StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is an executable file that is part of the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is specifically associated with the Start Menu Experience Host, which is a component of the Windows Shell Experience. The file is typically located in the C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy directory.
The Start Menu Experience Host is responsible for managing the visual elements of the Windows interface, including the Start Menu, Taskbar, and Action Center. It ensures that these elements function correctly and provides a smooth user experience. It also handles the live tiles feature in the Start Menu, which displays real-time updates from apps.
As a core component of the Windows operating system, the Start Menu Experience Host is essential for the proper functioning of the user interface. Without it, users may experience issues with the Start Menu, Taskbar, and Action Center, which could significantly impact the usability of the system.
It is not recommended to remove or disable StartMenuExperienceHost.exe as it is a critical system process. In some cases, it may consume a large amount of system resources, causing performance issues. If this happens, restarting the process or the system usually resolves the problem. If the issue persists, it may be due to a bug or malware, in which case it would be advisable to run a system scan or consult a professional.
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The process known as Microsoft Windows Start Menu Experience Host or Windows Start Experience Host or Windows System File or Microsoft Windows belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or libGLESv2 by Microsoft Windows or Microsoft (www.microsoft.com).
Description: StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. The file StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows (mainly C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 793,416 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 944,144 bytes and 63 more variants.
The program is not visible. StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is a Microsoft signed file. The file has a digital signature. StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is not a Windows system file. The application can be uninstalled in the Control Panel. The process has no file description.
Therefore the technical security rating is 0% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Recommended: Identify StartMenuExperienceHost.exe related errors
If StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 78% dangerous. The file size is 2,471,936 bytes. The program has a visible window. The process starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: Run, MACHINE\Run, TaskScheduler). There is no information about the author of the file. It is not a Windows core file. StartMenuExperienceHost.exe appears to be a compressed file.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as StartMenuExperienceHost.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with StartMenuExperienceHost. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
onedrive.exe smss.exe safemon.dll StartMenuExperienceHost.exe comres.dll coieplg.dll nlssrv32.exe avg secure search_toolbar.dll starwindserviceae.exe searchindexer.exe rundll32.exe [all]
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User Comments
Mateus (further information)
J Bongartz
Dmitry
BluePT
Summary: Average user rating of StartMenuExperienceHost.exe: based on 10 votes with 4 user comments. 3 users think StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks it's probably harmless. One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous. 5 users think StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.