Can't switch from desktop to tablet mode

Having used W10 on the SurfacePro 2 with keyboard for several years, I suddenly find that I can only use desktop mode. When I try to switch to the tablet mode using the left hand windows icon on the task bar, the icon "greys out" and doesn't function, and from then on the task bar doesn't work. I have run a full, "in-depth" virus check using Avast, and nothing came up. Because I can't switch to tablet, I don't know how to access settings - the search icon and the one to the left of it also don't work. I am not aware of any event which preceded this problem.

I have now noticed that there are additional, possibly related, problems -
I can't read e-mails on WLM
I can't read pdf files
i can't open (Open Office) spreadsheets

Thanks for your quick response.

The Action Centre is no longer displayed.
I am not using any third party software to change the start menu.
This happened after the 6th December and before the 13th December - I was travelling over this period so the computer wasn't used.
I have tried the links you give - the first link isn't relevant as I can't access either Action Centre or Settings as the Windows key doesn't work and the second link, after following the instructions to download and run the "Turn on Tablet mode " file, nothing happens after restarting the computer.

Incidentally, the Windows key doesn't work for screen capture.

Brain of Pooh said:

Because I can't switch to tablet, I don't know how to access settings - the search icon and the one to the left of it also don't work...

Brain of Pooh said:

... I can't access either Action Centre or Settings as the Windows key doesn't work....

Sometimes all it needs to fix 'odd' problems is to use 'Restart' from the Power button (it must be Restart, not Shut down).


If that doesn't work, then can you open a Command Prompt or Powershell? If so, open one (either will do) and type the command start ms-settings: to open Settings.

If you can't open Command or Powershell, use Ctrl+Alt+Del and select Task Manager. In Task Manager use 'File > Run new task' and run ms-settings:

Thanks for these suggestions. I have now been able to restore to the recovery point for the last update (05/12/18) and that has resolved my problems. I couldn't do this before, as I couldn't access settings.