General Restart Start Menu Process in Windows 11


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Start_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to restart the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process to restart the Start menu as needed for your account in Windows 11.

The Start menu is comprised of three sections: Pinned, All apps, and Recommended. The Start menu contains shortcuts of all your apps, settings, and files.

Microsoft separated the Start menu into its own process, called StartMenuExperienceHost.exe. This has a number of benefits, including simplifying debugging and insulating Start from potential issues impacting other surfaces.

This will allow you restart the Start menu as needed without having to restart the explorer.exe process.

Restarting the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process can be helpful if the Start menu will not open, frozen, or acting buggy.


Contents

  • Option One: Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in Task Manager Processes tab
  • Option Two: Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in Task Manager Details tab
  • Option Three: Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in Command Prompt
  • Option Four: Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in PowerShell


EXAMPLE: Start menu

Start_menu.jpg





Option One

Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in Task Manager Processes tab


1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).

2 Click/tap on the Processes tab in Task Manager. (see screenshot below)

3 Select Start in the Name column, and click/tap on the End task button. (see screenshot below)

4 The Start process will now automatically stop and start to restart your Start menu.

5 You can now close Task Manager if you like.

If the Start process doesn't automatically restart, you can run the C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe file to restart it.


Reset_Start_menu_in_Task_Manager-1.png





Option Two

Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in Task Manager Details tab


1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).

2 Click/tap on the Details tab in Task Manager. (see screenshot below)

3 Select StartMenuExperienceHost.exe in the Name column, and click/tap on the End task button. (see screenshot below)

Reset_Start_menu_in_Task_Manager-2.png

4 Click/tap on End process to confirm. (see screenshot below)

Reset_Start_menu_in_Task_Manager-3.png

5 The StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process will now automatically stop and start to restart your Start menu.

If the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process doesn't automatically restart, you can run the C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe file to restart it.


6 You can now close Task Manager if you like.




Option Three

Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in Command Prompt


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the taskkill /f /im StartMenuExperienceHost.exe command into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

3 The StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process will now automatically stop and start to restart your Start menu.

If the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process doesn't automatically restart, you can run the start C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe command to restart it.


4 You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.

Reset_Start_menu_in_command.png





Option Four

Restart StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process (Start menu) in PowerShell


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the taskkill /f /im StartMenuExperienceHost.exe command into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

3 The StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process will now automatically stop and start to restart your Start menu.

If the Stop-Process -Name "StartMenuExperienceHost" -Force process doesn't automatically restart, you can run the Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe" command to restart it.


4 You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.

Reset_Start_menu_in_PowerShell.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Thanks for this Shawn as it also fixes the issue without having to reboot if Alt-tab no longer works all of a sudden during a Windows login session, thought it was Explorer.exe before but wasn't.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10/11, Linux, Android, FreeBSD Unix
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9570
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-8750H 8th Gen Processor 2.2Ghz up to 4.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS 15 9570
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    32GB using 2x16GB modules
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    Toshiba KXG60ZNV1T02 NVMe 1024GB/1TB SSD
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    Microsoft EDGE (Chromium based) & Google Chrome
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Where I find this useful in both Windows 10 and 11 is after an NVIDIA display driver update. Sometimes after the update my start menu doesn't work. Restarting the computer fixes it, but ending the Start process is quicker and easier. The Start process quickly restarts again after ending it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Stigg's Build
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-10900X
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G
    Memory
    Corsair 64 GB (4 x 16 GB) CMW64GX4M4C3000C15 Vengeance RGB Pro 3000Mhz DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 Super Mini ITX 6 GB OC
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" FHD LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor (LS27F350FHEXXY)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Pro Series 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD
    Western Digital Red Pro WD8003FFBX-68B9AN0 8 TB, 7200 RPM, SATA-III
    Western Digital Red Pro WD8003FFBX-68B9AN0 8 TB, 7200 RPM, SATA-III
    PSU
    Corsair HX1200 1200W 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Black Solid Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black
    Keyboard
    Razer Ornata V2
    Mouse
    Razer DeathAdder Essential
    Internet Speed
    FTTN 100Mbps / 40Mbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    N/A
    Other Info
    Logitech BRIO 4k Ultra HD USB-C Webcam
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS
    CPU
    Core i7-8750H
    Motherboard
    Zephyrus M GM501GS
    Memory
    SK Hynix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) HMA82GS6CJR8N-VK 16 GB DDR4-2666 DDR4 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC294
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AU Optronics B156HAN07.1 [15.6" LCD]
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung MZVKW512HMJP-00000 512 GB, PCI-E 3.0 x4
    Samsung SSD 860 QVO 4TB 4 TB, SATA-III
    PSU
    N/A
    Case
    N/A
    Cooling
    N/A
    Mouse
    Razer DeathAdder Essential
    Keyboard
    PC/AT Enhanced PS2 Keyboard (101/102-Key)
    Internet Speed
    FTTN 100Mbps / 40Mbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    N/A
    Other Info
    USB2.0 HD UVC Webcam

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