Posted on 4 How To

Fixed: Unable to click the Start button or anything on the Windows taskbar

Windows runs into a number of issues from time to time. One of them is that the taskbar is not responding; the taskbar stops working and you can’t click the start button or anything on the taskbar at all. There are various reasons why this is happening. However, the issue is often temporary and can be resolved with a simple restart. But in some cases, you will need to take some additional steps. So let’s go ahead and check them out.

Fixed: Unable to click the start button or anything on the taskbar.

The problem can occur for various reasons – due to corrupted files, software errors, or bad Windows updates. However, here are a few fixes that will fix the problem right away:

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Restart File Explorer
  3. Run DISM
  4. Running SFC commands
  5. Update Windows

Now let’s talk about these methods one by one below:

1] Restart your computer

A basic restart often solved the problem. The Start button is not clickable, or the taskbar may freeze due to a software glitch. It is possible that some Windows background service has stopped. Therefore, before proceeding with any further steps, restart your computer and see if it worked.

Also, sometimes your computer worked fine after a reboot. But in some cases, the problem may reappear. To do this, follow the fixes below.

2] Restart File Explorer.

Restarting File Explorer or Windows Explorer can help fix components that are stuck in the user interface. While this usually works for File Explorer, it has also been known to fix the Start Menu crash.

  • Open Task Manager with CVtrl + Shift + Esc
  • Find File Explorer or Windows Explorer in the list
  • Right-click and select Restart.

3] Run DISM

You can also try running DISM or Deployment Image Servicing and Management. It is a command line tool for serving Windows images.

DISM can automatically scan and fix common problems on your Windows PC. In addition, there are different kinds of DISM scans such as the DISM command with CheckHealth, the DISM command with ScanHealth, and the DISM command with RestoreHealth.

Each has its own use cases. For example, DISM with CheckHealth detects any corruption within the local Windows image, but does not repair it. DISM with ScanHealth then determines if there are problems with the Windows image, and finally DISM with RestoreHealth automatically scans and fixes common problems.

You can run all commands one by one, but it would be useful to run a third one. To run DISM, follow these steps:

  • Press Windows Key + R to launch Run.
  • Then type cmd and press CTRL+SHIFT+Enter to run command prompt as administrator.
  • Now run the following commands one by one:
  • DISM with CheckHealth: DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/CheckHealth
  • DISM with ScanHealth: DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/ScanHealth
  • DISM with RestoreHealth: DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealthQuick
  • Let the process complete and then restart your computer and see if you are facing the same issue or not.

4] Run SFC Commands

Finally, you can try running the SFC command. It will scan all system files and replace any corrupted files with a cached copy. Therefore, if any system file is corrupted, this will help fix the problem.

To run an SFC command, follow these steps:

  • Press Windows key + R to launch the Run prompt.
  • Then type WT or CMD and press CTRL+SHIFT+Enter to run command prompt as administrator.
  • Enter the command sfc /scannowand let it complete the checks and fixes.

After that, restart your computer and check if you are still unable to click the Start button or anything else on the taskbar.

5] Update Windows

The issue can also occur due to a software bug and Microsoft has already fixed the issue and released a software update for it. Therefore, updating Windows to the latest version may solve the problem. You can always uninstall recently installed Windows Updates, even if it isn’t and your PC starts running into new problems.

To update Windows, follow these steps:

  • Go to Windows settings.
  • Click on Windows Update in the sidebar.
  • Windows will now automatically start searching for the update and download it for you.
  • Finally, follow the instructions on the screen and install the latest version of Windows and then check if the issue is resolved.

Conclusion:

So, these were some quick ways to fix the error of clicking the start button or anything else on the taskbar. If none of the methods worked for you, try reinstalling Windows. Also, if you get stuck on anything, leave a comment below.

Why can’t I click the start button or anything on the taskbar?

There can be several reasons why the Windows taskbar is not responding, such as:

  • Windows Explorer crashed causing the taskbar to freeze.
  • Some of the system files may have been corrupted.
  • This may be due to a software glitch.
  • You recently updated Windows.

How to fix a stuck start menu in Windows?

A quick restart of Windows Explorer will resolve the issue immediately. Press Ctrl + SHIFT + ESC to open Task Manager. Click “More Info”to expand “Task Manager”and in the “Processes”tab find “Windows Explorer”then right click it and select “Restart”.

CDN CTB