diff --git a/partials/desktop/shell.php b/partials/desktop/shell.php
index fc4728b4..49882327 100644
--- a/partials/desktop/shell.php
+++ b/partials/desktop/shell.php
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ $wallpaper = $desktopPayload['desktop']['wallpaper'];
                         <p class="eyebrow">Startmenue</p>
                         <h2>Desktop Aktionen</h2>
                     </div>
-                    <button class="start-menu-close" id="start-menu-close" type="button" aria-label="Startmenue schliessen">Schliessen</button>
                 </div>
                 <div class="start-menu-column">
                     <div class="start-menu-block">
diff --git a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css
index 924a2bbd..054fe8ca 100644
--- a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css
+++ b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.css
@@ -342,15 +342,6 @@ h1 {
     gap: 12px;
 }
 
-.start-menu-close {
-    border: 0;
-    border-radius: 999px;
-    padding: 10px 14px;
-    background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
-    color: inherit;
-    cursor: pointer;
-}
-
 .start-menu-entry {
     display: grid;
     grid-template-columns: 44px minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
@@ -366,8 +357,7 @@ h1 {
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 
-.start-menu-entry:hover,
-.start-menu-close:hover {
+.start-menu-entry:hover {
     background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
 }
 
diff --git a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js
index ba714e8f..d79effc2 100644
--- a/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js
+++ b/public/assets/desktop/desktop.js
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ if (payloadNode) {
     const taskbarRoot = document.getElementById('taskbar-apps');
     const startButton = document.getElementById('start-button');
     const startMenu = document.getElementById('start-menu');
-    const startMenuClose = document.getElementById('start-menu-close');
     const startMenuApps = document.getElementById('start-menu-apps');
     const startMenuWidgets = document.getElementById('start-menu-widgets');
     const startMenuActions = document.getElementById('start-menu-actions');
@@ -346,7 +345,6 @@ if (payloadNode) {
             if (publicDashboard) {
                 openApp(publicDashboard);
             }
-            closeStartMenu();
             return;
         }
 
@@ -440,33 +438,6 @@ if (payloadNode) {
         startButton.setAttribute('aria-expanded', String(willOpen));
     });
 
-    startMenuClose?.addEventListener('click', () => {
-        closeStartMenu();
-    });
-
-    document.addEventListener('click', (event) => {
-        if (!startMenu || startMenu.hidden) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        const target = event.target;
-        if (!(target instanceof Node)) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        if (startMenu.contains(target) || startButton?.contains(target)) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        closeStartMenu();
-    });
-
-    document.addEventListener('keydown', (event) => {
-        if (event.key === 'Escape') {
-            closeStartMenu();
-        }
-    });
-
     renderWidgets();
     renderStartMenu();
     payload.windows.forEach(createWindow);