The WinX menu (also known as the Power User menu) lets you access essential Windows functions quickly. These functions include the Device Manager, Network Connections, and Power Options, to name a few. But what if this menu suddenly stops working?
If you’re in this boat, we’ve explained a few fixes to get your Power User menu working again.
What Causes the WinX Menu to Stop Working?
Before discussing solutions, you must understand why this issue occurs in the first place. There could be several reasons:
Now that you know the possible causes, it’s time to get your Win + X menu working again. Let’s start with the first fix!
1. Restart Your PC
If you’re facing trouble with the Power User menu, tryrestarting your Windows computer. A restart refreshes your system and repairs software glitches that prevent the WinX menu from working correctly.
Once your PC has restarted, check if your Power User menu works fine.
2. Check the Win and X Keys on Your Keyboard
Sometimes the problem with key combination errors lies withing your keyboard. To ensure the Win and X keys aren’t defective, open any text editor like Notepad and try pressing the keys individually.
If any of these keys aren’t responding,try giving your keyboard a clean. Use a soft cloth to gently wipe the key and check if it works. you’re able to also replace the keyboard if cleaning doesn’t fix the issue.
3. Use the SFC and DISM Command Line Utilities
The System File Checker (SFC) tool scans your PC for corrupted system files and repairs them automatically. If your WinX menu isn’t working because of missing system files, you can use this utility to fix the issue.
This Microsoft tool comes pre-installed with Windows, and you may run it from the Command Prompt.
If SFC fails to fix your Power User menu, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. This command line utility repairs your Windows image (.wim) files and restores the system to a properly working state.
The DISM utility will take a few minutes to scan your system. Once it’s done, reboot your computer and check if the Power User menu works normally.
If you’re unsure as to how to use these handy commands, check outhow to use the SFC and DISM tools to repair corrupted system files.
4. Check for Conflicting Programs
Sometimes third-party programs conflict with Windows functions, causing problems. To check for such programs, follow these steps:
If the Power User menu works after turning off startup apps, it confirms that one of these third-party programs is causing the issue. Now enable each program individually and check if it conflicts with your WinX menu. If it does, uninstall the program from your PC.
If disabling startup programs doesn’t fix the issue, uninstall any recently installed programs. One of these programs may prevent the Power User menu from functioning correctly.
5. Remap the Shortcut Keys
This is another quick way to solve your WinX menu issue. you may remap the shortcut keys and assign them to other commands or functions.
To remap shortcut keys, you’re able to use the Windows Registry Editor or keyboard mapping programs like SharpKeys and AutoHotkey. Both of these apps let you create custom key mappings quickly. If you aren’t sure how to do that, read our guide onhow to remap your keyboard layout on Windows.
6. Tweak the Registry Editor
You can also tweak the Windows Registry Editor to fix your WinX menu issue. The Windows registry is a database that stores all settings for your system. Modifying specific registry values can repair corrupted files and restore the Power User menu.
Before you continue,create a Windows registry backup. This way, you may restore the registry to its original state if anything goes wrong.
Once done, you’re now ready to edit the registry:
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. Now check if your WinX menu works correctly after rebooting your system.
7. Copy the WinX Folder From the Default User Profile
If the problem persists, you’re able to copy the WinX folder from the default user profile and see if it solves the issue. Here’s how to do it.
Now restart your computer and check if you can access the Power User menu. The Win + X shortcut keys should now work correctly.
Fixing the WinX Menu on Windows
Hopefully, one of these solutions has helped you fix the Win X menu problem on your Windows PC. If the issue persists, perform a system restore. This process will undo the recent changes made to your system and restore it to a previous working state.
If you don’t feel confident tinkering around with your system, it’s best to contact a computer technician and let them handle the issue for you.
