StartMenuExperienceHost.exe

Windows ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

Also called start menu experience host, startmenuexperiencehost

WindowsSystem Component

The process that hosts the Start menu on current Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What you need to know

This is the Start menu host.

StartMenuExperienceHost.exe draws the Start menu. Ending it can make Start stop responding until Windows starts the host again.

Safe?: Usually yes
Should I close it?: No, unless Start is already broken
Related to?: explorer.exe

Feex says

If Start will not open, restarting this host or explorer.exe is a recovery step. Deleting the file is not.

What is StartMenuExperienceHost.exe?

StartMenuExperienceHost.exe hosts the Start menu UI on current Windows.

What does it do?

It shows pinned apps, all apps, and the Start surface. It works with explorer.exe, not instead of it.

Why is it running?

It starts with the shell so Start can open quickly.

Is it safe?

Usually safe

The legitimate host is a Microsoft signed system app. A copy outside SystemApps is not the normal Start menu.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe

The package folder can change with Windows versions
Expected publisher: Microsoft Corporation

Can I end it?

Only as a recovery

Ending it can recover a stuck Start menu after Windows restarts the host. Ending it for fun hides Start.

Can I remove it?

Do not delete the Start menu host. You will lose a supported Start menu.

Should it start with Windows?

It starts with the desktop shell. Leave it there.

Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

CPU: Short spikes when Start opens
Memory: Modest while Start stays cached
Disk: Low
Network: Low unless a tile fetches content

File information

StartMenuExperienceHost.exe file information
Executable name	StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
Common legitimate path	C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
Publisher	Microsoft Corporation
Signature expectation	Signed by Microsoft Windows

Common problems

Start does not open

Restart this host or explorer.exe. A full reinstall of Windows is not the first step.

High memory after many opens

Sign out or restart Explorer if the host grew without bound. That is a shell glitch, not a reason to delete the file.

Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

Confirm the path and signature

Open the process properties and check that StartMenuExperienceHost.exe runs from the expected folder and is signed by the expected publisher. This is the first check, not a Registry edit.

See what the process is doing

Task Manager can show CPU, memory, disk, and GPU. High use during an obvious job is often normal. High use when the PC is idle needs a closer look at the related app or service.

Avoid destructive first steps

Do not delete StartMenuExperienceHost.exe, disable critical services without knowing the effect, or edit the Registry as the first move.

Technical details

StartMenuExperienceHost.exe technical details
Image name	StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
Related process	explorer.exe

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Microsoft Support: Start menu · Start menu support

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