Windows 11 latest cumulative updates have broken the start menu

Microsoft recently released two cumulative updates for its Windows 11 operating system. Unfortunately, some users are experiencing significant issues subsequent to updating their OS. Users aren’t the only entities reporting faults with the new updates, however. Even Microsoft’s own documentation highlights significant errors in both Windows 11 KB5015882 and KB5015814.

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According to Microsoft, the new updates can cause the Windows 11 Start menu to disappear as soon as users try to interact with it. The company notes that this is due to a bug within the operating system. The growing number of user reports highlights the same problem with the Start menu. However, in other user reports, a new problem comes to light. It seems that in some cases, while the start menu doesn’t disappear, the context menu that usually comes up when you interact with the start menu doesn’t work. This renders the Start button completely useless in many users’ cases. 

The issues with the new cumulative updates don’t end there though. According to user reports, the Windows key located on your device’s keyboard is not exempt from trouble. In many cases, the Windows key has stopped working. Microsoft has quietly acknowledged that there is a bug in both Windows 11 KB5015882 and KB5015814 that is affecting a ‘small number of devices.’ This bug renders the Start button and Windows button ineffective, reducing the functionality of Windows 11 devices affected. 

Microsoft issues an emergency server-side update prior to the writing of this article which is supposed to address the broken Start menu. However, the company has stated that the update could take up to 24 hours to reflect on all affected devices. If any of your devices are affected by this bug, ensure that you reboot your Windows 11 device so that the update applies as fast as possible. 

If you’re an Enterprise customer, you can find a special group policy if you head to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > KB5014668 220721_04201 Known Issue Rollback > Windows 11.

All other users can download the emergency patch here to fix the broken Start menu. When your Start menu is fixed, check out the neat way that Microsoft found to expand the Windows 11 taskbar.