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DataExchangeHost.exe

Windows ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

Catalog search terms dataexchangehost, data exchange host

WindowsSystem Component

Data Exchange Host. E dey help clipboard and drag-and-drop between apps, including some packaged apps and the desktop.

Wetin you need know

This one dey broker data between apps. E no be RuntimeBroker.exe (capabilities) and e no be the clipboard history UI.

DataExchangeHost.exe na Windows data-exchange broker. You dey see am during share or drag operations. If you end am when drag dey go on, wetin you dey move fit lost.

E safe?
Check the running file path, signature, and publisher. Name alone no fit confirm say e safe.
Wetin make am dey here?
Share, drop, or clipboard hand-off
I suppose end am?
The thing wey you dey drop fit fail
Feex tok say
If I drag file put inside Store app and this host appear, na the broker be that. I no go end RuntimeBroker make I take fix failed drop.

Wetin be DataExchangeHost.exe?

DataExchangeHost.exe na the Windows Data Exchange Host inside System32.

Wetin e dey do?

E dey move shared payloads between callers make packaged app and desktop app fit exchange files or text. E no dey store clipboard history. That one na different feature entirely.

Wetin make am dey run?

Share charm, drag action, or interop API na wetin start am. Quiet copy fit linger small after you don drop am.

Inspect the running instance

Inside Windows PowerShell, this read-only query show matching process IDs, creation times and executable paths on this PC. (pcm)

Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Process | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq 'DataExchangeHost.exe' } | Select-Object ProcessId, ParentProcessId, CreationDate, Name, ExecutablePath | Format-List

No result or a path we no fit access is inconclusive. Protected processes fit restrict access, and process IDs fit be reused. Keep personal paths local. (pcm)

Use the file-identity guide to compare signatures and product metadata. A filename alone no fit establish safety. (pcm)

E dey safe?

Check dis running file

System32 DataExchangeHost na from Microsoft. The same name inside packer folder no be Microsoft.

Compare the recorded location with the actual file. A familiar folder alone no fit establish identity. (pcm)

C:\Windows\System32\DataExchangeHost.exe

  • Share / drag broker
  • No be RuntimeBroker.exe
  • No be TextInputHost clipboard UI

I fit end am?

Fit make the drop fail

If you end am when transfer dey go on, e fit cancel the share. After the drop, you fit end any leftover copy if e hang.

I fit comot am?

No

No delete DataExchangeHost.exe. Interop between Store and desktop apps go worse.

E suppose start with Windows?

E dey open when need dey. No be Startup Apps.

Measure resource use

Measure the current process rather than assume a universal baseline
CPU and memory Compare several observations for the same PID and workload. This entry get no independently measured universal baseline. (pcm)
Disk and network Attribute activity to the actual process and current task; a filename alone no fit establish expected destinations or transfer volume. (pcm)

File information

DataExchangeHost.exe file information
Executable name DataExchangeHost.exe
Recorded installation path C:\Windows\System32\DataExchangeHost.exe
Publisher Microsoft Corporation
Signature check Inspect the actual file; this entry no dey certify its certificate identity. (pcm)

Common wahala dem

E hang after huge drop

End this host if the dialog don already comot. Then try share smaller thing again.

Dem dey confuse am with clipboard history

Win+V UI na Input Experience. This host na the broker.

How to troubleshoot

Diagnose before you change anything wey fit scatter things.

Retry the share after you end host wey hang

The apps wey call am go still dey run.

No replace the broker

System file.

Technical details

Technical details
DataExchangeHost.exe technical details
Image name DataExchangeHost.exe
Role Share and drag broker

Check the identity of running file

A filename alone no fit establish safety. Verify the actual path, signature and product identity. (pcm)

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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