diff --git a/docs/data/pages.ts b/docs/data/pages.ts
index d8fe2a79ce4f1..97bf3da4366a4 100644
--- a/docs/data/pages.ts
+++ b/docs/data/pages.ts
@@ -491,6 +491,7 @@ const pages: MuiPage[] = [
           { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/selection' },
           { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/expansion' },
           { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/customization' },
+          { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus' },
         ],
       },
       {
@@ -500,6 +501,7 @@ const pages: MuiPage[] = [
           { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/items' },
           { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/selection' },
           { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/expansion' },
+          { pathname: '/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus' },
         ],
       },
       {
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.js b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b55bbc89843cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.js
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import Box from '@mui/material/Box';
+import Button from '@mui/material/Button';
+import { RichTreeView } from '@mui/x-tree-view/RichTreeView';
+
+import { useTreeViewApiRef } from '@mui/x-tree-view/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef';
+
+const MUI_X_PRODUCTS = [
+  {
+    id: 'grid',
+    label: 'Data Grid',
+    children: [
+      { id: 'grid-community', label: '@mui/x-data-grid' },
+      { id: 'grid-pro', label: '@mui/x-data-grid-pro' },
+      { id: 'grid-premium', label: '@mui/x-data-grid-premium' },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'pickers',
+    label: 'Date and Time Pickers',
+    children: [
+      { id: 'pickers-community', label: '@mui/x-date-pickers' },
+      { id: 'pickers-pro', label: '@mui/x-date-pickers-pro' },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'charts',
+    label: 'Charts',
+    children: [{ id: 'charts-community', label: '@mui/x-charts' }],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'tree-view',
+    label: 'Tree View',
+    children: [{ id: 'tree-view-community', label: '@mui/x-tree-view' }],
+  },
+];
+
+export default function FocusedRichTreeView() {
+  const apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+  const handleButtonClick = (event) => {
+    apiRef.current?.focusNode(event, 'pickers');
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Box sx={{ flexGrow: 1, maxWidth: 400 }}>
+      <Box sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+        <Button onClick={handleButtonClick}>Focus pickers node</Button>
+      </Box>
+      <Box sx={{ height: 264, flexGrow: 1 }}>
+        <RichTreeView items={MUI_X_PRODUCTS} apiRef={apiRef} />
+      </Box>
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.tsx b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..5d83b6cec1162
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import Box from '@mui/material/Box';
+import Button from '@mui/material/Button';
+import { RichTreeView } from '@mui/x-tree-view/RichTreeView';
+import { TreeViewBaseItem } from '@mui/x-tree-view/models';
+import { useTreeViewApiRef } from '@mui/x-tree-view/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef';
+
+const MUI_X_PRODUCTS: TreeViewBaseItem[] = [
+  {
+    id: 'grid',
+    label: 'Data Grid',
+    children: [
+      { id: 'grid-community', label: '@mui/x-data-grid' },
+      { id: 'grid-pro', label: '@mui/x-data-grid-pro' },
+      { id: 'grid-premium', label: '@mui/x-data-grid-premium' },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'pickers',
+    label: 'Date and Time Pickers',
+    children: [
+      { id: 'pickers-community', label: '@mui/x-date-pickers' },
+      { id: 'pickers-pro', label: '@mui/x-date-pickers-pro' },
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'charts',
+    label: 'Charts',
+    children: [{ id: 'charts-community', label: '@mui/x-charts' }],
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'tree-view',
+    label: 'Tree View',
+    children: [{ id: 'tree-view-community', label: '@mui/x-tree-view' }],
+  },
+];
+
+export default function FocusedRichTreeView() {
+  const apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+  const handleButtonClick = (event: React.SyntheticEvent) => {
+    apiRef.current?.focusNode(event, 'pickers');
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Box sx={{ flexGrow: 1, maxWidth: 400 }}>
+      <Box sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+        <Button onClick={handleButtonClick}>Focus pickers node</Button>
+      </Box>
+      <Box sx={{ height: 264, flexGrow: 1 }}>
+        <RichTreeView items={MUI_X_PRODUCTS} apiRef={apiRef} />
+      </Box>
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.tsx.preview b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.tsx.preview
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..bc63fee6e7fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/FocusedRichTreeView.tsx.preview
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<Box sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+  <Button onClick={handleButtonClick}>Focus pickers node</Button>
+</Box>
+<Box sx={{ height: 264, flexGrow: 1 }}>
+  <RichTreeView items={MUI_X_PRODUCTS} apiRef={apiRef} />
+</Box>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/focus.md b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/focus.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..1f201af613a9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/focus.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+productId: x-tree-view
+title: Rich Tree View - Focus
+components: RichTreeView, TreeItem
+packageName: '@mui/x-tree-view'
+githubLabel: 'component: tree view'
+waiAria: https://www.w3.org/WAI/ARIA/apg/patterns/treeview/
+---
+
+# Rich Tree View - Focus
+
+<p class="description">Learn how to focus Tree View items.</p>
+
+## Focus a specific node
+
+You can use the the `apiRef.focusNode` method to focus a specific node.
+This methods receives two parameters: `event` and `nodeId`.
+
+:::success
+To use the `apiRef` object, you need to initialize it using the `useTreeViewApiRef` hook as follows:
+
+```tsx
+const apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+
+return <RichTreeView apiRef={apiRef} items={ITEMS}>;
+```
+
+`apiRef` will be undefined during the first render and will then contain methods allowing you to imperatively interact with the Tree View.
+:::
+
+:::info
+This method only works with nodes that are currently visible.
+Calling `apiRef.focusNode` on a node whose parent is collapsed will do nothing.
+:::
+
+{{"demo": "FocusedRichTreeView.js"}}
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/FocusedSimpleTreeView.js b/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/FocusedSimpleTreeView.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ae3dc438a6970
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/FocusedSimpleTreeView.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import Box from '@mui/material/Box';
+import Button from '@mui/material/Button';
+import { SimpleTreeView } from '@mui/x-tree-view/SimpleTreeView';
+import { TreeItem } from '@mui/x-tree-view/TreeItem';
+import { useTreeViewApiRef } from '@mui/x-tree-view/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef';
+
+export default function FocusedSimpleTreeView() {
+  const apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+  const handleButtonClick = (event) => {
+    apiRef.current?.focusNode(event, 'pickers');
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Box sx={{ flexGrow: 1, maxWidth: 400 }}>
+      <Box sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+        <Button onClick={handleButtonClick}>Focus pickers node</Button>
+      </Box>
+      <Box sx={{ minHeight: 264, flexGrow: 1 }}>
+        <SimpleTreeView apiRef={apiRef}>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="grid" label="Data Grid">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="grid-community" label="@mui/x-data-grid" />
+            <TreeItem nodeId="grid-pro" label="@mui/x-data-grid-pro" />
+            <TreeItem nodeId="grid-premium" label="@mui/x-data-grid-premium" />
+          </TreeItem>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="pickers" label="Date and Time Pickers">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="pickers-community" label="@mui/x-date-pickers" />
+            <TreeItem nodeId="pickers-pro" label="@mui/x-date-pickers-pro" />
+          </TreeItem>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="charts" label="Charts">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="charts-community" label="@mui/x-charts" />
+          </TreeItem>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="tree-view" label="Tree View">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="tree-view-community" label="@mui/x-tree-view" />
+          </TreeItem>
+        </SimpleTreeView>
+      </Box>
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/FocusedSimpleTreeView.tsx b/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/FocusedSimpleTreeView.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..4f2e6eac445de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/FocusedSimpleTreeView.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import Box from '@mui/material/Box';
+import Button from '@mui/material/Button';
+import { SimpleTreeView } from '@mui/x-tree-view/SimpleTreeView';
+import { TreeItem } from '@mui/x-tree-view/TreeItem';
+import { useTreeViewApiRef } from '@mui/x-tree-view/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef';
+
+export default function FocusedSimpleTreeView() {
+  const apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+  const handleButtonClick = (event: React.SyntheticEvent) => {
+    apiRef.current?.focusNode(event, 'pickers');
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Box sx={{ flexGrow: 1, maxWidth: 400 }}>
+      <Box sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+        <Button onClick={handleButtonClick}>Focus pickers node</Button>
+      </Box>
+      <Box sx={{ minHeight: 264, flexGrow: 1 }}>
+        <SimpleTreeView apiRef={apiRef}>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="grid" label="Data Grid">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="grid-community" label="@mui/x-data-grid" />
+            <TreeItem nodeId="grid-pro" label="@mui/x-data-grid-pro" />
+            <TreeItem nodeId="grid-premium" label="@mui/x-data-grid-premium" />
+          </TreeItem>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="pickers" label="Date and Time Pickers">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="pickers-community" label="@mui/x-date-pickers" />
+            <TreeItem nodeId="pickers-pro" label="@mui/x-date-pickers-pro" />
+          </TreeItem>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="charts" label="Charts">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="charts-community" label="@mui/x-charts" />
+          </TreeItem>
+          <TreeItem nodeId="tree-view" label="Tree View">
+            <TreeItem nodeId="tree-view-community" label="@mui/x-tree-view" />
+          </TreeItem>
+        </SimpleTreeView>
+      </Box>
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/focus.md b/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/focus.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..9f85933666c05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/focus.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+productId: x-tree-view
+title: Simple Tree View - Focus
+components: SimpleTreeView, TreeItem
+packageName: '@mui/x-tree-view'
+githubLabel: 'component: tree view'
+waiAria: https://www.w3.org/WAI/ARIA/apg/patterns/treeview/
+---
+
+# Simple Tree View - Focus
+
+<p class="description">Learn how to focus Tree View items.</p>
+
+## Focus a specific node
+
+You can use the the `apiRef.focusNode` method to focus a specific node.
+This methods receives two parameters: `event` and `nodeId`.
+
+:::success
+To use the `apiRef` object, you need to initialize it using the `useTreeViewApiRef` hook as follows:
+
+```tsx
+const apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+
+return <SimpleTreeView apiRef={apiRef}>{children}</SimpleTreeView>;
+```
+
+`apiRef` will be undefined during the first render and will then contain methods allowing you to imperatively interact with the Tree View.
+:::
+
+:::info
+This method only works with nodes that are currently visible.
+Calling `apiRef.focusNode` on a node whose parent is collapsed will do nothing.
+:::
+
+{{"demo": "FocusedSimpleTreeView.js"}}
diff --git a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/rich-tree-view.json b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/rich-tree-view.json
index 891044b6b1873..ab76e0f2953bf 100644
--- a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/rich-tree-view.json
+++ b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/rich-tree-view.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "props": {
+    "apiRef": { "type": { "name": "shape", "description": "{ current?: { focusNode: func } }" } },
     "classes": { "type": { "name": "object" }, "additionalInfo": { "cssApi": true } },
     "defaultExpandedNodes": {
       "type": { "name": "arrayOf", "description": "Array&lt;string&gt;" },
@@ -128,6 +129,6 @@
   "forwardsRefTo": "HTMLUListElement",
   "filename": "/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.tsx",
   "inheritance": null,
-  "demos": "<ul><li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/getting-started/\">Tree View - Getting Started</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/expansion/\">Rich Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/items/\">Rich Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/selection/\">Rich Tree View - Selection</a></li></ul>",
+  "demos": "<ul><li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/getting-started/\">Tree View - Getting Started</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/expansion/\">Rich Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/\">Rich Tree View - Focus</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/items/\">Rich Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/selection/\">Rich Tree View - Selection</a></li></ul>",
   "cssComponent": false
 }
diff --git a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/simple-tree-view.json b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/simple-tree-view.json
index f24417dee5b0d..10a3eae04caab 100644
--- a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/simple-tree-view.json
+++ b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/simple-tree-view.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "props": {
+    "apiRef": { "type": { "name": "shape", "description": "{ current?: { focusNode: func } }" } },
     "children": { "type": { "name": "node" } },
     "classes": { "type": { "name": "object" }, "additionalInfo": { "cssApi": true } },
     "defaultExpandedNodes": {
@@ -93,6 +94,6 @@
   "forwardsRefTo": "HTMLUListElement",
   "filename": "/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.tsx",
   "inheritance": null,
-  "demos": "<ul><li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/getting-started/\">Tree View - Getting Started</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/customization/\">Simple Tree View - Customization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/expansion/\">Simple Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/items/\">Simple Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/selection/\">Simple Tree View - Selection</a></li></ul>",
+  "demos": "<ul><li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/getting-started/\">Tree View - Getting Started</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/customization/\">Simple Tree View - Customization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/expansion/\">Simple Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/\">Simple Tree View - Focus</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/items/\">Simple Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/selection/\">Simple Tree View - Selection</a></li></ul>",
   "cssComponent": false
 }
diff --git a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-item.json b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-item.json
index 81a9ed2ce85bb..8b7bef6f16cc8 100644
--- a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-item.json
+++ b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-item.json
@@ -104,6 +104,6 @@
   "forwardsRefTo": "HTMLLIElement",
   "filename": "/packages/x-tree-view/src/TreeItem/TreeItem.tsx",
   "inheritance": null,
-  "demos": "<ul><li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/getting-started/\">Tree View - Getting Started</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/expansion/\">Rich Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/items/\">Rich Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/selection/\">Rich Tree View - Selection</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/customization/\">Simple Tree View - Customization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/expansion/\">Simple Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/items/\">Simple Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/selection/\">Simple Tree View - Selection</a></li></ul>",
+  "demos": "<ul><li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/getting-started/\">Tree View - Getting Started</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/expansion/\">Rich Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/\">Rich Tree View - Focus</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/items/\">Rich Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/selection/\">Rich Tree View - Selection</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/customization/\">Simple Tree View - Customization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/expansion/\">Simple Tree View - Expansion</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/\">Simple Tree View - Focus</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/items/\">Simple Tree View - Items</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/selection/\">Simple Tree View - Selection</a></li></ul>",
   "cssComponent": false
 }
diff --git a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-view.json b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-view.json
index 5eb73fe0d4ad9..d15094b303d86 100644
--- a/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-view.json
+++ b/docs/pages/x/api/tree-view/tree-view.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "props": {
+    "apiRef": { "type": { "name": "shape", "description": "{ current?: { focusNode: func } }" } },
     "children": { "type": { "name": "node" } },
     "classes": { "type": { "name": "object" }, "additionalInfo": { "cssApi": true } },
     "defaultExpandedNodes": {
diff --git a/docs/pages/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus.js b/docs/pages/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..6b2b63c962650
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/pages/x/react-tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import MarkdownDocs from 'docs/src/modules/components/MarkdownDocs';
+import * as pageProps from 'docsx/data/tree-view/rich-tree-view/focus/focus.md?@mui/markdown';
+
+export default function Page() {
+  return <MarkdownDocs {...pageProps} />;
+}
diff --git a/docs/pages/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus.js b/docs/pages/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a545ed30a37ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/pages/x/react-tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import MarkdownDocs from 'docs/src/modules/components/MarkdownDocs';
+import * as pageProps from 'docsx/data/tree-view/simple-tree-view/focus/focus.md?@mui/markdown';
+
+export default function Page() {
+  return <MarkdownDocs {...pageProps} />;
+}
diff --git a/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/rich-tree-view/rich-tree-view.json b/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/rich-tree-view/rich-tree-view.json
index aa886207beaa2..883829d9ab0d7 100644
--- a/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/rich-tree-view/rich-tree-view.json
+++ b/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/rich-tree-view/rich-tree-view.json
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 {
   "componentDescription": "",
   "propDescriptions": {
+    "apiRef": {
+      "description": "The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with <code>useTreeViewApiRef()</code>."
+    },
     "classes": { "description": "Override or extend the styles applied to the component." },
     "defaultExpandedNodes": {
       "description": "Expanded node ids. Used when the item&#39;s expansion is not controlled."
diff --git a/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/simple-tree-view/simple-tree-view.json b/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/simple-tree-view/simple-tree-view.json
index cda74e515ac52..2cb82f5e46440 100644
--- a/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/simple-tree-view/simple-tree-view.json
+++ b/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/simple-tree-view/simple-tree-view.json
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 {
   "componentDescription": "",
   "propDescriptions": {
+    "apiRef": {
+      "description": "The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with <code>useTreeViewApiRef()</code>."
+    },
     "children": { "description": "The content of the component." },
     "classes": { "description": "Override or extend the styles applied to the component." },
     "defaultExpandedNodes": {
diff --git a/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/tree-view/tree-view.json b/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/tree-view/tree-view.json
index e07f766020c0b..739dc69511641 100644
--- a/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/tree-view/tree-view.json
+++ b/docs/translations/api-docs/tree-view/tree-view/tree-view.json
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 {
   "componentDescription": "This component has been deprecated in favor of the new `SimpleTreeView` component.\nYou can have a look at how to migrate to the new component in the v7 [migration guide](https://next.mui.com/x/migration/migration-tree-view-v6/#use-simpletreeview-instead-of-treeview)",
   "propDescriptions": {
+    "apiRef": {
+      "description": "The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with <code>useTreeViewApiRef()</code>."
+    },
     "children": { "description": "The content of the component." },
     "classes": { "description": "Override or extend the styles applied to the component." },
     "defaultExpandedNodes": {
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.tsx b/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.tsx
index 6ae6d863ce945..c05701e690841 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.tsx
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.tsx
@@ -146,6 +146,14 @@ RichTreeView.propTypes = {
   // | These PropTypes are generated from the TypeScript type definitions |
   // | To update them edit the TypeScript types and run "yarn proptypes"  |
   // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+  /**
+   * The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with `useTreeViewApiRef()`.
+   */
+  apiRef: PropTypes.shape({
+    current: PropTypes.shape({
+      focusNode: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    }),
+  }),
   /**
    * Override or extend the styles applied to the component.
    */
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.types.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.types.ts
index 21625d9d946ef..124821c8aaf15 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.types.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/RichTreeView/RichTreeView.types.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ import {
   DefaultTreeViewPluginParameters,
   DefaultTreeViewPluginSlotProps,
   DefaultTreeViewPluginSlots,
+  DefaultTreeViewPlugins,
 } from '../internals/plugins/defaultPlugins';
 import { TreeItem, TreeItemProps } from '../TreeItem';
 import { TreeViewItemId } from '../models';
+import { TreeViewPublicAPI } from '../internals/models';
 
 interface RichTreeViewItemSlotOwnerState {
   nodeId: TreeViewItemId;
@@ -35,6 +37,10 @@ export interface RichTreeViewSlotProps<R extends {}, Multiple extends boolean |
   item?: SlotComponentProps<typeof TreeItem, {}, RichTreeViewItemSlotOwnerState>;
 }
 
+export type RichTreeViewApiRef = React.MutableRefObject<
+  TreeViewPublicAPI<DefaultTreeViewPlugins> | undefined
+>;
+
 export interface RichTreeViewPropsBase extends React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLUListElement> {
   className?: string;
   /**
@@ -60,4 +66,8 @@ export interface RichTreeViewProps<R extends {}, Multiple extends boolean | unde
    * @default {}
    */
   slotProps?: RichTreeViewSlotProps<R, Multiple>;
+  /**
+   * The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with `useTreeViewApiRef()`.
+   */
+  apiRef?: RichTreeViewApiRef;
 }
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.test.tsx b/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.test.tsx
index b49c3f3f3d790..e0d149a6d5e71 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.test.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import Portal from '@mui/material/Portal';
 import { SimpleTreeView, simpleTreeViewClasses as classes } from '@mui/x-tree-view/SimpleTreeView';
 import { TreeItem } from '@mui/x-tree-view/TreeItem';
 import { describeConformance } from 'test/utils/describeConformance';
+import { useTreeViewApiRef } from '../hooks';
+import { SimpleTreeViewApiRef } from './SimpleTreeView.types';
 
 describe('<SimpleTreeView />', () => {
   const { render } = createRenderer();
@@ -531,6 +533,57 @@ describe('<SimpleTreeView />', () => {
 
       expect(onNodeFocus.lastCall.lastArg).to.equal('1');
     });
+
+    it('should focus specific node using `apiRef`', () => {
+      let apiRef: SimpleTreeViewApiRef;
+      const onNodeFocus = spy();
+
+      function TestCase() {
+        apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+        return (
+          <SimpleTreeView apiRef={apiRef} onNodeFocus={onNodeFocus}>
+            <TreeItem nodeId="1" label="1">
+              <TreeItem nodeId="1.1" label="1.1" />
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem nodeId="2" label="2" />
+          </SimpleTreeView>
+        );
+      }
+
+      const { getByRole } = render(<TestCase />);
+
+      act(() => {
+        apiRef.current?.focusNode({} as React.SyntheticEvent, '2');
+      });
+
+      expect(getByRole('tree')).toHaveFocus();
+      expect(onNodeFocus.lastCall.lastArg).to.equal('2');
+    });
+
+    it('should not focus node if parent is collapsed', () => {
+      let apiRef: SimpleTreeViewApiRef;
+      const onNodeFocus = spy();
+
+      function TestCase() {
+        apiRef = useTreeViewApiRef();
+        return (
+          <SimpleTreeView apiRef={apiRef} onNodeFocus={onNodeFocus}>
+            <TreeItem nodeId="1" label="1">
+              <TreeItem nodeId="1.1" label="1.1" />
+            </TreeItem>
+            <TreeItem nodeId="2" label="2" />
+          </SimpleTreeView>
+        );
+      }
+
+      const { getByRole } = render(<TestCase />);
+
+      act(() => {
+        apiRef.current?.focusNode({} as React.SyntheticEvent, '1.1');
+      });
+
+      expect(getByRole('tree')).not.toHaveFocus();
+    });
   });
 
   describe('Accessibility', () => {
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.tsx b/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.tsx
index 7ccff7c09ec61..7a00d05f19bda 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.tsx
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.tsx
@@ -109,6 +109,14 @@ SimpleTreeView.propTypes = {
   // | These PropTypes are generated from the TypeScript type definitions |
   // | To update them edit the TypeScript types and run "yarn proptypes"  |
   // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+  /**
+   * The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with `useTreeViewApiRef()`.
+   */
+  apiRef: PropTypes.shape({
+    current: PropTypes.shape({
+      focusNode: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    }),
+  }),
   /**
    * The content of the component.
    */
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.types.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.types.ts
index c351aeb87e39d..b5be79437a156 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.types.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/SimpleTreeView/SimpleTreeView.types.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import {
   SimpleTreeViewPluginParameters,
   SimpleTreeViewPluginSlotProps,
   SimpleTreeViewPluginSlots,
+  SimpleTreeViewPlugins,
 } from './SimpleTreeView.plugins';
+import { TreeViewPublicAPI } from '../internals/models';
 
 export interface SimpleTreeViewSlots extends SimpleTreeViewPluginSlots {
   /**
@@ -21,6 +23,10 @@ export interface SimpleTreeViewSlotProps extends SimpleTreeViewPluginSlotProps {
   root?: SlotComponentProps<'ul', {}, {}>;
 }
 
+export type SimpleTreeViewApiRef = React.MutableRefObject<
+  TreeViewPublicAPI<SimpleTreeViewPlugins> | undefined
+>;
+
 export interface SimpleTreeViewProps<Multiple extends boolean | undefined>
   extends SimpleTreeViewPluginParameters<Multiple>,
     React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLUListElement> {
@@ -45,4 +51,8 @@ export interface SimpleTreeViewProps<Multiple extends boolean | undefined>
    * The system prop that allows defining system overrides as well as additional CSS styles.
    */
   sx?: SxProps<Theme>;
+  /**
+   * The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with `useTreeViewApiRef()`.
+   */
+  apiRef?: SimpleTreeViewApiRef;
 }
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/TreeView/TreeView.tsx b/packages/x-tree-view/src/TreeView/TreeView.tsx
index a17d55405f3ff..814b58c494ae6 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/TreeView/TreeView.tsx
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/TreeView/TreeView.tsx
@@ -86,6 +86,14 @@ TreeView.propTypes = {
   // | These PropTypes are generated from the TypeScript type definitions |
   // | To update them edit the TypeScript types and run "yarn proptypes"  |
   // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+  /**
+   * The ref object that allows Tree View manipulation. Can be instantiated with `useTreeViewApiRef()`.
+   */
+  apiRef: PropTypes.shape({
+    current: PropTypes.shape({
+      focusNode: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    }),
+  }),
   /**
    * The content of the component.
    */
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/hooks/index.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/hooks/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e07d07a202b5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/hooks/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export { useTreeViewApiRef } from './useTreeViewApiRef';
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef.tsx b/packages/x-tree-view/src/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f003fe5f124bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/hooks/useTreeViewApiRef.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import { TreeViewAnyPluginSignature, TreeViewUsedPublicAPI } from '../internals/models';
+
+/**
+ * Hook that instantiates a [[TreeViewApiRef]].
+ */
+export const useTreeViewApiRef = <
+  T extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature,
+  Api extends TreeViewUsedPublicAPI<T>,
+>() => React.useRef(undefined) as React.MutableRefObject<Api>;
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/index.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/index.ts
index d19660c797110..15599f35a6aba 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/index.ts
@@ -6,3 +6,5 @@ export { unstable_resetCleanupTracking } from './internals/hooks/useInstanceEven
 
 export * from './models';
 export * from './icons';
+
+export * from './hooks';
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/helpers.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/helpers.ts
index 127a5e29cb679..de88ea87b8f6f 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/helpers.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/helpers.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export type ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures<TPlugins extends readonly any[]> =
 export interface MergePlugins<TPlugins extends readonly any[]> {
   state: MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'state'>;
   instance: MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'instance'>;
+  publicAPI: MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'publicAPI'>;
   params: MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'params'>;
   defaultizedParams: MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'defaultizedParams'>;
   dependantPlugins: MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'dependantPlugins'>;
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/plugin.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/plugin.ts
index d735f430eb53b..9ffae62154798 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/plugin.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import type { TreeItemProps } from '../../TreeItem';
 
 export interface TreeViewPluginOptions<TSignature extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature> {
   instance: TreeViewUsedInstance<TSignature>;
+  publicAPI: TreeViewUsedPublicAPI<TSignature>;
   params: TreeViewUsedDefaultizedParams<TSignature>;
   state: TreeViewUsedState<TSignature>;
   slots: TSignature['slots'];
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export type TreeViewPluginSignature<
     params?: {};
     defaultizedParams?: {};
     instance?: {};
+    publicAPI?: {};
     events?: { [key in keyof T['events']]: TreeViewEventLookupElement };
     state?: {};
     contextValue?: {};
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ export type TreeViewPluginSignature<
   params: T extends { params: {} } ? T['params'] : {};
   defaultizedParams: T extends { defaultizedParams: {} } ? T['defaultizedParams'] : {};
   instance: T extends { instance: {} } ? T['instance'] : {};
+  publicAPI: T extends { publicAPI: {} } ? T['publicAPI'] : {};
   events: T extends { events: {} } ? T['events'] : {};
   state: T extends { state: {} } ? T['state'] : {};
   contextValue: T extends { contextValue: {} } ? T['contextValue'] : {};
@@ -74,6 +77,7 @@ export type TreeViewAnyPluginSignature = {
   slots: any;
   slotProps: any;
   models: any;
+  publicAPI: any;
 };
 
 type TreeViewUsedPlugins<TSignature extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature> = [
@@ -97,6 +101,15 @@ export type TreeViewUsedInstance<TSignature extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature>
       $$signature: TSignature;
     };
 
+export type TreeViewUsedPublicAPI<TSignature extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature> =
+  TSignature['publicAPI'] &
+    MergePluginsProperty<TreeViewUsedPlugins<TSignature>, 'publicAPI'> & {
+      /**
+       * Private property only defined in TypeScript to be able to access the plugin signature from the publicAPI object.
+       */
+      $$signature: TSignature;
+    };
+
 type TreeViewUsedState<TSignature extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature> = TSignature['state'] &
   MergePluginsProperty<TreeViewUsedPlugins<TSignature>, 'state'>;
 
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/treeView.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/treeView.ts
index c7ee9a8d8c365..8a8e9ca221066 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/treeView.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/models/treeView.ts
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ export interface TreeViewModel<TValue> {
 
 export type TreeViewInstance<TSignatures extends readonly TreeViewAnyPluginSignature[]> =
   MergePluginsProperty<TSignatures, 'instance'>;
+
+export type TreeViewPublicAPI<TSignatures extends readonly TreeViewAnyPluginSignature[]> =
+  MergePluginsProperty<TSignatures, 'publicAPI'>;
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.ts
index d37a7256a3d29..7dda6e8cd4b8d 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ import useEventCallback from '@mui/utils/useEventCallback';
 import { EventHandlers } from '@mui/base/utils';
 import ownerDocument from '@mui/utils/ownerDocument';
 import { TreeViewPlugin } from '../../models';
-import { populateInstance } from '../../useTreeView/useTreeView.utils';
+import { populateInstance, populatePublicAPI } from '../../useTreeView/useTreeView.utils';
 import { UseTreeViewFocusSignature } from './useTreeViewFocus.types';
 import { useInstanceEventHandler } from '../../hooks/useInstanceEventHandler';
+import { getActiveElement } from '../../utils/utils';
 
 export const useTreeViewFocus: TreeViewPlugin<UseTreeViewFocusSignature> = ({
   instance,
+  publicAPI,
   params,
   state,
   setState,
@@ -17,24 +19,57 @@ export const useTreeViewFocus: TreeViewPlugin<UseTreeViewFocusSignature> = ({
 }) => {
   const setFocusedNodeId = useEventCallback((nodeId: React.SetStateAction<string | null>) => {
     const cleanNodeId = typeof nodeId === 'function' ? nodeId(state.focusedNodeId) : nodeId;
-    setState((prevState) => ({ ...prevState, focusedNodeId: cleanNodeId }));
+    if (state.focusedNodeId !== cleanNodeId) {
+      setState((prevState) => ({ ...prevState, focusedNodeId: cleanNodeId }));
+    }
   });
 
+  const isTreeViewFocused = React.useCallback(
+    () => !!rootRef.current && rootRef.current === getActiveElement(ownerDocument(rootRef.current)),
+    [rootRef],
+  );
+
   const isNodeFocused = React.useCallback(
-    (nodeId: string) => state.focusedNodeId === nodeId,
-    [state.focusedNodeId],
+    (nodeId: string) => state.focusedNodeId === nodeId && isTreeViewFocused(),
+    [state.focusedNodeId, isTreeViewFocused],
   );
 
+  const isNodeVisible = (nodeId: string) => {
+    const node = instance.getNode(nodeId);
+    return node && (node.parentId == null || instance.isNodeExpanded(node.parentId));
+  };
+
   const focusNode = useEventCallback((event: React.SyntheticEvent, nodeId: string | null) => {
-    if (nodeId) {
+    // if we receive a nodeId, and it is visible, the focus will be set to it
+    if (nodeId && isNodeVisible(nodeId)) {
+      if (!isTreeViewFocused()) {
+        instance.focusRoot();
+      }
       setFocusedNodeId(nodeId);
-
       if (params.onNodeFocus) {
         params.onNodeFocus(event, nodeId);
       }
     }
   });
 
+  const focusDefaultNode = useEventCallback((event: React.SyntheticEvent) => {
+    let nodeToFocusId: string | null | undefined;
+    if (Array.isArray(models.selectedNodes.value)) {
+      nodeToFocusId = models.selectedNodes.value.find(isNodeVisible);
+    } else if (models.selectedNodes.value != null && isNodeVisible(models.selectedNodes.value)) {
+      nodeToFocusId = models.selectedNodes.value;
+    }
+
+    if (nodeToFocusId == null) {
+      nodeToFocusId = instance.getNavigableChildrenIds(null)[0];
+    }
+
+    setFocusedNodeId(nodeToFocusId);
+    if (params.onNodeFocus) {
+      params.onNodeFocus(event, nodeToFocusId);
+    }
+  });
+
   const focusRoot = useEventCallback(() => {
     rootRef.current?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
   });
@@ -43,6 +78,11 @@ export const useTreeViewFocus: TreeViewPlugin<UseTreeViewFocusSignature> = ({
     isNodeFocused,
     focusNode,
     focusRoot,
+    focusDefaultNode,
+  });
+
+  populatePublicAPI<UseTreeViewFocusSignature>(publicAPI, {
+    focusNode,
   });
 
   useInstanceEventHandler(instance, 'removeNode', ({ id }) => {
@@ -60,29 +100,9 @@ export const useTreeViewFocus: TreeViewPlugin<UseTreeViewFocusSignature> = ({
   const createHandleFocus =
     (otherHandlers: EventHandlers) => (event: React.FocusEvent<HTMLUListElement>) => {
       otherHandlers.onFocus?.(event);
-
       // if the event bubbled (which is React specific) we don't want to steal focus
       if (event.target === event.currentTarget) {
-        const isNodeVisible = (nodeId: string) => {
-          const node = instance.getNode(nodeId);
-          return node && (node.parentId == null || instance.isNodeExpanded(node.parentId));
-        };
-
-        let nodeToFocusId: string | null | undefined;
-        if (Array.isArray(models.selectedNodes.value)) {
-          nodeToFocusId = models.selectedNodes.value.find(isNodeVisible);
-        } else if (
-          models.selectedNodes.value != null &&
-          isNodeVisible(models.selectedNodes.value)
-        ) {
-          nodeToFocusId = models.selectedNodes.value;
-        }
-
-        if (nodeToFocusId == null) {
-          nodeToFocusId = instance.getNavigableChildrenIds(null)[0];
-        }
-
-        instance.focusNode(event, nodeToFocusId);
+        instance.focusDefaultNode(event);
       }
     };
 
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.types.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.types.ts
index e7a181d86c19a..2bb293715f34d 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.types.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/plugins/useTreeViewFocus/useTreeViewFocus.types.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,12 @@ import { UseTreeViewExpansionSignature } from '../useTreeViewExpansion';
 export interface UseTreeViewFocusInstance {
   isNodeFocused: (nodeId: string) => boolean;
   focusNode: (event: React.SyntheticEvent, nodeId: string | null) => void;
+  focusDefaultNode: (event: React.SyntheticEvent) => void;
   focusRoot: () => void;
 }
+export interface UseTreeViewFocusPublicAPI {
+  focusNode: (event: React.SyntheticEvent, nodeId: string | null) => void;
+}
 
 export interface UseTreeViewFocusParameters {
   /**
@@ -31,6 +35,7 @@ export type UseTreeViewFocusSignature = TreeViewPluginSignature<{
   params: UseTreeViewFocusParameters;
   defaultizedParams: UseTreeViewFocusDefaultizedParameters;
   instance: UseTreeViewFocusInstance;
+  publicAPI: UseTreeViewFocusPublicAPI;
   state: UseTreeViewFocusState;
   dependantPlugins: [
     UseTreeViewIdSignature,
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.ts
index 06d6d9e0ca648..3584f61115f8a 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   TreeViewPlugin,
   ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures,
   MergePluginsProperty,
+  TreeViewPublicAPI,
 } from '../models';
 import {
   UseTreeViewDefaultizedParameters,
@@ -18,6 +19,21 @@ import { useTreeViewModels } from './useTreeViewModels';
 import { TreeViewContextValue } from '../TreeViewProvider';
 import { TREE_VIEW_CORE_PLUGINS } from '../corePlugins';
 
+export function useTreeViewApiInitialization<T>(
+  inputApiRef: React.MutableRefObject<T> | undefined,
+): T {
+  const fallbackPublicApiRef = React.useRef({}) as React.MutableRefObject<T>;
+
+  if (inputApiRef) {
+    if (inputApiRef.current == null) {
+      inputApiRef.current = {} as T;
+    }
+    return inputApiRef.current;
+  }
+
+  return fallbackPublicApiRef.current;
+}
+
 export const useTreeView = <Plugins extends readonly TreeViewPlugin<TreeViewAnyPluginSignature>[]>(
   inParams: UseTreeViewParameters<Plugins>,
 ): UseTreeViewReturnValue<ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures<Plugins>> => {
@@ -40,6 +56,9 @@ export const useTreeView = <Plugins extends readonly TreeViewPlugin<TreeViewAnyP
     {} as TreeViewInstance<Signatures>,
   );
   const instance = instanceRef.current as TreeViewInstance<Signatures>;
+
+  const publicAPI = useTreeViewApiInitialization<TreeViewPublicAPI<Signatures>>(inParams.apiRef);
+
   const innerRootRef = React.useRef(null);
   const handleRootRef = useForkRef(innerRootRef, inParams.rootRef);
 
@@ -68,6 +87,7 @@ export const useTreeView = <Plugins extends readonly TreeViewPlugin<TreeViewAnyP
     const pluginResponse =
       plugin({
         instance,
+        publicAPI,
         params,
         slots: params.slots,
         slotProps: params.slotProps,
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.types.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.types.ts
index 020a8a6c7165f..be559ac10dd93 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.types.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.types.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures,
   MergePluginsProperty,
   TreeViewInstance,
+  TreeViewPublicAPI,
 } from '../models';
 
 export type UseTreeViewParameters<
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@ export type UseTreeViewParameters<
 export interface UseTreeViewBaseParameters<
   TPlugins extends readonly TreeViewPlugin<TreeViewAnyPluginSignature>[],
 > {
+  apiRef:
+    | React.MutableRefObject<TreeViewPublicAPI<ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures<TPlugins>>>
+    | undefined;
   rootRef?: React.Ref<HTMLUListElement> | undefined;
   plugins: TPlugins;
   slots: MergePluginsProperty<ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures<TPlugins>, 'slots'>;
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.utils.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.utils.ts
index 0215d05ab79bc..a960b0e3e6403 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.utils.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/useTreeView/useTreeView.utils.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-import { TreeViewAnyPluginSignature, TreeViewInstance, TreeViewUsedInstance } from '../models';
+import {
+  TreeViewAnyPluginSignature,
+  TreeViewInstance,
+  TreeViewUsedInstance,
+  TreeViewUsedPublicAPI,
+} from '../models';
 import type { UseTreeViewExpansionSignature } from '../plugins/useTreeViewExpansion';
 import type { UseTreeViewNodesSignature } from '../plugins/useTreeViewNodes';
 
@@ -71,3 +76,10 @@ export const populateInstance = <T extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature>(
 ) => {
   Object.assign(instance, methods);
 };
+
+export const populatePublicAPI = <T extends TreeViewAnyPluginSignature>(
+  publicAPI: TreeViewUsedPublicAPI<T>,
+  methods: T['publicAPI'],
+) => {
+  Object.assign(publicAPI, methods);
+};
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/extractPluginParamsFromProps.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/extractPluginParamsFromProps.ts
index 81200813402bb..6f0ae94843dbd 100644
--- a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/extractPluginParamsFromProps.ts
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/extractPluginParamsFromProps.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,25 @@
 import * as React from 'react';
-import { ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures, MergePluginsProperty, TreeViewPlugin } from '../models';
+import {
+  ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures,
+  MergePluginsProperty,
+  TreeViewPlugin,
+  TreeViewPublicAPI,
+} from '../models';
 import { UseTreeViewBaseParameters } from '../useTreeView/useTreeView.types';
 
 export const extractPluginParamsFromProps = <
   TPlugins extends readonly TreeViewPlugin<any>[],
   TSlots extends MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'slots'>,
   TSlotProps extends MergePluginsProperty<TPlugins, 'slotProps'>,
-  TProps extends { slots?: TSlots; slotProps?: TSlotProps },
+  TProps extends {
+    slots?: TSlots;
+    slotProps?: TSlotProps;
+    apiRef?: React.MutableRefObject<
+      TreeViewPublicAPI<ConvertPluginsIntoSignatures<TPlugins>> | undefined
+    >;
+  },
 >({
-  props: { slots, slotProps, ...props },
+  props: { slots, slotProps, apiRef, ...props },
   plugins,
   rootRef,
 }: {
@@ -28,6 +39,7 @@ export const extractPluginParamsFromProps = <
     rootRef,
     slots: slots ?? {},
     slotProps: slotProps ?? {},
+    apiRef,
   } as UseTreeViewBaseParameters<TPlugins> & PluginParams;
   const otherProps = {} as Omit<TProps, keyof PluginParams>;
 
diff --git a/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/utils.ts b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..71dc45b2f144d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/x-tree-view/src/internals/utils/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+export const getActiveElement = (root: Document | ShadowRoot = document): Element | null => {
+  const activeEl = root.activeElement;
+
+  if (!activeEl) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  if (activeEl.shadowRoot) {
+    return getActiveElement(activeEl.shadowRoot);
+  }
+
+  return activeEl;
+};
diff --git a/scripts/x-tree-view.exports.json b/scripts/x-tree-view.exports.json
index 25189b09d2e2f..19663f9de2115 100644
--- a/scripts/x-tree-view.exports.json
+++ b/scripts/x-tree-view.exports.json
@@ -44,5 +44,6 @@
   { "name": "TreeViewSlotProps", "kind": "Interface" },
   { "name": "TreeViewSlots", "kind": "Interface" },
   { "name": "unstable_resetCleanupTracking", "kind": "Variable" },
-  { "name": "useTreeItemState", "kind": "Function" }
+  { "name": "useTreeItemState", "kind": "Function" },
+  { "name": "useTreeViewApiRef", "kind": "Variable" }
 ]