While using the Windows Task Manager, you may suddenly come across an error message that reads, “There are no startup items to display in Task Manager.” It's a confusing error message, but don't fret; it's very easy to fix.

Let’s check out the best ways to fix Task Manager's "no startup items" error.

1. Restart File Explorer

Restarting File Explorer is one of the easiest ways to resolve this issue. The best way to do this is to restart your Windows PC completely.

If that doesn’t resolve the problem, or you'd rather not restart your PC, you can restart File Explorer through these steps:

  1. Press Win + X to open the Quick Access menu.
  2. Select Task Manager from the options.
  3. Right-click on the Windows Explorer option and then select Restart.
Restarting the Windows File Explorer

2. Create a New Startup Folder

In some cases, you’d run into the issue at hand if the startup folder is corrupted. So, the best way to resolve the problem is to create a new startup folder.

Now, here are the steps for creating a new startup folder on Windows:

  1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Copy-paste the command into the File Explorer address bar and press Enter:
        C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
    

From there, follow these steps:

  1. Locate and delete the Startup folder.
  2. Create a new startup folder by right-clicking on a blank space and selecting New > Folder.
  3. Name the folder as Startup and press Enter.
Selecting the Startup folder

Finally, restart your device to save these changes.

3. Perform a Check Disk Scan

An illustration of a lens scanning digital devices

There’s a possibility that the issue at hand might be caused by system issues. In such instances, scanning and repairing your device’s hard drive could help.

Here’s how you can resolve the problem using a Check Disk (CHKDSK) scan:

  1. Type Command Prompt in the Start menu search bar.
  2. Right-click on the Best match result and select Run as administrator.
  3. Type the following command and then press Enter to scan and repair your hard drive:
        chkdsk C: /f
    

If your Windows operating system (OS) is installed on a different drive, then replace C: in the command with the letter of the relevant drive.

Finally, restart your device when the scan is complete.

4. Scan and Repair Windows Using the DISM and SFC Tools

Computer antivirus illustration

If a normal disk scan doesn’t help, then you’d need to scan and repair your hard drive using advanced tools such as DISM and SFC. As we covered in our guide on how to repair corrupted files with built-in Windows tools, DISM and SFC are handy services that can help repair Windows errors.

Let’s start by checking out how you can run the DISM tool:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  2. Click File in the top-left corner and select Run new task.
  3. Type CMD and then check the Create this task with administrative privileges box.
  4. Press OK to run the Command Prompt.
  5. Type the following command and press Enter:
        DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    

Wait for the process to complete. From there, type the following command and press Enter:

        DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    

Finally, restart your device once the DISM scan is complete.

Now, you can run the SFC tool through these steps:

  1. Open the Command Prompt by following the previous steps.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter to run the scan:
        sfc /scannow
    

Wait for the scan to complete and then restart your device.

5. Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter

An illustration of someone configuring settings on a PC

Still struggling to resolve the issue? If so, you might be experiencing a system maintenance problem. In this case, you could tackle the error by running the System Maintenance troubleshooter.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Type Perform recommended maintenance tasks automatically in the Start menu search bar and press Enter.
  2. Click the Next button and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Running the System Maintenance Troubleshooter on Windows

Wait for the process to complete and then restart your PC.

6. Temporarily Disable the Windows Defender Firewall

In some instances, temporarily disabling the Windows Defender Firewall could tackle the problem. However, don’t forget to re-enable the tool later.

Now, here are the steps for disabling the Windows Defender Firewall:

  1. Type Control Panel in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
  2. Click the View by drop-down menu and then select Large icons.
  3. Select Windows Defender Firewall from the options.
  4. Click the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on and off option.
Selecting the Turn Defender Firewall on or off option on Windows

Locate the Domain, Private, and Public network settings and then check the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall boxes next to them. Finally, press OK and then restart your computer.

Turning off the Defender Firewall on Windows

7. Use a System Restore Point

Using a system restore point can help you tackle the issue at hand. However, this approach will only help if you’ve already learned how to create a system restore point in Windows and made one.

During the restoration process, the system restore tool will revert your PC to a previous state. As such, this tool will help only if the Task Manager error only started appearing recently.

Here’s how you can tackle the issue at hand using a restore point:

  1. Type "Create a restore point" in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
  2. Click the System Protection tab and then select System Restore from the options.
  3. Press Next to continue.
  4. Select Show more restore points and then pick a restore point.
  5. Click Next and then click Finish to finalize the process.
Using a Restore Point on Windows

8. Update Your Device

In some instances, updating your Windows device might be the best solution. Ideally, you should always update Windows to the latest version, but if you've put it off for a while, try updating your PC.

Here are the steps for updating Windows:

  1. Type Settings in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
  2. Select Update & Security from the options.
  3. Select the Windows Update option on the left.
  4. Click the Check for updates button on the right and then follow the on-screen steps.
Checking for Windows PC updates

You’ve Successfully Resolved Your Task Manager Issues

The Task Manager is a reliable tool that helps you close slow programs and improve your PC’s performance. However, this tool also often runs into various problems. If it's experiencing issues with startup programs, you can easily resolve the error using any of the solutions in this article.

If the issue persists, then maybe it’s time to start exploring some Task Manager alternatives.