Download SpyShelter
Discover our Resources →
Learn how to protect your Windows PC from malware and other threats.Application Control
Control your PC apps and their behaviors.What’s that .exe?
Is that executable safe, or a threat?SpyShelter PC Protection
Learn how to protect your PC from bad apps.Registry Protection
Protect your Windows Registry from harm.How to prevent Screenshots
Learn how to prevent unauthorized Screenshots.Executable Directory
Our ultimate directory of Windows PC executables.How is your Windows Start Menu experience lately? Mine is super groovy... I click it, see some apps there, click again, find some files... Groovy, isn't it?
OK, so I work at SpyShelter's cybersecurity lab here in Austin, Texas and I should be more serious about this... So, just to be clear, I've found that StartMenuExperienceHost.exe (Windows Start Experience Host) is a safe process to find running in your Task Manager, as long as it's signed by Microsoft.
StartMenuExperienceHost.exe is a process in Microsoft Windows that is responsible for managing the Start menu and its user interface. It provides the functionality and visual elements of the Start menu, such as live tiles, search features, and app launching capabilities. This process is essential for the smooth functioning of the Start menu, which is a central feature of the Windows operating system.
I hope you are having a good "Start Menu Experience" today. If you're not sure about this process on your PC, use the Windows Task Manager, or our free SpyShelter Antispyware software to confirm this popular .exe is signed. If it's signed, you should be good to go, and you should continue to have many excellent Start Menu experiences!
Below are 4 simple steps you can take to see if the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe process is safe or malware.
Researched by Jon @ SpyShelter Labs
A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.
Download SpyShelter to see detailed safety information about every .exe on your PC.
Check your PC for threats
Recently Viewed Executables We’ve found Microsoft Windows should be the publisher of StartMenuExperienceHost.exe.
How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.
The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.
Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.
Have any questions? Please join our free public SpyShelter PC Security Forum and talk cybersecurity with our USA-based team. We love talking about PC Security and we’d like to get to know you.
Join our PC security forum →
