Windows Explorer, also known as a file explorer, is an application to browse your file system and open programs and files in Windows 10. It also has control over things like the start menu, taskbar, and other applications. Sometimes it may crash and sometimes you may come across the Windows 10 Start Button Not Working issue. But don’t worry, we have all the solutions for you here.
See also: 8 Ways to Fix Internet Explorer has Stopped Working
Table of Contents
Reasons for Windows 10 Start Button Not Working
- The trouble may be with your keyboard. It could be damaged; try to alternate your keyboard and test if the problem still occurs. If it does, then it is a Windows problem.
- Sometimes, a third-party software application mode can also disable the start button.
- Your outdated or incompatible drivers can also freeze your start button.
- Windows 10 additionally has a filter key feature which sometimes is the reason for trouble with the start button.
Methods to fix Windows 10 Start Button Not Working
Some of the methods are listed below :
Sign out and Re-login on your Account
Sometimes just a simple re-login can fix your issues. To sign out and to re-login in your account, follow these steps :
- Go to the windows logo or start menu.
- Click on your profile and select sign-out.
- Then, you can type your password and re-login to your account.
- Finally, check if your key is running or not. If the key is not operating, try using other methods.
Disable Game Mode on your Windows
If you use game mode on your Windows 10 system, it could be why you are dealing with the issue of Windows 10 Start Button Not Working.
To fix it, follow the steps given below :
- Click on the Windows icon from the taskbar and type settings in the search bar.
- When settings are open, go to the game section.
- Click on the game mode tab from the panel to the left.
- Finally, turn off the game mode.

- Check if you were able to resolve the issue. If not, attempt method 3.
See also: Steam Games Not Launching on Windows 10/8.1/8/7
Run System File Checker Scan
Windows 10 comes with a system file checker tool known as SFC scan. You can perform this scan to locate corrupt files on your system to find out why your Windows 10 Start Button Not Working.
Follow the steps given underneath to execute the SFC scan.
- Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and search Run.
- Once the run dialogue box opens, type cmd and click on ctrl + shift + enter on your keyboard to release the command.
- Click YES, when you see a message that says, ” Do you want to make changes to your device? “
- Now, type the following command and hit enter SFC/Scannow.

- Wait for the system to scan and fix your files. (NOTE: DO NOT SHUT DOWN OR EXIT YOUR SYSTEM DURING THE SCAN.)
- After the scan completes, restart your computer and check.
- If the problem is still not fixed, try other methods.
Use the Power Shell Command
Power shell commands can perform numerous commands to fix the issues of Windows 10 Start Button Not Working on your system. Many users were able to resolve the problem with this approach.
- Click on the windows icon and type Run in the search bar.
- Open the run dialogue box and type Power shell in the box.
- Click Ctrl + shift + enter on your keyboard to execute the power shell.
- Click YES when you see a message that says, ” Do you want to make changes on your device. “
- Now type the following command and then enter.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation) AppXManifest.xml”}

- After the command completes, you may check if the start button is working or not.
Try the DISM Command
The DISM command is much like an SFC scan but executing this command allows you to repair windows 10 images. So this can be way to fix your Windows 10 Start Button Not Working issue.
- Follow the below steps to launch this command. Click on the windows bar
- Open the run dialogue box by searching run in the search bar
- Type the command cmd and click on Ctrl + Shift + Enter in your keyboard to launch the command.
- Click YES to allow the app to make changes to your device.
- Type this command in the command prompt.
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
- After the command completes, type another command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth and wait for it to end.

- Once the command is completed, check if your window key is working properly or not.
Restart the Windows Explorer
Some users could fix the Windows 10 Start Button Not Working by restarting windows explorer. When you restart windows explorer, you will also force the start button to restart as well. To restart the windows explorer, follow the steps given underneath :
- Press Ctrl +Shift + Del from your keyboard and select task manager.
- Select on the Process tab.
- Go down and search for windows explorer.
- Finally, make a right-click and select Restart.

- After windows explorer restarts, you can check your start button.
See also: 10 Ways to Fix Windows 10 File Explorer Won’t Open
Reset Windows 10
The is the last resort. This is a step you should use if none of the above methods works for fixing Windows 10 Start Button Not Working. It will keep all of your files but erase off all the apps that you may have downloaded. In short, this will make your PC the way it was when it came out of the factory.

You should take a backup of anything important either in your google hard drive or any other cloud software or physical backups in a Hard Disk. Then we should use our friend’s run dialog box hopefully for the last time for resolving problems. Type in “PowerShell.” Run the following command “systemreset” in the PowerShell window. Then choose the option to “Keep my files,” let the wizard do its thing, and reset your device. The wizard will guide you pretty well after that about what to do.
See also: How To Do Windows 10 Incremental Backup?
Conclusion
We hope at least one of the above methods worked and you’ve fixed your Windows 10 Start Button Not Working issue, and you didn’t have to factory reset your PC. Suppose you have any other problem that you are facing. Write them down in the comments.
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