On Windows 11, you can use a PowerShell command to reset the Start menu components to fix common problems. For instance, the command will come in handy when the menu doesn’t open, freezes, or when something is not working as expected.
The Reset-AppxPackage command option was introduced with the Windows 11 Insider Preview build 20175, and it’s not available only to reset the Start menu. You can also reset other components and built-in apps (such as Mail and Calendar, Microsoft Store, Windows Security, and others) to fix issues when it’s not possible to uninstall or reset the component using the Settings app.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to reset the Start menu components to resolve issues with the experience on Windows 11.
Reset Start menu with PowerShell on Windows 11
To reset the Start menu to fix problems on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Start on Windows 11.
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Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to reset the Start menu components and press Enter:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage
Once you complete the steps, the Start menu app will reset without affecting custom settings you may have configured.
Update June 2, 2022: These steps were originally published in 2020, but it’s been updated to reflect that the feature is available for Windows 11.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.