Problems like Windows Start menu flickering can be a consequence of an issue with your operating system and you will be required to run the troubleshooter. To save you from the worst, you will need to know how to update the display drivers, end the Windows PowerShell experience, run DISM and SFC scans, uninstall Start 10, update Windows and perform a system restore. If you wish to put an end to the flickering, you should find this article useful.
A Few Fixes
Troubleshooter
- Step 1: Press Windows + R to open Run.
- Step 2: Type control then hit Enter to open Control Panel.
- Step 3: Select Troubleshooting then choose Hardware and Sound.
- Step 4: Pick Hardware and Devices then click Next to run Troubleshooter.
- Step 5: Once the troubleshooter has identified the error, Hit Apply this fix then wait for the process to get complete.
Update Display Drivers
- Step 1: Press Windows + X to open Quick Link Menu.
- Step 2: Click Device Manager.
- Step 3: Double-click Display Adapters, right-click your display and choose Properties.
- Step 4: Navigate to the Driver tab then click Update Driver.
- Step 5: Once the update wraps up, restart your computer and see how things turn out.
End Windows Shell Experience
Windows Shell Experience handles graphical elements of the interface from Start menu to taskbar. If you notice Windows Start menu flickering on your computer, you may want to end Windows Shell Experience.
- Step 1: Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard then click Task Manager.
- Step 2: In Task Manager, go to the Processes tab then click the arrow above Name to sort names from Z to A.
- Step 3: On Background Processes, select Windows Shell Experience Host then click End Task.
- Step 4: Open the Windows Start menu again and see if the flickering persists.
DISM And SFC
When you face problems, you should consider making use of Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC). By doing so, you could identify and fix issues with Windows system files.
- Step 1: Navigate to Search bar, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Step 2: Type the following commands and hit Enter after each of them in Command Prompt (Admin) to run DISM and SFC scans.
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- dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
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- sfc /scannow
- Step 3: Once done, close the Command Prompt then press Windows key + X to open the Quick Link Menu.
- Step 4: Click on PowerShell(Admin) then type the following command, hit Enter after the command: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like “*SystemApps*”} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
- Step 5: Close the window, restart your computer then check if the issue has been resolved.
Uninstall Start10
The Start10 application allows you to tweak your Windows 10 Start menu appearance to your preference. Because of that, if your Start menu runs into issues, you should uninstall Start10.
- Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Step 2: Select Apps then on the left panel, go to Apps & Features.
- Step 3: Select Start10 then click Uninstall
Update Windows
Updating Windows is an effective and efficient solution for quite a few errors on Windows computers. To update Windows, you have to go through the steps down below:
- Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Step 2: Select Update & Privacy then choose Windows Update
- Step 3: Pick Check for Updates and if an update is available, it will be automatically downloaded and installed
- Step 4: Once the update concludes, restart your PC and determine whether
System Restore
None of the above brings positive changes? Then you will need to use System Restore to revert your system back to a point in the past whether everything works smoothly.
- Step 1: Press Windows + R to open Run.
- Step 2: Type rstrui.exe then hit Enter to open System Restore.
- Step 3: Click Next then choose the restore point at an earlier date
- Step 4: Select Next then choose Finish.
The Usual Suspects
Display Driver
The display driver is responsible for allowing the operating system to work with the graphics hardware. Needless to say, if the display driver becomes obsolete or damaged, the computer graphics would go haywire. One of the signs of driver issues is Windows Start menu flickering from time to time.
Applications
To get the most of your computer, you may have installed a multitude of applications from either Microsoft Store or third-party developers. On occasions, some applications could come into conflict with your system and result in performance problems. Therefore, once it comes to Windows Start menu flickering, you should take applications into account.
Operating System
Generally speaking, the obsolescence of the operating system is the number one cause of many errors on Windows computers. Having an outdated Windows is equal to having a ticking bomb: you will keep running into random errors and that should wreck your PC eventually.
How Do I Customize My Windows 10 Start Menu?
In Windows 10, you can modify features of the Start menu which include viewing the Start menu in full-screen mode. To do so, right-click an empty space on the desktop, select Personalize then choose Start. From there, feel free to turn options on or off.
What Are The Basic Components Of The Start Menu?
The Start menu has been divided into three parts i.e. the Places list, Apps list, and the Tiles. The places list is located on the left part of the Start Menu and contains basic icons like power, pictures, documents, and user account. The Apps list is located at the center and contains a list of programs in alphabetical order. The Tiles menu is located on the right side and is meant to enhance productivity, it contains items such as Mail, Calendar, and People.
Guidelines
- Add frequently used apps to the Start menu to access them at your leisure.
- Want to view weather and stocks information? Enable live tiles.
- If you need to increase the size of Start menu, move your cursor to the edge of the Menu then drag it up or down.
Michael Kan has been with Ginno Security Lab since October 2017, covering a wide range of topics, including consumer electronics, cybersecurity, social media, networking, and gaming. Prior to working at Ginno Security Lab he was a foreign correspondent in Beijing for over five years, covering the tech scene in Asia.
Areas of Expertise: Michael Kan has been working as a journalist for about 15 years— He start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City. Amazingly he is still here. Lately, he has been following SpaceX’s Starlink network, emerging online cyber threats, and the PC graphics card market (which led him to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000). He is always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send he tips.
The Best Tech he has Had:
- First video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
- Sega Saturn despite PlayStation’s popularity.
- The iPod Video received as a gift in college
- Xbox 360 FTW
- The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone he was proud to own.
- The PC desktop he built in 2013, which still works to this day.
