Start Menu is one of the most valuable components of Windows 10. It allows us to access installed apps and settings quickly.

Running PC in safe mode is a quick way around the critical error

  • The Critical Error, Start Menu not working issue can be caused by outdated PC.

  • If the Start Menu is not working, the first steps you should do are to hide Cortana and disable Internet Explorer.

  • Ending the Local Security Authority Process is another effective fix to solve this issue.

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However, sometimes the feature might not work as expected as users reported that Start Menu keeps disappearing in the past.

Now, many users reported a Critical Error – Start menu not working message on Windows 10. You might want to look closely at our solutions if you have the same problem.

What causes Critical error in Start Menu?

If your Start Menu isn’t working in Windows 11, it may be followed by this error message. This can occur if the system files are damaged or corrupted.

Corrupt system files can also lead to Critical Process Died BSOD error, but luckily that’s not the case here.

Remember that these errors can affect other components; many reported a critical error in Cortana on Windows. Luckily, there are ways to fix these issues, and today we’ll show you how.

Problems with Start Menu can drastically affect your user experience. Speaking of problems, users reported the following issues with their Start Menu:

  • Start Menu and Cortana not working: Start Menu and Cortana are closely related to Windows 10. However, many users reported that both Start Menu and Cortana aren’t working on their PC.
  • Start Menu won’t open windows 10: In some cases, your Start Menu won’t even open. This can be a big problem, but you should be able to solve it by using one of our solutions.
  • The Start Menu won’t go away: Several users reported that their Start Menu wouldn’t go away. According to users, they can open the Start Menu but cannot close it.
  • Start Menu randomly opens windows 10: Users reported that Start Menu randomly opens on their PC. This is an annoying problem since Start Menu will interfere with other applications on your screen.
  • Start Menu tiles missing, icons missing – Several users reported that their tiles and icons in Start Menu are missing. This can be a problem, but you should be able to fix it with one of our solutions.

What is a critical error on a computer?

A critical error is a severe issue that affects the operations of a computer. When this error occurs, it forces the computer to stop its process and makes it impossible for the affected component to continue working.

To curtail this critical error and prevent lasting damages, a computer might starts freezing or restarting.

How can I fix Start Menu not working error?

1. Enter Safe Mode

  • Press the Windows key + I and select Update & Security.
  • Choose the Recovery option in the left pane.
  • Click the Restart now button under the Advanced startup section.
  • When your PC restarts, click Troubleshoot.
  • Select Advanced options.
  • Now, click the Startup Settings option.
  • Click the Restart button.
  • Once your computer restarts again, press F5 to access Safe Mode with Networking.

Critical Error – Start menu not working can be troublesome, but users claim this error can be fixed by entering the Safe Mode. Once done, verify if the Critical Error with Start Menu in Windows 10 is fixed.

2. Uninstall Dropbox/your antivirus software

  • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run prompt.
  • Type appwiz.cpl in the run box and click OK.
  • Locate Dropbox on the list and choose Uninstall.
  • After you’ve removed Dropbox, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Many users reported Dropbox as the main culprit for Critical Error – Start menu not working error. To fix this issue, you have to remove Dropbox from your computer.

After doing so, check if the Critical Error Your start menu isn’t working in Windows Server 2016 error message disappears, in case you are using the particular version. The method would work on other iterations of the OS as well.

3. Temporary hide Cortana from Taskbar

  • Right-click the Taskbar and choose Cortana> Hidden.
  • Now right-click Taskbar again and choose Cortana > Show search icon.
  • Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Some users reported that Cortana is causing the Critical Error Start Menu not working issue. Hiding the icon from your Taskbar, in this case, should fix the problem.

4. Switch to a new admin account and delete the TileDataLayer directory

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • When Task Manager opens, click on File > Run new task.
  • Type cmd and check Create this task with administrative privileges.
  • Click the OK button.
  • Type the command below and press Enter: net user /add admin1 password1
  • This will create a new user account named admin1 with password password1.
  • Now, type the command below and hit Enter to make the new account to admin: net localgroup administrators admin1 /add
  • Close Command Prompt, and sign out of your current account.
  • Now, go to the newly created admin1 account. Use the password1 you created to log in.
  • Press Windows key + R, enter %localappdata%, and click OK.
  • From here, locate the TileDataLayer folder and right-click on it.
  • Select the Delete option.
  • Finally, Sign out of the new admin1 account and switch back to your regular account.

If the Critical Error – Start menu not working message is showing on one user admin account, you can fix it by switching to another account and deleting the TileDataLayer directory. You can follow the steps above if you don’t have another account.

5. End Local Security Authority Process

  • Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  • Scroll down on the Processes tab and locate the Local Security Authority Process.
  • Right-click on it and choose End task.
  • Close Task Manager and restart your computer. After your computer restarts, check if the issue is resolved.

To fix Critical Error – Start menu not working, it’s advised that you end Local Security Authority Process using Task Manager. You can now restart your PC and see if the error persists.

Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.Click here to download and start repairing.

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6. Disable Internet Explorer

  • Press Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and click OK.
  • Click on Turn Windows features on or off in the left pane.
  • Uncheck the box for Internet Explorer 11.
  • If you get a warning message, click Yes.
  • Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

7. Create two new administrator accounts and transfer the Database folder

  • Launch Command Prompt as admin, enter the commands below, and hit Enter to create two new accounts. net user /add admin1 password1 net user /add admin2 password2 net localgroup administrators admin1 /add net localgroup administrators admin2 /add
  • Log out of your current account and go to the admin1 account created.
  • Use password1 to log in and restart your computer.
  • After your computer restarts, go to the admin2 account and use password2 as the password.
  • Follow the path below: C:\Users\admin1\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer
  • If you can’t find the AppData folder, click the View tab, and check the box for Hidden items.
  • Copy the Database folder in TileDataLayer.
  • Now, go to the path below to access your main account: C:\Users\Your_username\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer
  • Rename the Database folder to Database.old.
  • Paste the new Database folder from admin1.
  • Restart your computer and go back to your main account.

This process requires you to create two administrator accounts, and we have to warn you that the process might seem a bit confusing at times, so try to follow the steps closely. If the issue is fixed, remove the administrator profiles you created.

If your administrator account is disabled in Windows 10, find out how you can enable it in this helpful guide.

8. Restart your computer

  • Press the Windows button.
  • Click the Power icon in the bottom left corner.
  • Choose the Restart option.

Since Windows 10 doesn’t work like previous versions of Windows when it comes to shutting down. Your data doesn’t get completely cleared when you shut down your computer.

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This can cause a few issues, like the Critical Error Start Menu. A few users reported that restarting fixed most of their problems, so feel free to try it.

9. Make sure your Windows is up to date

  • Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
  • Choose Update & Security.
  • Click the Check for update button.
  • Finally, click the Install now button to update your PC.

Microsoft is aware of the Critical Error Start Menu issue, and a permanent fix might be available through Windows Update. Therefore, ensure to download all the latest updates for Windows 10.

10. Switch to a different user account

You might want to switch to a different user account if the problem persists. We’ve already shown you how to create a new user account using Command Prompt.

So, create a new account, and move your files to it as a temporary workaround. Follow these steps to add how many accounts you need.

Once done, verify if the Critical Error with Start menu in Windows 11 is fixed. If not, head to the next method.

11. Reset Windows 10

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Select the Update & Security option.
  • Choose Recovery in the left pane.
  • Click the Get started option under the Reset this PC section.
  • Choose the Keep my files option.
  • Finally, click Next, followed by Restart.

If you’re still getting Critical Error – Start menu not working message, you might want to consider resetting Windows 10. This is the last resort but has proven effective in solving the issue.

How do I fix the Critical Error Start Menu on Windows 11?

The Critical Error Start Menu not working on Windows 11 can be caused by faulty system files. Also, it might be due to glitches on some processes on your PC. This can be fixed easily by restarting your computer.

Since the causes of the issue are similar to that of Windows 10, you can apply the fixes in our guide to solve it.

How do I check Critical Errors in Windows 10?

  • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run utility.
  • Type eventvwr.msc in the run box and hit Enter to open the Event Viewer.
  • Click the Windows Log folder in the left pane.
  • Choose any options under the folder to view the activities in the middle pane.

Critical Error – Start menu not working can be a significant problem and seriously affect your Windows 10 experience. The methods listed here would also work in the case of an HP laptop Critical Error with Start menu.

We previously covered similar Start Menu issues, and if your Start Menu isn’t working, feel free to check those articles for more solutions.

If you have any other questions, feel free to drop them in the comments section below, and we’ll surely take a look.

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