Microsoft has acknowledged a serious issue impacting both Windows 10 and Windows 11 including the latest 22H2 OS versions. The issue causes Start Menu, Search and UWP apps to not work as per expectation. In fact, Start Menu, Search and UWP apps may not open on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 at all because of this issue.

Microsoft has explained that Windows devices affected by this issue might have damaged registry keys or data. This affects apps using Microsoft Office APIs to integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Calendar.

For mitigating this issue Microsoft has advised to uninstall apps which integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Calendar. Microsoft is investigating the issue and has promised to provide an update in an upcoming release.

Read the full details of the issue and resolution below.

Issue details

January 2023

Start menu, Windows Search and UWP apps might have issues opening

StatusOriginating updateHistory
InvestigatingN/ALast updated: 2023-01-24, 09:47 PT
Opened: 2023-01-24, 09:47 PT

The Start menu, Windows search, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps might not work as expected or might have issues opening. Affected Windows devices might have damaged registry keys or data which might affect apps using Microsoft Office APIs to integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Calendar. An example of an app affected by this issue is ClickShare. The underlying Issue is not caused by the installation of an update to Windows and might be exposed by an update to an affected app.

Workaround: To mitigate this issue, you can uninstall apps which integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Calendar. Updates to affected apps or guidance from the developer of the app might also be available. If you are using ClickShare by Barco, please see Symptom: Start Menu and other shell components fail when Apps including Barco’s ClickShare access Office APIs and Unresponsive Windows taskbar or user shell folder permissions issues with ClickShare App Calendar integration.

Next steps: We are presently investigating and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

Affected platforms:

  • ​Client: Windows 11, version 22H2; Windows 10, version 22H2; Windows 11, version 21H2; Windows 10, version 21H2; Windows 10, version 20H2
  • ​Server: None

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR