My start menu won't open

Re-register the Windows built-in apps first, because this repairs components used by both the Start menu and Microsoft Solitaire Collection.^1^

1. Re-register the built-in apps

Because Start does not open:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Select File > Run new task. If File is hidden, select More details first.
3. Enter powershell.
4. Select Create this task with administrative privileges, then select OK.
5. Run:

Get-AppxPackage | ForEach-Object {
    Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode `
        -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"
}

6. Ignore individual red error messages about packages currently in use.
7. Restart the computer using Ctrl + Alt + Delete > Power > Restart, then test Start and Solitaire.

2. Repair Windows system files if Start still fails

Open an administrator Command Prompt through Task Manager > File > Run new task, enter cmd, and select the administrative-privileges option.

Run these commands in order:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Allow DISM to finish before starting SFC, and do not close the window until SFC reaches 100%. DISM repairs the Windows component source that SFC uses; SFC then replaces damaged protected system files.^2^

Restart Windows and test Start again.

3. Repair Solitaire separately if Start now works

If Start is fixed but Solitaire still does not open:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter ms-settings:appsfeatures and press Enter.
3. Select Microsoft Solitaire Collection > Advanced options.
4. Select Repair and test the game.
5. If Repair does not work, select Reset. Reset can remove the app’s locally stored settings and data.^3^
6. Open Microsoft Store > Downloads and updates > Get updates, and install available Store and Solitaire updates. Microsoft also recommends reinstalling the app or running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter when Store apps continue to fail.^4^

If Settings will not open, launch Microsoft Store directly from Task Manager by creating a new task with:

ms-windows-store:

Then update or reinstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection from the Store library.

4. Recovery fallback

If Start, Settings, and Store all remain unusable after app registration and DISM/SFC, use Windows Recovery:

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
2. Hold Shift, select Power > Restart, and keep holding Shift until recovery opens.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
4. If the issue began immediately after an update, use Uninstall Updates or System Restore instead, when available.

As a last resort, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files. This preserves personal files but removes installed applications, so back up important data first.

Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; after recovering the PC, check whether it supports Windows 11 so it can continue receiving security fixes.^3^

References

1. Windows 10 -Critcal Error Your Start menu isn't not workingWe try to fix it the next time you sign in - Microsoft Q&A
2. Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files | Microsoft Support
3. Windows 10
4. Windows 10