# ApplicationFrameHost.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called applicationframehost, application frame host

Windows, System Component

Application Frame Host. It draws the title bar and window frame for Microsoft Store and other packaged apps.

## What you need to know

This is the window frame for Store apps. Ending it closes those windows.

ApplicationFrameHost.exe hosts the title bar for packaged apps. Ending it can close Calculator, Settings, and Store at once. It is not the Store installer.

- **Safe?**: Yes, in System32

  **Why so many Store apps die if I end it?**: It owns their frames

  **Is it the Store?**: No. It is the window chrome

Feex says

If I need to close one Store app, I end that app. Ending Application Frame Host is how you take down every framed UWP window in the session.

## What is ApplicationFrameHost.exe?

ApplicationFrameHost.exe is Application Frame Host. Packaged Win32 and UWP apps that use the Windows frame get their caption buttons from this process.

## What does it do?

It sits between the app and the Desktop Window Manager so the title bar can look like the rest of Windows. Classic Win32 apps that draw their own chrome do not need it.

## Why is it running?

A Store app, Settings, or another packaged window is open. You should not see a busy frame host with zero Store apps running.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

The legitimate host is in System32. An ApplicationFrameHost.exe in a cracked game folder is not the Windows frame host.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Windows\System32\ApplicationFrameHost.exe`

- Expected publisher: Microsoft Corporation
- Killing it closes framed packaged apps
- Not the Microsoft Store client itself

## Can I end it?

Closes Store-style windows

Ending Application Frame Host tears down the windows it frames. Use it only if a ghost Store window is stuck, then reopen the app.

## Can I remove it?

No

Do not delete ApplicationFrameHost.exe. Packaged apps will open without a usable frame.

## Should it start with Windows?

It starts when a framed packaged app needs it. It is not a Startup Apps leftover from a vendor.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Low unless a window is resizing or a GPU glitch hits DWM

  **Memory**: Grows with the number of framed apps

  **Disk**: Low

  **Network**: None by itself

## File information

| Executable name        | ApplicationFrameHost.exe                     |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Windows\System32\ApplicationFrameHost.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation                        |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows                  |

## Common problems

### Blank Store app window

Restart the app first. If every packaged app is blank, restart ApplicationFrameHost, then DWM if the desktop is also wrong.

### People end it to close Xbox Game Bar

End the Game Bar process. The frame host is shared.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### See which apps are framed

Process Explorer shows the windows. One broken app is not a reason to kill the shared host forever.

### Graphics driver after a bad update

Frame host issues after a GPU driver change are often DWM. Roll the driver before you repair System32.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | ApplicationFrameHost.exe  |
| ---------- | ------------------------- |
| Role       | Packaged app window frame |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[RuntimeBroker.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/runtimebroker.exe)[BackgroundTaskHost.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/backgroundtaskhost.exe)[What is a Windows process: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/what-is-a-windows-process)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Learn: App windows ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/design/basics/windowing-overview)· Packaged app windowing
- [Microsoft Support: Windows ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows)· Public support naming
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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Quick facts

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- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: ApplicationFrameHost.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\ApplicationFrameHost.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/applicationframehost.exe/)

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