The "sad face" icon on StartIsBack (and its successor, StartAllBack) is a common but frustrating indicator that your free trial has expired or your license activation has failed. While the software continues to function, it replaces icons with a frowny face to prompt you for purchase or reactivation. Why You Are Seeing the "Sad Face"
StartIsBack and StartAllBack are popular tools used to restore classic Start menu and taskbar functionality on Windows 10 and 11. When you see a sad face on your Start button or within your program list, it typically means: Trial Expiration: The 30-day free trial period has ended.
License Issues: A previous activation has been invalidated, often due to a major Windows update or hardware change.
Version Mismatch: You may be using an older version of the software on a newer version of Windows (e.g., using StartIsBack++ on Windows 11 instead of StartAllBack). How to Fix the StartIsBack Sad Face
To remove the frowny icons and restore your desktop's appearance, follow these steps: 1. Activate or Renew Your License
The most direct solution is to purchase a license key or enter your existing one. You can find your activation status by right-clicking the Start button, selecting Properties, and navigating to the About tab. 2. Uninstall and Reinstall
If you believe the error is a glitch, a clean reinstall can often clear the "sad face" state: Open the Control Panel or Settings > Apps. Find StartIsBack (or StartAllBack) and click Uninstall.
Download the latest version from the official StartIsBack website.
Reinstall and see if the trial resets or the activation sticks. 3. Disable the App for Specific Profiles
If you don't want to purchase the full version, you can disable the software for your specific user profile to return to the default Windows Start menu: Open the StartIsBack/StartAllBack configuration menu.
Look for an option to Disable for this profile or Uninstall for current user. 4. Clear Registry Leftovers
Sometimes, expired trial data persists in the registry even after uninstallation. Advanced users can check for leftover keys under:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\StartIsBackNote: Editing the registry can be risky; always back up your registry before making changes. Distinguishing from Windows "Sad Face" (BSOD)
It is important not to confuse the StartIsBack app icon with the Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which also features a large sad face :(. startisback sad face
StartIsBack Sad Face: Only appears on the Start button or menu icons; Windows remains fully functional.
Windows BSOD Sad Face: Covers the entire screen, often during a restart loop; this indicates a critical system or driver failure.
If you are experiencing a full-screen crash rather than just a small icon change, you may need to run Windows Startup Repair or check for driver conflicts.
Blue Screen (BSOD) Errors and Stop Code Issues in Windows | Dell US
If your trial has expired:
StartIsBack is a paid application with a 30-day trial. If your trial ends, or if a Windows feature update resets your activation status, the app enters a "degraded mode." The developer (StartIsBack) chose the sad face as a non-intrusive nag screen—reminding you to purchase or re-enter a license key.
To fix the issue, you must understand the trigger. The StartIsBack sad face is rarely random. It is typically caused by one of four scenarios:
The developer behind StartIsBack has largely moved on to StartAllBack (for Windows 11). If you are on Windows 11 and seeing a persistent sad face, you should:
Feeling bummed after switching to StartIsBack? You're not alone. Here’s a short, relatable post you can use on social media or forums.
"Installed StartIsBack hoping for a familiar Start menu—but it's been more frustrating than nostalgic. Missing features, small bugs, and settings that won't stick. 😞 Has anyone else had a rough time with StartIsBack or found fixes that actually work? Tips appreciated."
Would you like a version that's more technical, more casual, or tailored for Reddit, Twitter, or a product review?
(related search terms sent)
The "sad face" (usually appearing as a :( emoticon) in StartIsBack or StartAllBack is a built-in indicator that the software's trial period has expired or its activation has failed. Why the Sad Face Appears
Trial Expiration: StartIsBack and its successor, StartAllBack, are paid products. When the 30-day trial ends, the software replaces various UI elements—like the Start button or background of the Start menu—with a sad face to prompt you to purchase a license.
Activation Failure: If you are using a cracked version or an unauthorized "activator," the software may detect it and display the sad face as a security or anti-piracy measure.
System Updates: Major Windows updates can sometimes break the custom shells, leading to visual glitches that look like errors. How to Fix It
Purchase a License: The most reliable way to remove the face is to buy a legitimate license from the official StartIsBack website or the StartAllBack website.
Restart Windows Explorer: In some cases, a simple glitch causes the face to appear prematurely. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find "Windows Explorer," right-click it, and select Restart.
Uninstall and Reinstall: If the trial hasn't actually expired, uninstall the program using a tool like Bulk Crap Uninstaller to remove leftover registry keys, then download and install the latest version from the official site.
Check for "Superlite" OS Issues: If you are using a modified Windows version like "Ghost Spectre," these often come pre-packaged with these tools. If the trial ends on these builds, you may need to manually update or replace the software.
For a visual walkthrough on identifying and removing this UI glitch, you can watch this guide: How to fix the sad face emoji in the Windows 10 Start menu LaptopWorld - Мир Ноутбуков YouTube• Jul 9, 2019
Are you using a standard version of Windows or a custom/modified build like Ghost Spectre? StartIsBack: real start menu for Windows 8 and Windows 10
The "sad face" (😞) appearing in your Start menu or taskbar context menu is almost always a sign that your StartIsBack (or its Windows 11 successor, StartAllBack) trial period has expired. This software is not freeware, and the developers use this graphic to indicate that the license is no longer active. Why You’re Seeing It
Expired Trial: The most common reason; the software adds this graphic once the free period ends to prompt a purchase. The "sad face" icon on StartIsBack (and its
Deactivated License: If you previously paid for the software, your license key might have been reset or needs to be re-entered after an update.
Temporary Glitch: Occasionally, it can appear due to a minor software conflict or if the background process stalls. How to Fix It Purchase or Re-activate:
If you want to keep using the software, you will need to buy a license or re-enter your existing product key in the software settings. Restart Windows Explorer:
Some users have found that simply restarting the explorer.exe process via Task Manager can temporarily clear the icon if it's just a glitch. Uninstall the Software:
If you no longer want to use the app, uninstalling it through Settings > Apps & Features will remove the sad face and revert your menu to the standard Windows style. Try a Free Alternative:
If you prefer a free tool to customize your Start menu, many users recommend Open-Shell (formerly Classic Shell) as a permanent, cost-free replacement. Check Antivirus Exceptions:
In rare cases, security software might block the application's verification process. You can try adding the StartIsBack executable to your antivirus exclusion list.
Save this as fix_startisback.bat and run as Administrator.
@echo off
title StartIsBack Sad Face Fixer
color 0C
echo ==============================================
echo StartIsBack - Sad Face Repair Tool
echo ==============================================
echo.
echo [INFO] Detecting StartIsBack installation...
echo.
:: Detect 32/64-bit paths
set "SIB_PATH="
if exist "%ProgramFiles%\StartIsBack\StartIsBackCfg.exe" set "SIB_PATH=%ProgramFiles%\StartIsBack"
if exist "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\StartIsBack\StartIsBackCfg.exe" set "SIB_PATH=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\StartIsBack"
if "%SIB_PATH%"=="" (
echo [ERROR] StartIsBack not found in standard locations.
echo Try reinstalling StartIsBack first.
pause
exit /b 1
)
echo [OK] Found at %SIB_PATH%
echo.
:: 1. Kill stuck explorer instances
echo [STEP 1] Restarting Windows Explorer...
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe >nul 2>&1
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
:: 2. Unregister and re-register StartIsBack shell extension
echo [STEP 2] Resetting StartIsBack shell integration...
regsvr32 /u /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack64.dll"
regsvr32 /u /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack32.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack64.dll"
regsvr32 /s "%SIB_PATH%\StartIsBack32.dll"
:: 3. Clear possible corruption in user registry
echo [STEP 3] Cleaning user StartIsBack registry flags...
reg delete "HKCU\Software\StartIsBack" /v "ErrorCount" /f >nul 2>&1
reg delete "HKCU\Software\StartIsBack" /v "Crashed" /f >nul 2>&1
reg add "HKCU\Software\StartIsBack" /v "Reset" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1
:: 4. Restart explorer
echo [STEP 4] Launching fresh Explorer...
start explorer.exe
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
:: 5. Optional: Clear icon cache if sad face persists
echo.
set /p "CLEAR_ICON=Clear icon cache? (y/n): "
if /i "%CLEAR_ICON%"=="y" (
echo Clearing icon cache...
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe >nul
del /f /q "%localappdata%\IconCache.db" >nul 2>&1
del /f /q "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*" >nul 2>&1
start explorer.exe
)
:: 6. Final check
echo.
echo [DONE] Sad face should be gone.
echo If problem remains:
echo - Run: sfc /scannow
echo - Reinstall StartIsBack (preserves settings)
echo.
pause
StartIsBack is a software utility developed by Vladimir Pavlyuk, a Ukrainian developer. It was first released in 2012, shortly after Windows 8's launch, which introduced a radical new interface that replaced the traditional Start button and menu with a full-screen, tile-based interface known as the Start screen. While the Start screen was Microsoft's attempt to push towards a more touch-friendly and app-centric experience, many users felt it lacked the ease of use and familiarity of the classic Start menu.
StartIsBack aimed to fill this gap by reinstating the classic Windows Start button and menu on Windows 8 and later versions, allowing users to enjoy the best of both worlds: the modern Windows interface and the comfort of a traditional Start menu.
