[Fix] Start Menu Not Working in Windows 10 May 2020 Update Version 2004
If you upgraded or installed the latest Windows 10 feature update which is May 2020 Update version 2004 (build 19041) in your computer and Start Menu is not working, this article will help you in fixing the issue.
Many readers who upgraded to Windows 10 version 2004, reported that Start Menu stopped working in the new Windows 10 feature update. When they open Start Menu, nothing works. They are unable to launch apps, programs, pinned items. In fact they are unable to access power options and user account options.
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Following is a comment from our reader “Gregory S” which describes the issue in details:
Just upgraded to build 19041.264 and have been having lots of headaches with it. Main one is that no matter what I do the new start menu will not work properly. Expand, Pinned Apps and All Apps icons don’t work. Power options when clicked on are hidden by the main search box window, same with options of My Account icon. I have followed every trick and tweak I can find on your website plus some others found online. Nothing makes the new start menu function properly. Wondering if other readers or VG have had similar experiences and maybe a solution. Thanks for your input.
After some troubleshooting, it was found that everything in Start Menu was being overridden by Search box result window. The reader shared the result in his next comment:
On further investigation I was wrong, start menu items are working properly just can’t see them because whenever start menu is opened, the items are all hidden by the main search box which opens on top every time. I am assuming it is not supposed to do this.
So what caused this issue? Actually he applied a registry tweak (shared at following link) to enable a hidden secret immersive UI for search box in Windows 10 which stopped working in Windows 10 version 2004 and caused the broken Start Menu.
[Tip] Enable Hidden Secret Immersive Search Bar UI in Windows 10
Here is the final comment from the reader containing the reason behind the issue:
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Solved my issue. It was being caused by a tweak I really liked and was using (Enable Hidden Secret Immersive Search Bar UI in Windows 10) When ImmersiveSearch DWORD enabled to 1 it caused my problems. Set it to 0 and immediately start menu and search box work properly. Kind of sad because I really liked the minimized search window and would like to get it back working too.
Another reader “Mykou” confirmed the issue:
Sadly, the tweak doesn’t work anymore on update 2004 to come this month. It pops up to override start menu.
So if you are also facing broken Start Menu issue in latest Windows 10 version 2004 and the search box UI is covering Start Menu area, just remove ImmersiveSearch DWORD from following key in Registry Editor:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
As soon as you delete the DWORD from Registry Editor, it’ll fix the Start Menu issue.
BONUS TIP:
You can get back the Immersive floating Search bar in Windows 10 using following workaround:
[Tip] Restore Immersive Floating Search Bar in Windows 10 (Sort of)
Also Check:
[Tip] Do This When Start Menu Not Working in Windows 10
[Tip] Speedup Start Menu Opening / Launching in Windows 10
[Fix] Start Menu and Taskbar Icons Not Working in Windows 10 After Update
Great !
Works fine now .
I`m home (Start) again !
😉
Hugs from Brazil,
Jay
I had this problem very long on my main PC, Thank you for making an article how to fix this.
aww i had the same issue and tried before update the same trick about immersive search ! i have fixed it by myself the same way as you explained, thoughting about my mistake after a few research along the web (without success) ! thanks for this info ! lot of people as me did this trick without thinking that the upgrade could melt startmenu and search panel….
Glad to hear my solved issue has helped others too. Thanks for publishing it VG.
I am having issues with the Start / windows button not working after installing to the May 2020 update. They do nothing… literally nothing. I can still do the windows btn combo keys (windows btn + I) to bring up settings and etc… but the only way I can power down or change users is to use ctl+alt+del. NOT GOOD. I have tried multiple “fixes”, including creating a New Admin user, none fixed this issue.
Any suggestions??? Help please…..
I was noticing weird things like my calendar would not popup to look at dates, and then my right click on my taskbar wouldn’t work. Now I still use ClassicShell to have that Win7 look and my start menu still worked…. but ClassicShell lets you click on Start Menu (Windows) to see normal. Well I clicked on normal and it wouldn’t do anything.
So thankfully I had ClassicShell still installed – yet still trying various registry tweaks to see what will fix it. My rig has Win10 2004. I dint have the ImmersiveSearch setting set. Going to look elsewhere for a fix before I reimage.
I have searched and tried every fix i could but still not working even this one. What do I do? T_T
Solved, thanks. The feature is back (partially) via the PowerToys tool from Microsoft. You press alt + space and a fully themed narrow bar appears at the center of the screen that only shows apps as you type. One missing feature is the recent documents.
Go for May 2020 update. It will solve all such issues.
I could not remember the reg tweak I had done long ago. Found your post and reset Dword to 0 and all is right as rain again!!
Thank you mate!