Properties window
Applies to: 
Visual Studio 
Visual Studio for Mac
Note
This article applies to Visual Studio 2017. If you're looking for the latest Visual Studio documentation, see Visual Studio documentation. We recommend upgrading to the latest version of Visual Studio. Download it here
Use this window to view and change the design-time properties and events of selected objects that are located in editors and designers. You can also use the Properties window to edit and view file, project, and solution properties. You can find Properties Window on the View menu. You can also open it by pressing F4 or by typing Properties in the search box.
The Properties window displays different types of editing fields, depending on the needs of a particular property. These edit fields include edit boxes, drop-down lists, and links to custom editor dialog boxes. Properties shown in gray are read-only.
UIElement List
Object name
Lists the currently selected object or objects. Only objects from the active editor or designer are visible. When you select multiple objects, only properties common to all selected objects appear.
Categorized
Lists all properties and property values for the selected object, by category. You can collapse a category to reduce the number of visible properties. When you expand or collapse a category, you see a plus (+) or minus (-) to the left of the category name. Categories are listed alphabetically.
Alphabetical
Alphabetically sorts all design-time properties and events for selected objects. To edit an undimmed property, click in the cell to its right and enter changes.
Property Pages
Displays the Property Pages dialog box or Project Designer for the selected item. Property Pages displays a subset, the same or a superset of the properties available in the Properties window. Use this button to view and edit properties related to your project's active configuration.
Properties
Displays the properties for an object. Many objects also have events that can be viewed using the Properties window.
Sort by Property Source
Groups properties by source, such as inheritance, applied styles, and bindings. Only available when editing XAML files in the designer.
Events
Displays the events for an object.
Note
This Properties window toolbar control is only available when a form or control designer is active in the context of a Visual C# project. When editing XAML files, events appear on a separate tab of the properties window.
Messages
Lists all Windows messages. Allows you to add or delete specified handler functions for the messages provided for the selected class.
Note
This Properties window toolbar control is only available when Class View is the active window in the context of a Visual C++ project.
Overrides
Lists all virtual functions for the selected class and allows you to add or delete overriding functions.
Note
This Properties window toolbar control is only available when Class View is the active window in the context of a Visual C++ project.
Description pane
Shows the property type and a short description of the property. You can turn the description of the property off and on using the Description command on the shortcut menu.
Note
This Properties window toolbar control is not available when editing XAML files in the designer.
Thumbnail view
Shows a visual representation of the currently selected element when editing XAML files in the designer.
Search
Provides a Search function for properties and events when editing XAML files in the designer. The search box responds to partial word searches and updates search results as you type.