diff --git a/addons/calendar/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js b/addons/calendar/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
index a8b0d24956c..3a0bcdd50f8 100644
--- a/addons/calendar/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
+++ b/addons/calendar/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 import { start, startServer } from '@mail/../tests/helpers/test_utils';
 import ActivityMenu from '@mail/js/systray/systray_activity_menu';
 
+import { Items as legacySystrayItems } from 'web.SystrayMenu';
 import testUtils from 'web.test_utils';
-import { patchDate } from "@web/../tests/helpers/utils";
+import { registerCleanup } from '@web/../tests/helpers/cleanup';
+import { patchDate, patchWithCleanup } from "@web/../tests/helpers/utils";
 
 QUnit.module('calendar', {}, function () {
 QUnit.module('ActivityMenu');
@@ -29,23 +31,25 @@ QUnit.test('activity menu widget:today meetings', async function (assert) {
             attendee_ids: [calendarAttendeeId1],
         },
     ]);
-    const { widget } = await start();
-
-    const activityMenu = new ActivityMenu(widget);
-    await activityMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
-
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$el, 'o_mail_systray_item', 'should be the instance of widget');
-
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-
-    testUtils.mock.intercept(activityMenu, 'do_action', function (event) {
-        assert.strictEqual(event.data.action, "calendar.action_calendar_event", 'should open meeting calendar view in day mode');
+    legacySystrayItems.push(ActivityMenu);
+    registerCleanup(() => legacySystrayItems.pop());
+    const { wowlEnv: env } = await start({
+        hasWebClient: true,
     });
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.o_mail_preview'));
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_mail_systray_item', 'should contain an instance of widget');
 
-    assert.ok(activityMenu.$('.o_meeting_filter'), "should be a meeting");
-    assert.containsN(activityMenu, '.o_meeting_filter', 2, 'there should be 2 meetings');
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$('.o_meeting_filter').eq(0), 'o_meeting_bold', 'this meeting is yet to start');
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$('.o_meeting_filter').eq(1), 'o_meeting_bold', 'this meeting has been started');
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+
+    patchWithCleanup(env.services.action, {
+        doAction(action) {
+            assert.strictEqual(action, "calendar.action_calendar_event", 'should open meeting calendar view in day mode');
+        },
+    });
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.o_mail_preview'));
+
+    assert.ok(document.querySelector('.o_meeting_filter'), "should be a meeting");
+    assert.containsN(document.body, '.o_meeting_filter', 2, 'there should be 2 meetings');
+    assert.hasClass(document.querySelector('.o_meeting_filter'), 'o_meeting_bold', 'this meeting is yet to start');
+    assert.doesNotHaveClass(document.querySelectorAll('.o_meeting_filter')[1], 'o_meeting_bold', 'this meeting has been started');
 });
 });
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js b/addons/mail/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js
index 54e2d49da94..ed965ffaf03 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js
@@ -189,6 +189,13 @@ async function getModelDefinitions() {
 }
 
 let pyEnv;
+const VIEW_TYPE_TO_ARCH = {
+    activity: '<activity><templates></templates></activity>',
+    form: '<form/>',
+    list: '<tree/>',
+    search: '<search/>',
+    kanban: '<kanban><templates></templates></kanban>',
+};
 /**
  * Creates an environment that can be used to setup test data as well as
  * creating data after test start.
@@ -198,6 +205,7 @@ let pyEnv;
  */
  export async function startServer() {
     const data = { ...TEST_USER_IDS };
+    const views = {};
     const modelDefinitions = await modelDefinitionsPromise;
     const recordsToInsertRegistry = registry.category('mail.model.definitions').category('recordsToInsert');
     for (const [modelName, fields] of modelDefinitions) {
@@ -207,12 +215,20 @@ let pyEnv;
             records.push(...JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(recordsToInsertRegistry.get(modelName))));
         }
         data[modelName] = { fields: { ...fields }, records };
+
+        // generate default views for this model.
+        for (const [viewType, viewArch] of Object.entries(VIEW_TYPE_TO_ARCH)) {
+            views[`${modelName},false,${viewType}`] = viewArch;
+        }
     }
     pyEnv = new Proxy(
         {
             ...TEST_USER_IDS,
             get currentPartner() {
                 return this.mockServer.currentPartner;
+            },
+            getViews() {
+                return views;
             }
         },
         {
@@ -761,6 +777,7 @@ async function start(param0 = {}) {
         if (hasWebClient) {
             param0.serverData = param0.serverData || getActionManagerServerData();
             param0.serverData.models = data;
+            param0.serverData.views = { ...pyEnv.getViews(), ...param0.serverData.views };
         } else {
             param0.data = data;
         }
@@ -871,6 +888,7 @@ async function start(param0 = {}) {
         mockServer,
         pyEnv,
         widget,
+        wowlEnv: hasWebClient ? widget.env : undefined,
     };
     if (hasTimeControl) {
         result['advanceTime'] = env.testUtils.advanceTime;
@@ -898,7 +916,7 @@ async function start(param0 = {}) {
         result['discussWidget'] = discussWidget;
     }
     await waitUntilEventPromise;
-    const target = widget.el;
+    const target = hasWebClient ? webclientTarget : widget.el;
     return {
         ...result,
         afterNextRender,
diff --git a/addons/note/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js b/addons/note/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
index 32dbdd9e85c..26c9567ef38 100644
--- a/addons/note/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
+++ b/addons/note/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 import ActivityMenu from '@mail/js/systray/systray_activity_menu';
 import { start } from '@mail/../tests/helpers/test_utils';
 
+import { Items as legacySystrayItems } from 'web.SystrayMenu';
 import testUtils from 'web.test_utils';
+import { registerCleanup } from '@web/../tests/helpers/cleanup';
 
 QUnit.module('note', {}, function () {
 QUnit.module("ActivityMenu");
@@ -11,56 +13,56 @@ QUnit.module("ActivityMenu");
 QUnit.test('note activity menu widget: create note from activity menu', async function (assert) {
     assert.expect(15);
 
-    const { widget } = await start();
+    legacySystrayItems.push(ActivityMenu);
+    registerCleanup(() => legacySystrayItems.pop());
 
-    const activityMenu = new ActivityMenu(widget);
-    await activityMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$el, 'o_mail_systray_item',
-        'should be the instance of widget');
+    await start({ hasWebClient: true });
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_mail_systray_item',
+        'should contain an instance of widget');
     await testUtils.nextTick();
-    assert.strictEqual(activityMenu.$('.o_notification_counter').text(), '0',
+    assert.strictEqual(document.querySelector('.o_notification_counter').innerText, '0',
         "should not have any activity notification initially");
 
     // toggle quick create for note
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    assert.containsOnce(activityMenu, '.o_no_activity',
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_no_activity',
         "should not have any activity preview");
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
+    assert.doesNotHaveClass(document.querySelector('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu should have Add new note CTA');
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.o_note_show'));
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.o_note_show'));
+    assert.hasClass(document.querySelector('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu should hide CTA when entering a new note');
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note'), 'd-none',
+    assert.doesNotHaveClass(document.querySelector('.o_note'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu should display input for new note');
 
     // creating quick note without date
-    await testUtils.fields.editInput(activityMenu.$("input.o_note_input"), "New Note");
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_note_save"));
-    assert.strictEqual(activityMenu.$('.o_notification_counter').text(), '1',
+    await testUtils.fields.editInput(document.querySelector("input.o_note_input"), "New Note");
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_note_save"));
+    assert.strictEqual(document.querySelector('.o_notification_counter').innerText, '1',
         "should increment activity notification counter after creating a note");
-    assert.containsOnce(activityMenu, '.o_mail_preview[data-res_model="note.note"]',
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_mail_preview[data-res_model="note.note"]',
         "should have an activity preview that is a note");
-    assert.strictEqual(activityMenu.$('.o_activity_filter_button[data-filter="today"]').text().trim(),
+    assert.strictEqual(document.querySelector('.o_activity_filter_button[data-filter="today"]').innerText.trim(),
         "1 Today",
         "should display one note for today");
 
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
+    assert.doesNotHaveClass(document.querySelector('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu add note button should be displayed');
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note'), 'd-none',
+    assert.hasClass(document.querySelector('.o_note'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu add note input should be hidden');
 
     // creating quick note with date
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.o_note_show'));
-    activityMenu.$('input.o_note_input').val("New Note");
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_note_save"));
-    assert.strictEqual(activityMenu.$('.o_notification_counter').text(), '2',
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.o_note_show'));
+    document.querySelector('input.o_note_input').value = "New Note";
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_note_save"));
+    assert.strictEqual(document.querySelector('.o_notification_counter').innerText, '2',
         "should increment activity notification counter after creating a second note");
-    assert.strictEqual(activityMenu.$('.o_activity_filter_button[data-filter="today"]').text().trim(),
+    assert.strictEqual(document.querySelector('.o_activity_filter_button[data-filter="today"]').innerText.trim(),
         "2 Today",
         "should display 2 notes for today");
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
+    assert.doesNotHaveClass(document.querySelector('.o_note_show'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu add note button should be displayed');
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$('.o_note'), 'd-none',
+    assert.hasClass(document.querySelector('.o_note'), 'd-none',
         'ActivityMenu add note input should be hidden');
 });
 });
diff --git a/addons/test_mail/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js b/addons/test_mail/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
index 322e502df43..00690df9cd6 100644
--- a/addons/test_mail/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
+++ b/addons/test_mail/static/tests/systray_activity_menu_tests.js
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@ import {
     startServer,
 } from '@mail/../tests/helpers/test_utils';
 
+import session from 'web.session';
+import { Items as legacySystrayItems } from 'web.SystrayMenu';
 import testUtils from 'web.test_utils';
 import { date_to_str } from 'web.time';
+import { registerCleanup } from '@web/../tests/helpers/cleanup';
+import { patchWithCleanup } from '@web/../tests/helpers/utils';
+
 
 QUnit.module('test_mail', {}, function () {
 QUnit.module('systray_activity_menu_tests.js', {
@@ -26,125 +31,130 @@ QUnit.module('systray_activity_menu_tests.js', {
             { date_deadline: date_to_str(tomorrow), res_id: mailTestActivityIds[2],  res_model: 'mail.test.activity' },
             { date_deadline: date_to_str(yesterday), res_id: mailTestActivityIds[3], res_model: 'mail.test.activity' },
         ]);
-        this.session = {
-            uid: 10,
-        };
     },
 });
 
 QUnit.test('activity menu widget: menu with no records', async function (assert) {
     assert.expect(1);
 
-    const { widget } = await start({
+    legacySystrayItems.push(ActivityMenu);
+    registerCleanup(() => legacySystrayItems.pop());
+    await start({
+        hasWebClient: true,
         mockRPC: function (route, args) {
             if (args.method === 'systray_get_activities') {
                 return Promise.resolve([]);
             }
-            return this._super(route, args);
         },
     });
-    const activityMenu = new ActivityMenu(widget);
-    await activityMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
     await testUtils.nextTick();
-    assert.containsOnce(activityMenu, '.o_no_activity');
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_no_activity');
 });
 
 QUnit.test('activity menu widget: activity menu with 2 models', async function (assert) {
     assert.expect(10);
 
-    const { widget } = await start();
-    var activityMenu = new ActivityMenu(widget);
-    await activityMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
+    legacySystrayItems.push(ActivityMenu);
+    registerCleanup(() => legacySystrayItems.pop());
+    const { wowlEnv: env } = await start({
+        hasWebClient: true,
+    });
+
     await testUtils.nextTick();
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$el, 'o_mail_systray_item', 'should be the instance of widget');
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_mail_systray_item', 'should contain an instance of widget');
     // the assertion below has not been replace because there are includes of ActivityMenu that modify the length.
-    assert.ok(activityMenu.$('.o_mail_preview').length);
-    assert.containsOnce(activityMenu.$el, '.o_notification_counter', "widget should have notification counter");
-    assert.strictEqual(parseInt(activityMenu.el.innerText), 5, "widget should have 5 notification counter");
+    assert.ok(document.querySelectorAll('.o_mail_preview').length);
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_notification_counter', "widget should have notification counter");
+    assert.strictEqual(parseInt(document.querySelector('.o_notification_counter').innerText), 5, "widget should have 5 notification counter");
 
     var context = {};
-    testUtils.mock.intercept(activityMenu, 'do_action', function (event) {
-        assert.deepEqual(event.data.action.context, context, "wrong context value");
-    }, true);
+    patchWithCleanup(env.services.action, {
+        doAction(action) {
+            assert.deepEqual(action.context, context, "wrong context value");
+        },
+    });
 
     // case 1: click on "late"
     context = {
         force_search_count: 1,
         search_default_activities_overdue: 1,
     };
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$el, 'show', 'ActivityMenu should be open');
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_activity_filter_button[data-model_name='mail.test.activity'][data-filter='overdue']"));
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$el, 'show', 'ActivityMenu should be closed');
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    assert.containsOnce(document.body, '.o_mail_systray_dropdown.show', 'ActivityMenu should be open');
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_activity_filter_button[data-model_name='mail.test.activity'][data-filter='overdue']"));
+    assert.containsNone(document.body, '.show', 'ActivityMenu should be closed');
     // case 2: click on "today"
     context = {
         force_search_count: 1,
         search_default_activities_today: 1,
     };
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_activity_filter_button[data-model_name='mail.test.activity'][data-filter='today']"));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_activity_filter_button[data-model_name='mail.test.activity'][data-filter='today']"));
     // case 3: click on "future"
     context = {
         force_search_count: 1,
         search_default_activities_upcoming_all: 1,
     };
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_activity_filter_button[data-model_name='mail.test.activity'][data-filter='upcoming_all']"));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_activity_filter_button[data-model_name='mail.test.activity'][data-filter='upcoming_all']"));
     // case 4: click anywere else
     context = {
         force_search_count: 1,
         search_default_activities_overdue: 1,
         search_default_activities_today: 1,
     };
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_mail_systray_dropdown_items > div[data-model_name='mail.test.activity']"));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_mail_systray_dropdown_items > div[data-model_name='mail.test.activity']"));
 });
 
 QUnit.test('activity menu widget: activity view icon', async function (assert) {
     assert.expect(14);
 
-    const { widget } = await start({
-        session: this.session,
+    patchWithCleanup(session, { uid: 10 });
+    legacySystrayItems.push(ActivityMenu);
+    registerCleanup(() => legacySystrayItems.pop());
+    const { wowlEnv: env } = await start({
+        hasWebClient: true,
     });
-    var activityMenu = new ActivityMenu(widget);
-    await activityMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
     await testUtils.nextTick();
-    assert.containsN(activityMenu, '.o_mail_activity_action', 2,
+    assert.containsN(document.body, '.o_mail_activity_action', 2,
                        "widget should have 2 activity view icons");
 
-    var $first = activityMenu.$('.o_mail_activity_action').eq(0);
-    var $second = activityMenu.$('.o_mail_activity_action').eq(1);
-    assert.strictEqual($first.data('model_name'), "res.partner",
+    var first = document.querySelector('.o_mail_activity_action');
+    var second = document.querySelectorAll('.o_mail_activity_action')[1];
+    assert.strictEqual(first.getAttribute('data-model_name'), "res.partner",
                        "first activity action should link to 'res.partner'");
-    assert.hasClass($first, 'fa-clock-o', "should display the activity action icon");
+    assert.hasClass(first, 'fa-clock-o', "should display the activity action icon");
 
-    assert.strictEqual($second.data('model_name'), "mail.test.activity",
+    assert.strictEqual(second.getAttribute('data-model_name'), "mail.test.activity",
                        "Second activity action should link to 'mail.test.activity'");
-    assert.hasClass($second, 'fa-clock-o', "should display the activity action icon");
+    assert.hasClass(second, 'fa-clock-o', "should display the activity action icon");
 
-    testUtils.mock.intercept(activityMenu, 'do_action', function (ev) {
-        if (ev.data.action.name) {
-            assert.ok(ev.data.action.domain, "should define a domain on the action");
-            assert.deepEqual(ev.data.action.domain, [["activity_ids.user_id", "=", 10]],
-                "should set domain to user's activity only");
-            assert.step('do_action:' + ev.data.action.name);
-        } else {
-            assert.step('do_action:' + ev.data.action);
-        }
-    }, true);
+    patchWithCleanup(env.services.action, {
+        doAction(action) {
+            if (action.name) {
+                assert.ok(action.domain, "should define a domain on the action");
+                assert.deepEqual(action.domain, [["activity_ids.user_id", "=", 10]],
+                    "should set domain to user's activity only");
+                assert.step('do_action:' + action.name);
+            } else {
+                assert.step('do_action:' + action);
+            }
+        },
+    });
 
     // click on the "mail.test.activity" activity icon
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    assert.hasClass(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-menu'), 'show',
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    assert.hasClass(document.querySelector('.dropdown-menu'), 'show',
         "dropdown should be expanded");
 
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_mail_activity_action[data-model_name='mail.test.activity']"));
-    assert.doesNotHaveClass(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-menu'), 'show',
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_mail_activity_action[data-model_name='mail.test.activity']"));
+    assert.doesNotHaveClass(document.querySelector('.dropdown-menu'), 'show',
         "dropdown should be collapsed");
 
     // click on the "res.partner" activity icon
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$(".o_mail_activity_action[data-model_name='res.partner']"));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector(".o_mail_activity_action[data-model_name='res.partner']"));
 
     assert.verifySteps([
         'do_action:mail.test.activity',
@@ -155,22 +165,24 @@ QUnit.test('activity menu widget: activity view icon', async function (assert) {
 QUnit.test('activity menu widget: close on messaging menu click', async function (assert) {
     assert.expect(2);
 
-    const { click, createMessagingMenuComponent, widget } = await start();
+    legacySystrayItems.push(ActivityMenu);
+    registerCleanup(() => legacySystrayItems.pop());
+    const { click, createMessagingMenuComponent } = await start({
+        hasWebClient: true,
+    });
     await createMessagingMenuComponent();
-    const activityMenu = new ActivityMenu(widget);
-    await activityMenu.appendTo($('#qunit-fixture'));
     await testUtils.nextTick();
 
-    await testUtils.dom.click(activityMenu.$('.dropdown-toggle'));
+    await testUtils.dom.click(document.querySelector('.dropdown-toggle[title="Activities"]'));
     assert.hasClass(
-        activityMenu.el.querySelector('.o_mail_systray_dropdown'),
+        document.querySelector('.o_mail_systray_dropdown'),
         'show',
         "activity menu should be shown after click on itself"
     );
 
     await click(`.o_MessagingMenu_toggler`);
     assert.doesNotHaveClass(
-        activityMenu.el.querySelector('.o_mail_systray_dropdown'),
+        document.querySelector('.o_mail_systray_dropdown'),
         'show',
         "activity menu should be hidden after click on messaging menu"
     );