# OfficeClickToRun.exe

Application Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called officeclicktorun, click to run, clicktorunsvc, office c2r

Windows, Application

Office Click-to-Run virtualization and update host. It streams, virtualizes, and updates Microsoft 365 Apps. It is not WINWORD.EXE and it is not msiexec.exe.

## What you need to know

This is Click-to-Run, not WINWORD.EXE and not msiexec.

OfficeClickToRun.exe is the Click-to-Run host under Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun. It virtualizes Office and applies updates. WINWORD.EXE is Word. msiexec.exe is Windows Installer. Ending Click-to-Run does not close the document you have open in Word.

- **Safe?**: Yes, with Microsoft 365 Apps

  **Is it Word?**: No. This is Click-to-Run, not WINWORD

  **Same as msiexec?**: No. Office is not an MSI here

Feex says

If OfficeClickToRun is busy after an Office update, I treat that as Click-to-Run streaming bits. I do not end WINWORD to stop an Office update, and I do not run msiexec against a Click-to-Run install.

## What is OfficeClickToRun.exe?

OfficeClickToRun.exe is the Click-to-Run virtualization and update host. It is not WINWORD.EXE. It is not msiexec.exe. The usual folder is Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun.

## What does it do?

It hosts ClickToRunSvc, streams Office bits, and applies channel updates. It does not edit documents. Word still lives in WINWORD.EXE. MSI setup still lives in msiexec.exe.

## Why is it running?

Microsoft 365 Apps or a Click-to-Run Office build is installed. An update channel check, a first launch, or a repair starts this host. A PC with only MSI Office 2016 would not use this filename for Word.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

A Microsoft-signed host under Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun is Click-to-Run. An OfficeClickToRun.exe in Downloads is not. This file is still not Word and still not Windows Installer.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\OfficeClickToRun.exe`

- Expected publisher: Microsoft Corporation
- Service display name: Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service
- Not Office16\WINWORD.EXE and not System32\msiexec.exe

## Can I end it?

Office updates and virtualization pause

Ending OfficeClickToRun.exe can stall an Office update or a repair. Open Word documents can stay in WINWORD.EXE. This is not an msiexec cancel.

## Can I remove it?

Uninstall Microsoft 365 Apps

Do not delete the Click-to-Run exe. Use Settings > Apps or the Office uninstall. Deleting msiexec.exe does not remove Click-to-Run Office.

## Should it start with Windows?

ClickToRunSvc starts the host when Office needs streaming or an update. It is not a Startup Apps checkbox next to Word.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Rises during an Office update or first-run stream

  **Memory**: Moderate while the virtualization host is active

  **Disk**: High while Click-to-Run downloads a channel build

  **Network**: Office CDN while an update runs

## File information

| Executable name        | OfficeClickToRun.exe                                                           |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\OfficeClickToRun.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation                                                          |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows                                                    |

## Common problems

### People kill WINWORD thinking it is the updater

Word is the document. Click-to-Run is the host. Closing the document does not stop a channel update.

### Someone runs msiexec on a Click-to-Run PC

Current Microsoft 365 Apps are not classic MSI. Repair from Settings > Apps or the Office account page, not Windows Installer.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### Repair Microsoft 365 Apps from Settings > Apps

Quick Repair or Online Repair talks to Click-to-Run. That is the supported path. Do not replace OfficeClickToRun.exe from a filename site.

### Confirm you are not looking at WINWORD or msiexec

Open file location. Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun is this article. Office16\WINWORD.EXE is Word. System32\msiexec.exe is Windows Installer.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | OfficeClickToRun.exe                               |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Role       | Office Click-to-Run virtualization and update host |
| Service    | ClickToRunSvc                                      |

## Related

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

[WINWORD.EXE: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/winword.exe)[EXCEL.EXE: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/excel.exe)[msiexec.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/msiexec.exe)[Microsoft 365: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/microsoft-365)

## Sources and verification

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

- [Microsoft Learn: Click-to-Run essential service ](https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/privacy/essential-services)· Click-to-Run installs and updates Office on Windows
- [Microsoft Learn: Office Deployment Tool ](https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-apps/deploy/overview-office-deployment-tool)· Click-to-Run is how Microsoft 365 Apps deploy
- [Microsoft Support: Office ](https://support.microsoft.com/office)· Repair and update from the Office apps
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Application Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: OfficeClickToRun.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\OfficeClickToRun.exe

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

  **Related process**: [WINWORD.EXE](https://feex.it/wiki/process/winword.exe)

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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

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