The Start Menu is one of the most important features in Windows 11/10. It’s where users can open their favorite apps, access the settings, search for files, and more. However, sometimes users may notice that their Start Menu icons are missing. This can be frustrating, but don’t worry, there are a few solutions you can try to fix it.

Solution 1: Restart Explorer.exe

The first solution you can try is to restart the Explorer.exe process. This can help refresh the Start Menu and bring back any missing icons.

To restart the Explorer.exe process, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press “Ctrl + Alt + Del” keys simultaneously.

Step 2: Click on “Task Manager”.

Step 3: Scroll down to the “Windows Processes” option and select “Windows Explorer”.

Step 4: Click the “Restart” button at the bottom right corner of the screen.

This should restart the Explorer.exe process and refresh the Start Menu, bringing back any missing icons.

Solution 2: Reinstall Missing Apps

Another solution to fix missing Start Menu icons is to reinstall the missing apps. Sometimes, when an app is uninstalled or corrupted, its icon may disappear from the Start Menu. To reinstall the app, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press “Windows key + I” to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Click on “Apps” and select the “Apps & features” option.

Step 3: Find the missing app in the list and click on it.

Step 4: Click the “Uninstall” button and follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the app.

Step 5: Go to the Microsoft Store or the app developer’s website and download the app again.

Step 6: Finally, launch the app to refresh the Start Menu and bring back the missing icon.

Solution 3: Reset Start Menu

If none of the above solutions work, you can try resetting the Start Menu. This will reset the Start Menu to its default settings and may fix any issues causing the icons to be missing.

To reset the Start Menu, follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the Start Menu and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.

Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter:

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

Step 3: Wait for the process to complete, then restart your computer.

After the computer restarts, check the Start Menu to see if the missing icons are back. If not, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

Conclusion

The Start Menu is an essential part of the user’s Windows experience, allowing them to access their favorite apps and settings easily. However, missing Start Menu icons can be frustrating. We hope the solutions provided above will help you fix any issues with missing Start Menu icons and restore your Windows experience.