8 Simple Ways to Fix the Start Menu and Taskbar Disappeared in Windows 11/10

The start menu and taskbar, crucial components of the Windows operating system, provide users with an excellent user experience. Therefore, it is difficult for users to utilize PCs without a start menu and taskbar.

If your computer has been restarted but the problem remains. No worries. This passage lists 8 simple ways to fix the start menu and the taskbar disappeared in Windows 11/10.

What Causes the Start Menu and Taskbar Missing?

The reasons of the start menu and the taskbar disappeared in Windows 11/10 may be listed as follows:

• The taskbar is configured to automatically hide when idle.

• The explorer.exe process is not operating properly.

• The screen resolution is incorrectly configured.

• Connected multiple monitors may block the taskbar.

• The faulty service and the corrupt system files.

Way 1: Turn off the Automatically Hide Setting

For Win10:

Steps: Press “Win + I” to run Settings window → Select Personalization → Uncheck the Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.

For Win11:

Steps: Press “Win + I” to run Settings window → Select Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Uncheck the Automatically hide the taskbar.

Way 2: Rerun Windows Explorer Process

Step 1: Press “Ctrl + Alt + Del/ Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to open Task Manager, then click More details.

Step 2: Find the Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, and right-click it, then click End task.

Step 3: Click File → Run new task. (Note that if you use the new Task Manager interface of Win 11, you can directly Run new task without click File.)

Step 4: Type “explorer.exe” in the window, then click OK. Remember to check the Create this task with administrative privileges.

Way 3: Adjust Display Resolution

Steps: Press “Win + I” → Click System → Click Display → Choose the suitable display resolution for your screen. After adjusting the resolution, check if the start menu and the taskbar appear.

Way 4: Change the Project Setting

If multiple monitors are connected to the computer, it may cause the taskbar to disappear on one or all of the monitors. Therefore, you’d better make sure setting PC screen only.

Steps: Press “Win + P”, then select the PC screen only. Then check if your start menu and the taskbar get back.

Way 5: Deleting the IRIS Service

Step 1: Press “Win + R” → Enter "cmd" then click OK.

Step 2: Copy the following command, then click Enter button.

reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0

After running this command, your PC will restart automatically. Then check if your start menu and taskbar show on.

Way 6: Repair Corrupt System Files using SFC

SFC (System File Checker) can scan all protected system files and replace the incorrect version with the correct Microsoft version, which makes great use on maintaining the entire system file.

Step 1: Press "Win + R" → Enter "cmd" then click OK.

Step 2: Type “sfc/scannow” and hit Enter button to start repairing the corrupt system files.

Way 7: Re-register the Start Menu and Taskbar via PowerShell

Step 1: Press “Win + R” → Type "powershell" then click OK.

Step 2: Copy the following command, then click Enter button.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

After that, restart your PC to check if your start menu and taskbar show on. You can type “Ctrl + Alt + Del” to restart the computer.

Way 8: Update the Graphics Driver

Step 1: Press “Win + R” → Enter "devmgmt.msc" → then click OK.

Step 2: Select Display adapters → Right-click the Graphics → Choose the Update driver.

After updating, then restart your computer to see if the start menu and taskbar appear.