One of the apps you’ll find there, the Start menu, is unrecognisable. Live Tiles have been ditched for a simple launcher, consisting of ‘Pinned’ apps alongside ‘Recommended’ files and programs. While you can roll back to Windows 10, most people will be used to them by now. So what do you do if they suddenly disappear? That can happen after an update or restart, making Windows 11 very frustrating to navigate. You can use the Windows key on the keyboard to bring up the Start menu (and rest of the taskbar), but it’s far from an ideal workaround. Fortunately, there are potential solutions available. Only one is recommended by Microsoft, while the other is a useful alternative if you’d rather not make changes to the Registry while waiting for a fix.
How to fix missing Start menu and taskbar permanently
Microsoft is usually quick to patch bugs like these, but there have been no reports of any recent issues. If you’ve tried restarting your device and installing any outstanding updates, you’re probably looking for a more permanent. We can’t guarantee the the following method will work for you, but it has solved the issue in the past. Just be aware that it involves making changes to your device via the registry, many of which can’t be undone. If you’re in any doubt, try the temporary solution (below) first.
How to fix missing Start menu and taskbar temporarily
Understandably, you might be reluctant to make changes to the registry for what should be a temporary problem. Microsoft has fixed similar issues in the past, but there is an alternative if you’d rather avoid dealing with the registry. However, it takes slightly longer than the permanent solution: If neither of these work and you need an urgent solution, consider resetting your device. Head to Settings > System > Recovery and click ‘Reset PC’ to get started, but this should be considered a last resort. You’ll also want to back up your device first.
Related articles for further reading
I forgot my Windows password. How do I log in?How to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft accountWindows 11: Everything you need to know
As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.
