Start Menu Element Targets

Complete technical reference and living catalog of verified XAML visual tree element names, types, control hierarchies, and visual state behaviors in StartMenuExperienceHost.exe (Windows 11 Start Menu).

[!NOTE] The styling notes below name the XAML properties you can set on each target. They intentionally prescribe no theme values — pick your own fills, radii, and spacing.

Architecture & Visual Tree Topology

The Windows 11 Start Menu runs as an isolated UWP app package hosted by StartMenuExperienceHost.exe. Its visual tree uses the standard UWP Windows.UI.Xaml framework, with secondary integration into SearchHost.exe / SearchApp.exe for embedded search flyouts and WebView2 edge content.

flowchart TD
    Dismiss["Border#DropShadowDismissTarget\n(Root Dismiss & Shadow Canvas)"] --> RootGrid["Grid#RootGrid\n(Master Host Grid)"]
    RootGrid --> FrameRoot["Grid#FrameRoot\n(Height Constrained Frame)"]
    FrameRoot --> MainMenu["Grid#MainMenu\n(Primary Start Flyout)"]
    FrameRoot --> CompanionRoot["Grid#CompanionRoot\n(Phone Link Companion Panel)"]
    
    MainMenu --> AcrylicBorder["Border#AcrylicBorder\n(Base Acrylic Plate)"]
    MainMenu --> AcrylicOverlay["Border#AcrylicOverlay\n(Two-Tone Split Plate)"]
    MainMenu --> MainContent["Grid#MainContent\n(Content Host Grid)"]
    MainMenu --> NavPane["Grid#NavPanePlaceholder\n(Bottom Navigation Dock)"]
    
    MainContent --> SearchHeader["StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton\n(Embedded Search Pill)"]
    MainContent --> PinnedList["StartMenu.PinnedList\n(GridView#PinnedList)"]
    MainContent --> RecommendedList["StartMenu.TopLevelSuggestions\n(ListView#RecommendedList)"]
    
    NavPane --> UserTile["StartDocked.UserTileView\n(User Avatar & Name)"]
    NavPane --> PlacesList["StartDocked.AppListView#NavigationPanePlacesListView\n(Shortcuts / Pinned Folders)"]
    NavPane --> PowerButton["StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton\n(Power Flyout Trigger)"]

1. Root & Master Framing Targets

The outermost visual tree controls manage window bounds, shell drop-shadow generation, and high-contrast system borders.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`Border#DropShadowDismissTarget`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Root drop-shadow and dismiss host. Collapsing it (`Visibility=Collapsed`) removes the native dark halo; the panel that carries the visible glass surface is `Grid#Root > Border` (stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `BorderThickness`, `CornerRadius`).
`Border#StartDropShadow`, `Border#RightCompanionDropShadow`, `Border#RootGridDropShadow`, `Border#dropshadow`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Native system drop-shadow borders. Collapse (`Visibility=Collapsed`) to eliminate opaque black silhouettes behind transparent glass.
`Border#MainMenuHighContrastBorder`, `Border#RightCompanionHighContrastBorder`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	High-contrast accessibility boundary borders. Normally left untouched.
`Border#LayerBorder`, `Border#AccentLayerBorder`, `Border#AccentAppBorder`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Internal accent highlighting layers. Collapse (`Visibility=Collapsed`) to eliminate unwanted solid color bars.
`Border#AcrylicBorder`, `Grid#MainMenu > Border#AcrylicBorder`, `Grid#CompanionRoot > Border#AcrylicBorder`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Default system acrylic background plate. The main-menu acrylic (`Grid#MainMenu > Border#AcrylicBorder`) and the docked companion variant (`StartDocked.StartMenuCompanion#RightCompanion > Grid#CompanionRoot > Border#AcrylicBorder`) are collapsed (`Visibility=Collapsed`); the companion-pane acrylic (`Grid#CompanionRoot > Border#AcrylicBorder`) is the surface that carries the visible fill (stylable: `Background`, `CornerRadius`).
`Border#AcrylicOverlay`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Two-tone navigation split overlay card that covers the bottom third of the Start Menu. Set `Visibility=Collapsed` or `Background:=Transparent` for a seamless single-pane glass surface.
`Grid#FrameRoot`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Top layout container enforcing maximum flyout dimensions. Constrain with `MaxHeight` so vertical bounds align cleanly on small displays.
`Grid#MainMenu`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Main content column container. Set `Width` / `Height` to size the primary Start area while companion cards (Phone Link) expand to the right.
`Grid#MainContent`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Houses search, pinned grid, and recommendations. Standard layout assignment: `Grid.Row`, `MinHeight`.
`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives.ScrollBar`	`ScrollBar`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Root scrollbar elements. Collapsing (`Visibility=Collapsed`) hides intrusive vertical scrollbars during flyout animations.

2. Embedded Search Bar Targets

The search box at the top of the Start Menu acts as an interactive button that triggers the full Windows Search experience or embeds an inline AutoSuggestBox.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton`	Custom Toggle Control	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Top search entry pill. Stylable: `Width`, `Height`, `HorizontalAlignment`, `Margin`, `Background`, `BorderThickness`.
`StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton > Grid@CommonStates > Border#BorderElement`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Search pill background plate. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`, plus interactive `@PointerOver` state overrides.
`StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton > Grid > Grid#UnderlineContainer`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Native bottom accent focus underline. Set `Visibility=Collapsed` for a clean pill aesthetic.
`StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton > Grid > FontIcon#SearchGlyph`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.FontIcon`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Magnifying glass icon. Stylable: `FontSize`, `Margin`, `VerticalAlignment`.
`StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton > Grid > ContentPresenter > TextBlock#PlaceholderText`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	“Type here to search” placeholder label. Stylable: `FontSize`, `VerticalAlignment`.
`AutoSuggestBox#SearchBox`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox`	Win11 21H2	Legacy search input element on 21H2 builds.
`Border#SearchBoxBorder`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 21H2	Legacy background plate on 21H2.
`TextBox#SearchTextBox`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBox`	Win11 21H2	Legacy input text box.

3. Pinned Applications & Items Grid

Controls rendering pinned app shortcuts, grid dimensions, and item hover cards.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`StartMenu.PinnedList`	Custom Items Control	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Container for pinned apps. Supports dynamic height binding via Windhawk state capture (`ActualHeight=>pinnedListHeight`), plus `Margin`, `MaxWidth`, `MinHeight`.
`StartMenu.PinnedList > Grid#Root > GridView#PinnedList > Border`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Background card wrapping the pinned icons grid. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`, `Padding`.
`GridView#PinnedList`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Primary grid view hosting pinned application icons. Center-aligned via `HorizontalAlignment`.
`GridViewItem`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridViewItem`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Item wrapper for individual pinned apps.
`TextBlock#PinnedListHeaderText`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	“Pinned” section header text. Set `Text=""` to eliminate header clutter.
`StartMenu.CategoryControl`	Custom Control	Win11 24H2	Category grouping control on new 24H2 grid layouts. Stylable: `Margin`.
`StartMenu.CategoryControl > Grid#RootGrid > Border`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border`	Win11 24H2	Outer card border for category groups. Stylable: `Background`, `CornerRadius`.

4. Recommendations & Recent Files

Controls managing recent documents, recommended apps, and expander toggles.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView#RecommendedList`	`GridView`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Recommended items list. In minimal layouts, collapse with `Visibility=Collapsed`.
`Grid#TopLevelSuggestionsRoot`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Container hosting suggestion items. Layout: `Grid.Row`.
`Grid#ShowMoreSuggestions`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Expander container. Supports reactive visibility binding: `Visibility={{showMoreSuggestionsVisible}}`.
`Button#ShowMoreSuggestionsButton`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	“More” chevron button. Stylable: `Margin`, `Height`, `CornerRadius`.
`Button#ShowMoreSuggestionsButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid@CommonStates`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Interactive state border. Stylable: `BorderBrush`, `BorderThickness`, `CornerRadius`.
`Button#HideMoreSuggestionsButton`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Back chevron button when recommendations are expanded. Stylable: `Margin`, `Height`, `Width`, `CornerRadius`.
`Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.DropDownButton`	WinUI DropDownButton	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Category drop-down button in recommendations header. Supports a `RenderTransform` with a `TranslateTransform` driven by captured dynamic state (e.g. `pinnedListHeight`).

Controls rendering the full list of installed programs.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#AllAppsRoot`	`Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Root container for the full installed applications list.
`Grid#TopLevelHeader > Grid > Button[AutomationProperties.Name=Show all]`	`Button`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	“All apps” header pill button. Stylable: `Width`, `Height`, `CornerRadius`, `Background@Normal`.
`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView#AllAppsGrid > Border > ScrollViewer > Border > Grid > ScrollContentPresenter > ItemsPresenter > ItemsWrapGrid`	`ItemsWrapGrid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Inner wrap grid layout for installed apps. Stylable: `Margin`.
`TextBlock#AllListHeadingText`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	“All apps” section header label. Stylable: `Margin`; set `Text=""` to hide.
`TextBlock#ZoomedOutHeading`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Zoomed-out alphabet jump list heading. Collapse via `Visibility=Collapsed`.

The bottom navigation strip hosting the user avatar, folder shortcuts, and the power flyout button.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`Grid#NavPanePlaceholder`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Bottom navigation row placeholder. Constrain with `MaxHeight`.
`StartDocked.NavigationPaneView > Grid#RootPanel`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Navigation pane layout root. Set `Background:=Transparent` and `BorderBrush:=Transparent` to eliminate the dark bottom bar.
`StartDocked.UserTileView`	Custom Control	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	User account avatar and username host. Constrain with `Height`.
`StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#UserTileButton > Grid > Border#BackgroundBorder`	`Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Avatar card pill background. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`.
`Grid#UserTileIcon`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Circular user avatar container. Sized via `Height`, `Width`.
`TextBlock#UserTileNameText`	`Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Display name label. Stylable: `FontSize`.
`StartDocked.AppListView#NavigationPanePlacesListView`	`AppListView`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Pinned folder shortcut icons (Settings, File Explorer, Downloads, etc.). Stylable: `Height`, `Margin`.
`StartDocked.AppListView#NavigationPanePlacesListView > Border`	`Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Background card wrapping folder shortcuts. Stylable: `CornerRadius`, `Background`.
`StartDocked.PowerOptionsView`	Custom Control	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Power menu button container. Stylable: `Height`.
`StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton`	`NavigationPaneButton`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Power options trigger button. Stylable: `Height`, `Width`, `CornerRadius`.
`StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton > Grid@CommonStates > Border#BackgroundBorder`	`Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Power button interactive background card. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `BorderThickness`.
`StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton > Grid > ContentPresenter > Grid > FontIcon`	`FontIcon`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Power icon glyph. Stylable: `FontSize`.

7. Phone Link Companion Panel Targets

Windows 11 builds 23H2+ and 24H2 introduce a side companion panel docked to the right of the Start Menu displaying phone battery, recent photos, and messages.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`StartDocked.StartMenuCompanion#RightCompanion > Grid#CompanionRoot`, `StartMenu.StartMenuCompanion#RightCompanion > Grid#CompanionRoot`	`Grid`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Companion root card docked to Start. Supports asymmetric corner rounding (per-side `CornerRadius`) and independent `Margin` / `Padding`.
`ToggleButton#ShowHideCompanion`	`ToggleButton`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Toggle button in header to collapse or expand the companion card. Stylable: `Height`, `Width`, `CornerRadius`.
`ToggleButton#ShowHideCompanion > Border`	`Border`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Interactive state background plate for the companion toggle. Stylable: `Background`, plus `@PointerOver` and `@Pressed` state overrides.
`ContentPresenter#PrimaryCardContainer`	`ContentPresenter`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Container hosting Adaptive Cards for phone telemetry and messages. Stylable: `Margin`.
`AdaptiveCards.Rendering.Uwp.WholeItemsPanel > Grid > Border > AdaptiveCards.Rendering.Uwp.WholeItemsPanel > Grid > ListView > Border`	`Border`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Individual phone item cards. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`.
`Grid#ActionsBar`	`Grid`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Bottom quick actions bar within the companion panel. Stylable: `Height`, `VerticalAlignment`, `Margin`, `Background`, `CornerRadius`.
`Grid#ActionsBar > Button`	`Button`	Win11 23H2 – 24H2	Action buttons inside companion bar. Stylable: `Height`, `Width`, `Background`, `BorderThickness`.

8. Folder Modals, Popups & Flyouts

Popups and flyout menus triggered within the Start Menu experience.

Element Selector	Class Type	Verified Builds	Behavior & Styling Notes
`StartMenu.FolderModal#StartFolderModal > Grid#Root`	`Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Expanded app folder popup modal. Sized via `MaxHeight`, `MaxWidth`, `Height`, `Width`.
`StartMenu.UniversalTileContainer#UniversalTileContainer > Grid#GridViewContainer`	`Grid`	Win11 22H2 – 24H2	Grid container inside folder modals. Stylable: `Width`, `Height`.
`FlyoutPresenter > Border#BackgroundElement`, `FlyoutPresenter > Border`	`Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Context popup flyout background card. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`, `Padding`.
`MenuFlyoutPresenter > Border#BackgroundElement`, `MenuFlyoutPresenter > Border`	`Border`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Context menu flyout container. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`.
`MenuFlyoutItem`, `ToggleMenuFlyoutItem`	Menu Items	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Individual context menu item rows. Stylable: `CornerRadius`, `Margin`.
`ToolTip > ContentPresenter#LayoutRoot`	`ContentPresenter`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Tooltip popup pill. Stylable: `Background`, `BorderBrush`, `CornerRadius`.
`Border#BackgroundBorder, Grid#LayoutRoot`	`Border`, `Grid`	Win11 21H2 – 24H2	Fluid hover transitions: supports `BackgroundTransition:=<BrushTransition Duration="0:0:0.083" />`.