How to fix startmenuexperiencehost.exe high CPU usage, crashes issue in Windows 10 [Steps]

In this post, we are going to discuss on How to fix startmenuexperiencehost.exe crashes issue, high CPU usage issue in Windows 10. You are provided here with easy ways to fix this issue. Let’s starts the discussion.

What is StartMenuExperienceHost.exe?

StartMenuExperienceHost or StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is executable (EXE) program associated with Microsoft Windows Operating System. This program comes with Windows 10 version 1903 release as new feature to Windows 10 computer. The purpose of this process is to manage Windows 10 Start Menu as it provides a dedicated and independent host processes that’s only used the Start Menu and its subsidiary functions.

Before release of Windows 10 version 1903, Microsoft Windows Shell Experience Host or ShellExperienceHost.xe hosted the Start Menu as this program runs with processes associated with File Explorer and Windows Shell at same time. However, Microsoft acknowledged that when ShellExperienceHost.exe crashes, the Start menu also crashes and need to restart the computer, and then the Microsoft releases StartMenuExperienceHost.exe to fix the problem.

What is startmenuexperiencehost.exe high CPU usage?

It is common Windows Issues considered as High CPU usage issue indicates you are experiencing system performance slowdown issue possibly due to startmenuexperiencehost.exe process. Several Windows users reported about this problem and explained when they open Task Manager app in order to check why they are facing startmenuexperiencehost.exe crashes or not working issue, then they notice startmenuexperiencehost.exe process is showing higher percentage from 70% to 100% CPU usage (this percentage may vary) that indicates this process is draining your system resources.

There could be several reasons behind the issue including the issue with StartMenuExperienceHost.exe program/process itself, malware or viruses infections in computer, corruption in system files or registry, outdated Windows OS or problematic Windows update installed, and other issues. One possible way to fix the issue is to run SFC Scan and DISM scan in computer to repair corruption in system files or registry or in system image, but there is also some other possible solutions to fix the issue as mentioned in the post. Let’s go for the solution. (Solutions are given under separate headings starting with ‘How to fix…’).

Why does startmenuexperiencehost.exe crash?

Another common issue relating to StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is StartMenuExperienceHost.exe crashes issue. This issue indicates when try use Start Menu in Windows 10 computer, you may experience Start Menu crashes issue or StartMenuExperienceHost.exe crashes issue.

When you open Windows built-in Event Viewer app in Windows computer, then you may experience StartMenuExperienceHost.exe error 1000 or 1002 in Event Viewer, or in Reliability Monitor app in Windows PC. If you are facing the same issue and looking for ways to fix, then you are in right-place for the solution. Let’s go for the solution.

How to fix startmenuexperiencehost.exe high CPU usage, crashes issue in Windows 10/11?

Method 1: Run SFC Scan and DISM Scan

You can run SFC Scan and DISM Scan in computer to repair corruption in system files and in system image to fix the issue.

Step 1: Type ‘cmd’ in Windows Search Box and right-click ‘Command Prompt’ from results appeared, and select ‘Run as Administrator’

Step 2: Type the following commands and hit ‘Enter’ key after each to execute them.

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 3: Once executed, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 2: Update Windows OS

Updating Windows OS to latest version can resolve the issue.

Step 1: Open ‘Settings’ app in Windows PC via Windows Search Box and go to ‘Update & Security > Windows Update’ and click ‘Check for updates’ button

Step 2: Download and install the available updates in computer and once updated, restart your computer and check if it works for you toward resolving the issue.

Method 3: Re-register Start Menu

Another way to fix the issue is to re-register Start Menu in Windows computer.

Step 1: Open ‘Task Manager’ app by right-clicking ‘Task Manager’ app, and select ‘Task Manager’ from context menu appeared

Step 2: In Task Manager app, click ‘File > Run new task’ from menu, in the opened dialog box, type ‘powershell’ and check ‘Create this task with administrative privileges’, and hit ‘Ok’ button

Step 3: Type the following command and hit ‘Enter’ key to execute.

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

Step 4: Once executed, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 4: Fix startmenuexperiencehost.exe error problem using Registry Editor

Step 1: Open ‘Registry Editor’ app in Windows PC via Windows Search Box and go to following path in left-pane.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Step 2: Right-click ‘User Shell Folders’ key, and select ‘Permissions’

Step 3: Click ‘Advanced’ button and check ‘Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object’ checkbox, and click ‘Enable Inheritance’, and click ‘Ok’ button

Step 4: Once done, reboot your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 5: Change desktop background

You can fix the issue by changing your desktop background/wallpaper to sold color or picture background in Windows computer.

Step 1: Right-click on empty space on desktop and select ‘Personalization’ from context menu

Step 2: In the opened page, click ‘Background’ in left-pane, and change the ‘Background’ type to picture or sold color in right-pane from dropdown

Step 3: Once done, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 6: Disable Automatic Background Color changing

Another way to fix the issue is to disable automatically change the background color on computer.

Step 1: Open ‘Personalization’ settings page using above method

Step 2: Click ‘Colors’ in left-pane, and disable ‘Automatically pick an accent color from my background’ checkbox, and save the changes. Once done, check if it works for you.

Method 7: Reduce transparency effects

You can also apply some changes like reducing transparency effects in settings to fix the issue.

Step 1: Open ‘Personalisation’ settings page using above method

Step 2: Click ‘Colors’ in left-pane and turn OFF ‘Transparency Effects’ under ‘More Options’. Once done, check if it works.

Method 8: Disable StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process

If the issue is still persist, you can disable StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process in order to fix high CPU usage issue.

Step 1: Press ‘CTRL + SHIFT + ESC’ keys on keyboard to open ‘Task Manager’ app

Step 2: Under ‘Details’ tab, find and right-click ‘StartMenuExperienceHost.exe’, and select ‘End Task’ to kill the process. Once done, check if high CPU usage issue is resolved.

Fix startmenuexperiencehost.exe high CPU usage, crashes issue in Windows 10 with ‘PC Repair Tool’:

‘PC Repair Tool’ is quick & easy ways to find and fix StartMenuExperienceHost.exe relating issues in Windows computer. You can also use this tool to find and fix BSOD errors, DLL errors, EXE errors, system files or registry issues, and other system issues with just few clicks.

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Conclusion

I hope this post helped you on How to fix startmenuexperiencehost.exe crash, high cpu usage issue. You can read & follow our instructions to do so. That’s all. For any suggestions or queries, please write on comment box below.

Q/A:

Q 1: How to stop startmenuexperiencehost.exe?

A: You can disable or stop StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process in Task Manager in your Windows computer to fix issue relating to StartMenuExperienceHost.exe like StartMenuExperienceHost.exe causes high CPU usage issue. To do so, follow below steps.

Step 1: Right-click ‘Taskbar’ ribbon and select ‘Task Manager’ to open Task Manager

Step 2: In Task Manager app, right-click ‘StartMenuExperienceHost.exe’ process under ‘Details’ tab, and select ‘End Task’ to kill it or stop it.

Sakshi Anant Author