The Start menu is where you can find apps, settings, files. And accessing it requires just a click of the Start button on the taskbar or the keyboard. In addition, Microsoft has added several features with Windows 10 build 18317 updates, such as easy finding and launch applications on the Start menu and its own process, called StartMenuExperienceHost.exe.
But what if the Start menu freezes? The first reaction would be to restart your computer. The other solution would be to restart the whole explorer.exe process. fortunately, there is no need for both of them, as Microsoft has made it easy to solve the problem and it simply requires restarting the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process.
There are numerous ways to restart the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process. Follow the steps below to try to get the Start menu working again.
Method 1: Restart Start Menu Using Task Manager Processes Tab
1. Right-click on the Taskbar and click on Task Manager.
2. Now in the Processes tab, scroll under Background processes and look for the program name Start.
3. Now click on the Start program and click on End task.
The Start menu will then automatically restart and start working again.
Method 2: Restart Start Menu By Restarting StartMenuExperienceHost.exe Process In Task Manager Details Tab
1. Right-click on the Taskbar and click on Task Manager.
2. Now click on the Details tab.
3. Under the Details tab, look for the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process and click on End task.
4. Click on End process on the confirmation dialog box.
The Start menu will then automatically restart and start working again.
Method 3: Restart Start Menu Using Command Prompt
1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type the following command in the command prompt window and press Enter.
taskkill /f /im StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
The Start menu will then automatically restart and start working again.
Note: If the Start menu doesn’t restart after entering the above command, put the following command in the command prompt window and press Enter.
start C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.e
Method 4: Restart Start Menu Using PowerShell
1. Open Powershell.
2. Type the following command in the PowerShell window and press Enter.
Stop-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost" -Force
The Start menu will then automatically restart and start working again.
Note: If the Start menu doesn’t restart after entering the above command, put the following command in the command prompt window and press Enter.
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe"
