Experiencing issues where the Taskbar and Start Menu aren't working or showing up on your Windows 11 PC can be quite frustrating. Some users have reported that these elements become unresponsive or fail to load entirely. In severe cases, the desktop might appear completely blank without any icons or the taskbar. Fortunately, there are effective solutions to resolve these problems.

Fix Taskbar and Start Menu Issues Using Command Prompt

One reliable way to address this issue is by deleting a specific registry entry via the Command Prompt. This method is safe and won't cause any unintended effects on your system. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del on your keyboard to open the security screen.
  2. Select Task Manager from the list of options.
  1. In the Task Manager window, click on More details at the bottom left to expand it.
  1. Click on the File menu at the top and select Run new task.
  1. In the Run new task window, type cmd in the Open field and click OK to launch Command Prompt.
  1. In the Command Prompt window, paste the following command and press Enter:
reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0
  1. Your computer will restart automatically. After rebooting, the Taskbar and Start Menu should function properly.

Fix Taskbar and Start Menu Issues by Adjusting Date and Time Settings

If the first method doesn't resolve the issue or you prefer not to modify the registry, you can try adjusting your system's date and time settings. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the security screen, then select Task Manager.
  1. In Task Manager, click More details at the bottom to expand the window.
  1. Click the File menu and choose Run new task.
  1. In the Open field, type control and click OK to open the Control Panel.
  1. In Control Panel, select Date and Time.
  1. In the Date and Time window, go to the Internet Time tab and click Change settings...
  1. Uncheck the box next to Synchronize with an Internet time server and click OK.
  1. Back in the Date and Time window, click on the Date and Time tab and select Change date and time...
  1. Set the date forward by 3-4 days using the calendar, then click OK.
  1. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

If your taskbar is responsive:

  1. Click the Start button, select the Power icon, and choose Restart.

If the taskbar is unresponsive:

  1. Press Alt + F4 to open the shutdown dialog.
  2. Use the arrow keys to select Restart and click OK.

After your PC restarts, the Taskbar and Start Menu should be operational again. Don't forget to reset your date and time settings and re-enable synchronization with an internet time server to ensure accurate system time.