TextInputHost.exe

Windows ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

Also called textinputhost, text input host, windows input experience

WindowsSystem Component

Windows Text Input Host. It backs emoji, voice typing, the touch keyboard, and other input panels on current Windows.

What you need to know

This is the emoji and touch-keyboard host, not a keylogger you installed.

TextInputHost.exe is Windows Input Experience. Win+. emoji, voice typing, and the touch keyboard use it. ctfmon.exe is the older CTF loader for language bars.

Safe?: Yes. It is Input Experience
High CPU when I type?: The panel or a bad IME can do that
Same as ctfmon?: Related input stack, different host

Feex says

If the emoji panel is stuck on screen, I restart TextInputHost. I do not treat an input host as spyware because it has Input in the name.

What is TextInputHost.exe?

TextInputHost.exe is the packaged Windows Text Input Host. Current Windows uses it for emoji, GIFs, clipboard history UI, voice typing, and the touch keyboard.

What does it do?

It keeps those panels out of the app you are typing into. Your Word window still receives the character. The host is the picker.

Why is it running?

You pressed Win+., started voice typing, or tapped a tablet keyboard. A copy that stays resident is normal so the panel can open quickly.

Is it safe?

Usually safe

The host is a Microsoft system package. A TextInputHost.exe in a "keyboard enhancer" zip is not Input Experience.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

C:\Windows\SystemApps\InputApp_*\TextInputHost.exe

SystemApps input package
Win+. uses this host on current Windows
ctfmon.exe is a different input helper

Can I end it?

OK if a panel is stuck

Ending TextInputHost closes the emoji or touch keyboard until it starts again. It does not log you out.

Can I remove it?

Do not delete the InputApp package. You would lose the supported emoji panel and tablet keyboard.

Should it start with Windows?

The input service starts it on demand. Unchecking random Startup entries will not permanently remove it.

Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

CPU: Can rise while voice typing or a stuck emoji window redraws
Memory: Moderate for a UI host
Disk: Low
Network: GIF search in the emoji panel can use the network

File information

TextInputHost.exe file information
Executable name	TextInputHost.exe
Common legitimate path	C:\Windows\SystemApps\InputApp_*\TextInputHost.exe
Publisher	Microsoft Corporation
Signature expectation	Signed by Microsoft Windows

Common problems

Emoji panel will not close

End TextInputHost, then press Win+. once. If it returns immediately, an IME or a tablet mode toggle is retriggering it.

High CPU with a third-party IME

East-Asian IMEs and this host can fight. Test the Microsoft IME as a comparison.

Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

Separate it from ctfmon

Language bar issues can be ctfmon. Emoji and voice typing issues are this host.

Do not install a "privacy" script that removes InputApp

That script breaks tablet input. Use Settings to turn off voice typing if you want that.

Technical details

TextInputHost.exe technical details
Image name	TextInputHost.exe
Role	Windows Input Experience

Sources and verification

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

Microsoft Support: emoji panel · Win+. input experience
Microsoft Learn: Windows · Primary Windows documentation
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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