ComboBox styles and templates
[ This article is for Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x developers writing Windows Runtime apps. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation ]
This topic describes the styles and templates for the ComboBox control. You can modify these resources and the default ControlTemplate to give the control a unique appearance.
Visual states
These are the VisualStates defined in the control's default style.
| VisualState name | VisualStateGroup name | Description |
|---|---|---|
Normal |
CommonStates |
The default state. |
PointerOver |
CommonStates |
The pointer is positioned over the control. |
Pressed |
CommonStates |
The control is pressed. |
Disabled |
CommonStates |
The control is disabled. |
Checked |
CheckStates |
IsChecked is true. |
Unchecked |
CheckStates |
IsChecked is false. |
Indeterminate |
CheckStates |
IsThreeState is true, and IsChecked is null. |
Focused |
FocusStates |
The control has focus. |
FocusedPressed |
FocusStates |
The control has focus and is pressed. |
Unfocused |
FocusStates |
The control doesn't have focus. |
PointerFocused |
FocusStates |
The control has focus obtained through a pointer action. |
FocusedDropDown |
FocusStates |
The drop-down for the ComboBox has focus. |
Opened |
DropDownStates |
The drop-down for the ComboBox is open. |
Closed |
DropDownStates |
The drop-down for the ComboBox is closed. |
For more info about focus states, see Control.FocusState.
Theme resources
These resources are used in the control's default style.
Dark theme brushes
To change the colors of the control in the dark theme, override these brushes in App.xaml.
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxArrowDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66FFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxArrowForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxArrowPressedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#CCFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxBorderThemeBrush" Color="#CCFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxDisabledBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="Transparent" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxDisabledBorderThemeBrush" Color="#66FFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66FFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxFocusedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="White" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxFocusedBorderThemeBrush" Color="White" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxFocusedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="White" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxHeaderForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPlaceholderTextForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#88000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#DEFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPointerOverBorderThemeBrush" Color="#DEFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPopupBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPopupBorderThemeBrush" Color="#FF212121" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPopupForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedBorderThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedHighlightThemeBrush" Color="#FFD3D3D3" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxSelectedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF4617B4" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxSelectedPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF5F37BE" />
Light theme brushes
To change the colors of the control in the light theme, override these brushes in App.xaml.
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxArrowDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxArrowForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxArrowPressedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#CCFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxBorderThemeBrush" Color="#45000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxDisabledBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#66CACACA" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxDisabledBorderThemeBrush" Color="#26000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#66000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxFocusedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="White" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxFocusedBorderThemeBrush" Color="#70000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxFocusedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="White" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxHeaderForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPlaceholderTextForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#88000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#DEFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPointerOverBorderThemeBrush" Color="#70000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPopupBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPopupBorderThemeBrush" Color="#FF212121" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPopupForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FFFFFFFF" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedBorderThemeBrush" Color="#A3000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedHighlightThemeBrush" Color="#FFD3D3D3" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF000000" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxSelectedBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF4617B4" />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="ComboBoxSelectedPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush" Color="#FF5F37BE" />
Other resources
<x:Double x:Key="ComboBoxThemeMinWidth">64</x:Double>
<x:Double x:Key="ComboBoxPopupThemeMinWidth">80</x:Double>
<x:Double x:Key="ComboBoxArrowThemeFontSize">21</x:Double>
<Thickness x:Key="ComboBoxBorderThemeThickness">2</Thickness>
<Thickness x:Key="ComboBoxHeaderThemeMargin">0,0,0,6</Thickness>
<Thickness x:Key="ComboBoxPopupBorderThemeThickness">2</Thickness>
<FontWeight x:Key="ComboBoxHeaderThemeFontWeight">SemiLight</FontWeight>
<FontWeight x:Key="ComboBoxPlaceholderTextThemeFontWeight">SemiLight</FontWeight>
Shared resources
The control template uses these resources that are shared with other control templates. Changing these values will affect other controls that use these resources.
<FontFamily x:Key="SymbolThemeFontFamily">Segoe UI Symbol</FontFamily>
<FontFamily x:Key="ContentControlThemeFontFamily">Segoe UI</FontFamily>
<x:Double x:Key="ControlContentThemeFontSize">14.667</x:Double>
For more info on theme resources, including the values that are used for the HighContrast theme, see XAML theme resources reference.
Default style
<!-- Default style for Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ComboBox -->
<Style TargetType="ComboBox">
<Setter Property="Padding" Value="8,0" />
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxThemeMinWidth}" />
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxForegroundThemeBrush}" />
<Setter Property="Background" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
<Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxBorderThemeBrush}" />
<Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxBorderThemeThickness}" />
<Setter Property="TabNavigation" Value="Once" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Disabled" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Auto" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollMode" Value="Disabled" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollMode" Value="Auto" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.IsVerticalRailEnabled" Value="True" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.IsDeferredScrollingEnabled" Value="False" />
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.BringIntoViewOnFocusChange" Value="True" />
<Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch" />
<Setter Property="FontFamily" Value="{ThemeResource ContentControlThemeFontFamily}" />
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="{ThemeResource ControlContentThemeFontSize}" />
<Setter Property="ItemsPanel">
<Setter.Value>
<ItemsPanelTemplate>
<CarouselPanel />
</ItemsPanelTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBox">
<Grid>
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
<RowDefinition Height="*" />
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
<ColumnDefinition Width="32" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
<VisualStateGroup x:Name="CommonStates">
<VisualState x:Name="Normal" />
<VisualState x:Name="PointerOver">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Background"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Background">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Background"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="BorderBrush">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPointerOverBorderThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Highlight"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxSelectedPointerOverBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
<VisualState x:Name="Pressed">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Background"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Background">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPressedBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Background"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="BorderBrush">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPressedBorderThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="ContentPresenter"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="PressedBackground"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
To="1"
Duration="0" />
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="DropDownGlyph"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxArrowPressedForegroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
<VisualState x:Name="Disabled">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Background"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Background">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxDisabledBackgroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Background"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="BorderBrush">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxDisabledBorderThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="ContentPresenter"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxDisabledForegroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="DropDownGlyph"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxArrowDisabledForegroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
</VisualStateGroup>
<VisualStateGroup x:Name="FocusStates">
<VisualState x:Name="Focused">
<Storyboard>
<DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="HighlightBackground"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
To="1"
Duration="0" />
<DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="Highlight"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
To="1"
Duration="0" />
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="ContentPresenter"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxFocusedForegroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
<VisualState x:Name="FocusedPressed">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="ContentPresenter"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Foreground">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPressedForegroundThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="Highlight"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Fill">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPressedHighlightThemeBrush}" />
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
<VisualState x:Name="Unfocused" />
<VisualState x:Name="PointerFocused" />
<VisualState x:Name="FocusedDropDown">
<Storyboard>
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="PopupBorder"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Visibility"
Duration="0">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
<Visibility>Visible</Visibility>
</DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
</DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
</VisualStateGroup>
<VisualStateGroup x:Name="DropDownStates">
<VisualState x:Name="Opened">
<Storyboard>
<SplitOpenThemeAnimation
OpenedTargetName="PopupBorder"
ContentTargetName="ScrollViewer"
ClosedTargetName="ContentPresenter"
ContentTranslationOffset="0"
OffsetFromCenter="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.DropDownOffset}"
OpenedLength="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.DropDownOpenedHeight}"
ClosedLength="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.DropDownClosedHeight}" />
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
<VisualState x:Name="Closed">
<Storyboard>
<SplitCloseThemeAnimation
OpenedTargetName="PopupBorder"
ContentTargetName="ScrollViewer"
ClosedTargetName="ContentPresenter"
ContentTranslationOffset="40"
OffsetFromCenter="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.DropDownOffset}"
ContentTranslationDirection="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.SelectedItemDirection}"
OpenedLength="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.DropDownOpenedHeight}"
ClosedLength="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TemplateSettings.DropDownClosedHeight}" />
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
</VisualStateGroup>
</VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
<ContentPresenter x:Name="HeaderContentPresenter"
Foreground="{ThemeResource ComboBoxHeaderForegroundThemeBrush}"
Margin="{ThemeResource ComboBoxHeaderThemeMargin}"
FlowDirection="{TemplateBinding FlowDirection}"
FontWeight="{ThemeResource ComboBoxHeaderThemeFontWeight}"
Visibility="Collapsed"
Content="{TemplateBinding Header}"
ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding HeaderTemplate}" />
<Border x:Name="Background"
Grid.Row="1"
Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
Background="{TemplateBinding Background}"
BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}" />
<Rectangle x:Name="PressedBackground"
Grid.Row="1"
Fill="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPressedHighlightThemeBrush}"
Margin="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
Opacity="0" />
<Border x:Name="HighlightBackground"
Grid.Row="1"
Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
Background="{ThemeResource ComboBoxFocusedBackgroundThemeBrush}"
BorderBrush="{ThemeResource ComboBoxFocusedBorderThemeBrush}"
BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
Opacity="0" />
<Rectangle x:Name="Highlight"
Grid.Row="1"
Fill="{ThemeResource ComboBoxSelectedBackgroundThemeBrush}"
Margin="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
Opacity="0" />
<ContentPresenter x:Name="ContentPresenter"
Grid.Row="1"
Margin="{TemplateBinding Padding}"
HorizontalAlignment="{TemplateBinding HorizontalContentAlignment}"
VerticalAlignment="{TemplateBinding VerticalContentAlignment}">
<TextBlock x:Name="PlaceholderTextBlock"
Text="{TemplateBinding PlaceholderText}"
Foreground="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPlaceholderTextForegroundThemeBrush}"
FontWeight="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPlaceholderTextThemeFontWeight}"/>
</ContentPresenter>
<TextBlock x:Name="DropDownGlyph"
Text=""
Grid.Row="1"
Grid.Column="1"
IsHitTestVisible="False"
Margin="0,0,6,4"
Foreground="{ThemeResource ComboBoxArrowForegroundThemeBrush}"
FontWeight="Bold"
FontSize="{ThemeResource ComboBoxArrowThemeFontSize}"
FontFamily="{ThemeResource SymbolThemeFontFamily}"
HorizontalAlignment="Right"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
AutomationProperties.AccessibilityView="Raw"/>
<Popup x:Name="Popup">
<Border x:Name="PopupBorder"
Background="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPopupBackgroundThemeBrush}"
BorderBrush="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPopupBorderThemeBrush}"
BorderThickness="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPopupBorderThemeThickness}"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch">
<ScrollViewer x:Name="ScrollViewer" Foreground="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPopupForegroundThemeBrush}"
MinWidth="{ThemeResource ComboBoxPopupThemeMinWidth}"
VerticalSnapPointsType="OptionalSingle"
VerticalSnapPointsAlignment="Near"
HorizontalScrollMode="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollMode}"
HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility}"
VerticalScrollMode="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollMode}"
VerticalScrollBarVisibility="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollBarVisibility}"
IsHorizontalRailEnabled="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.IsHorizontalRailEnabled}"
IsVerticalRailEnabled="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.IsVerticalRailEnabled}"
IsDeferredScrollingEnabled="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.IsDeferredScrollingEnabled}"
BringIntoViewOnFocusChange="{TemplateBinding ScrollViewer.BringIntoViewOnFocusChange}"
ZoomMode="Disabled"
AutomationProperties.AccessibilityView="Raw">
<ItemsPresenter/>
</ScrollViewer>
</Border>
</Popup>
</Grid>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>