Application Error 0xc0000142.

3. The computer will now restart to boot options. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced > Startup Settings. Click on Restart button.

4. Once your computer gets restart, press F5 to access safe mode with networking.

5. The problem would resolve by now by entering the safe mode. You need to restart your PC now.

Method 6: Download Start menu troubleshooter

Almost every person that uses Windows 10 confronts the problem when start menu stops working. So Microsoft developed a troubleshooter who will help you to fix problems with the start menu. Though this would be only a temporary fixation of the issue. You simply need to click on the download link for start menu troubleshooter and then run it as per the instructions mentioned.

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Method 7: Turn your PC off and on again and again

We can solve a lot of issues only by turning the laptop on and off again and again. It is a most comfortable method to try when start menu and Cortana aren’t working. So if you are also facing the critical error, try to restart your PC a no. of times and then check if the problem is solved or not. If this method works then your PC would be running smoothly again as before.

Method 8: Scan File System

We call it a System File Check; it will check out your system to find out if anything gets corrupt. For this, Firstly, open the Task Manager window by pressing on CTRL+ SHIFT+ ESC.

After this, you will see the option for File > Run new task. Click on it and then type CMD in the Create new task box and tick the box which is displaying Create this task with administrative privileges. Then click on OK.

A new window will appear now. Type sfc/ scannow in it and press enter. Windows will be scanning your files now and will show you if there are any errors or discrepancies.

Method 9: Install Recent Update of Windows 10

Keep your system up to date is always a good idea to let it work smoothly. As Microsoft is continually improving its progeny, so you should always be aware of its latest updates. As we can solve some critical errors when the Windows gets update. Also, check for any Windows 10 Activation Error if it interrupts your process.

Usually, versions of Windows are automatically designed to report and install newer versions, but if that doesn’t happen, you can quickly update it manually.

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Method 10: Hide Cortana from the taskbar temporarily

Usually, Cortana is responsible for the start menu issue so try to hide it from the taskbar as it might help temporarily. Also be aware of the fact that that third-party antivirus software causes the problem of generating the critical error of the start menu. So try to uninstall it and then reinstall.

So these were ten ways tested and tried by many professionals and users of Windows 10 who faces the problem of the start menu, and Cortana isn’t working. If you are also facing this issue go for any of the suggested methods to solve your problem in no time.