What is ctfmon.exe?

The genuine ctfmon.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation.
"Ctfmon.exe", when found in "C:\Windows\System32", (and also in "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" on 64-bit systems), is a Windows system service by Microsoft. Introduced as a component of Microsoft Office in Windows XP, it has become essential in Windows 10 and should not be removed. It is the Collaborative Translation Framework (CTF) Monitoring service, also called the CTF Loader. It was first added to Windows XP to monitor active Microsoft Office windows, display the Language Bar, and assist use of alternative entry methods such as handwriting and speech recognition and foreign language keyboard layouts, including correcting how certain words are recognized. Users of XP or Vista not using multiple languages or using speech or handwriting do not need the CTF Loader and can disable it by removing unneeded Text Services in the Control Panel. In Windows 10 it has become essential for the ability to type anything into Windows Search or Cortana.

CTFMon stands for Collaborative Translation Framework Monitor

The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the ctfmon.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.

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Ctfmon.exe file information

Windows Task Manager with ctfmon — Ctfmon.exe process in Windows Task Manager

The process known as CTF Loader or NetSupport Client Application or Dummy to replace the annoying CTFMON.EXE belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System or NetSupport Remote Control or Dummy CTFMON.EXE (part of the CTFMON-Remover) or Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio (version 2007) by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) or NetSupport (www.netsupportsoftware.com) or Gerhard Schlager.

Description: Ctfmon.exe is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The file ctfmon.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder or sometimes in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files. Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 15,360 bytes (41% of all occurrences), 30,208 bytes and 35 more variants.
The program is not visible. The application starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: Run, DEFAULT\Run, User Shell Folders, MACHINE\Run, RunOnce, TaskScheduler). Ctfmon.exe is not a Windows core file. Therefore the technical security rating is 50% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify ctfmon.exe related errors

If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 4% dangerous. The file size is 8,704 bytes (63% of all occurrences), 9,728 bytes and 4 more variants. It is a Windows system file. The program is not visible. The ctfmon.exe file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft.
If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 49% dangerous. The file size is 112,176 bytes (27% of all occurrences), 9,728 bytes and 7 more variants. Ctfmon.exe is not a Windows system file. The software starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: Run, DEFAULT\Run, User Shell Folders, MACHINE\Run, TaskScheduler, RunOnce). The program has no visible window.
If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 51% dangerous. The file size is 112,176 bytes (41% of all occurrences), 5,798,912 bytes and 4 more variants.
If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 85% dangerous. The file size is 2,271,232 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 32,768 bytes.
If ctfmon.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder, the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 2,092,556 bytes.
If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's "Documents" folder, the security rating is 46% dangerous. The file size is 45,056 bytes.
If ctfmon.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder, the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 1,489,152 bytes.
If ctfmon.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files", the security rating is 56% dangerous. The file size is 368,640 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:

"ctfmon" can run at start up. CTFMon is involved with the language/alternative input services in Office XP. CTFMON.exe will continue to put itself back into MSConfig when you run the Office XP apps as long as the Text Services and Speech applets in the Control Panel are enabled. Not required if you don't need these features. For more info on ctfmon see here

Important: Some malware also uses the file name ctfmon.exe, for example Trojan.Win32.Yakes.ckt or Trojan.Win32.VB.aqt (detected by Kaspersky), and TrojanDownloader:Win32/Phdet.E or Worm:Win32/Fakerecy.A (detected by Microsoft). Therefore, you should check the ctfmon.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

it suddenly appeared and i never use windows office on this pc.
alex

office file
plspslslpslpslsps (further information)

ctfmon.exe does present in my Windows Task Manager (ctrl+shift+esc) when I am using my old XP. ctfmon.exe seems to be used/useful in Win 7 processes anyway the ctfmon.exe cannot be found anywhere in my (Win 7) Windows Task Manager, and my Language Bar is still lying perfectly there. Some websites has tried using ctfmon.exe in Win 7 to solve some technical problem. (e.g answers.microsoft.com/)
John (further information)

to disable this ctfmon.exe goto start menu and then click run and search msconfig and click startup bar and uncheck ctfmon.exe done!
Gian angelo

i have win8 and ctfmon is located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64.
alekss

The process is defined as the program CTF Loader.
david scott (further information)

can not delete ctfmon.exe because it says I need special permission. It is located in user-windows-system32.

Unless you use the language bar, get rid of it. Even when located in the proper folder, it causes internet connectivity problems. The Microsoft site details their preferred "blanking" procedure. However, I removed it outright and experienced NO instability (unless the absence of the language bar can be considered instability). This immediately cleared up numerous connectivity problems. Microsoft's attitude is wholly unacceptable: having garbageware running all the time just "because" is poor practice, as well as being highly suspicious. Somebody should have a look under the hood to see what this piece of crap is really doing. Since it runs even when nothing related to the language bar is concerned, it has more than one purpose, and one that Microsoft doesn't want to give up - or reveal to the public.
Foo

More comments can be found here:
(further information)

Summary: Average user rating of ctfmon.exe: based on 509 votes with 9 user comments. 172 users think ctfmon.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 24 users think it's probably harmless. 140 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 75 users suspect danger. 98 users think ctfmon.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 34 users don't grade ctfmon.exe ("not sure about it").

Best practices for resolving ctfmon issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with ctfmon. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or, for Windows 8 and later versions, executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To help you analyze the ctfmon.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. BMalwarebytes Anti-Malware detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.

Other processes

mscoreei.dll wmiprvse.exe nvcontainer.exe ctfmon.exe dllhost.exe mdnsresponder.exe explorer.exe googlecrashhandler.exe kmservice.exe opera.exe urlredir.dll [all]

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