OfficeClickToRun.exe

Application ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

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

WindowsApplication

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

OfficeClickToRun.exe 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

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

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Microsoft Learn: Click-to-Run essential service · Click-to-Run installs and updates Office on Windows
Microsoft Learn: Office Deployment Tool · Click-to-Run is how Microsoft 365 Apps deploy
Microsoft Support: Office · Repair and update from the Office apps
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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