Thank you very much for replying, Martin.

However, the solutions you mention are impossible for me unless you know certain shortcuts.

The problem is, my problem is not only restricted to the start button not working, the Windows key combinations don't work either (some still did yesterday), but Windows +I, Windows+R etc. do not work, nor can I type in the search bar.

If you have any other ways of getting to Settings etc., please let me know.

Thank you for your help so far.

Hi Manfred, Michael@CDPH,

Since your Right-click works, we can use that to fix the Left-click without needing a hard reboot.

Method 1: Restart the "Windows Explorer" Process.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. In the "Processes" tab, look for Windows Explorer (it usually has a yellow folder icon). Right-click it and select Restart. The screen will flash black/blank for a few seconds. This is normal. Once the taskbar reappears, try clicking the Start button again.

Method 2: Re-register the Start Menu (The Permanent Fix)

If Method 1 didn't work, the AppX package that runs the Start Menu is likely corrupted. We can force Windows to reinstall it using PowerShell. Right-click the Start button (since that still works) and select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). Paste the following command exactly as written and press Enter:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

You might see some red text or deployment progression bars. Ignore them. Once the prompt returns, copy and paste this second command to fix the internal "Start Menu Experience":

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restart your computer.

Method 3: Fix the "Search" Service Loop

Sometimes the Start Menu fails to open because the Search bar next to it is crashing in a loop.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Task Manager). Go to the Details tab. Look for SearchHost.exe.

Right-click it and select End Task. Windows will immediately restart it automatically. Try clicking Start immediately after.

I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to ACCEPT ANSWER. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

VPHAN

On Windows 11 25H2, the Start menu and Windows key not working after an update matches a known issue in some recent cumulative updates.

Use these steps in order:

1. Restart the device fully
   If Fast Startup is enabled, a full restart can help the Known Issue Rollback (KIR) fix apply automatically. Use Ctrl+Alt+Delete → Power → Restart.
2. Install the latest cumulative update (KB5016629 or later)
   This Start menu issue is addressed in KB5016629. If possible, open Settings → Windows Update and install all pending updates, especially any cumulative update released after August 9, 2022.
3. Let Known Issue Rollback (KIR) apply
   For affected updates (KB5014668, KB5015814, KB5015882), Microsoft uses KIR to automatically roll back the problematic change. This can take up to 24 hours to propagate to consumer and non‑managed devices. Keeping the device powered on and connected to the internet and restarting it can speed this up.
4. If this is an enterprise‑managed device
   Ask the IT admin to deploy the special Group Policy for Known Issue Rollback:
   • Open Group Policy Editor → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → KB5014668 220721_04201 Known Issue Rollback → Windows 11 (original release) and configure it as documented in How to use Group Policy to deploy a Known Issue Rollback.

If the Start menu still does not open after installing the latest cumulative update and allowing time for KIR to apply, contact support or the device administrator, as further investigation of services and drivers may be required.

References:

• June 23, 2022—KB5014668 (OS Build 22000.778) Preview
• July 12, 2022—KB5015814 (OS Build 22000.795)
• July 21, 2022—KB5015882 (OS Build 22000.832) Preview
• Start menu troubleshooting guidance

Use the keyboard to open Settings and then troubleshoot from there.

1. Try opening Settings directly:
   • Press Windows logo key + I together.
   • If Settings opens, use it to continue troubleshooting.
2. If Settings opens, check for Windows updates (this can fix shell/start menu issues):
   • In Windows 11, select Windows Update in the left navigation.
   • Select Check for updates and install any available updates.
3. If the Start button still does not respond but Settings works via the shortcut, use Settings search to reach key areas:
   • Press Windows logo key + I to open Settings.
   • Use the search box at the top (for example, type "update" or "troubleshoot").
4. If Settings does not open at all (even with Windows logo key + I), use basic checks for system responsiveness:
   • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and see if the security screen appears.
   • If the screen is blank/black but the mouse moves, press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver.
   • If the system is frozen, hold the power button for about 20 seconds to force a restart, then test the Start button and Settings again.

If the problem persists after restarts and updates, it indicates a deeper Windows shell issue and may require more advanced repair (such as in-place repair or reset) beyond the provided steps.

References:

• Exploring Windows Settings
• Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Settings in Windows
• Troubleshooting blank screens in Windows

By following this post The keyboard cannot type in the start menu.
The cause is that service named TextInputManagementService does not start automatically at startup. And in my PC, there is no option to change it.
So. I use Task Scheduler to run the service at Log On.

# CMD
sc.exe start TextInputManagementService

# PowerShell
Get-Service -Name 'TextInputManagementService' | Start-Service

Also, FN + Windows could resolve your issue. Like I had it couple of minutes ago, during the gaming I accidentally hit Windows + FN and after quitting the game I've noticed that it stopped to work. So I hit again FN + Windows and it worked.

You are a genius! I also had Armory Crate and was about to go into it when I saw your post. How the heck did it get "locked" in the first place I dont know but I do see that little 🔒 on that key which makes sense you need to press Fn to activate/deactivate. Thank you!