Solved How to kill Ctfmon.exe ?

TM21 · Dec 28, 2023

For years, I've had and used this little program called "Ctfmon Remover". But when I run that little program I get a real mixed bag of responses. But what it's not really doing is 'Removing' Ctfmon.exe from my PC. I'd very much like to do that, if there is a script or program that would do that.
So far I've not been able to find such a program, if it exists.
Any ideas, or help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
TM

Wisewiz · Dec 28, 2023

Hey, TM,

The good folks over at Mini-Tool (of Partition Wizard fame) say this:

Completely Disable Ctfmon.exe

If you wish to never have this process run on your computer, you can follow the steps below to completely disable ctfmon.exe by unregistering the DLL file that is associated with alternative user input.

Step 1. Press Windows+R keys on the keyboard to bring up the Run dialog box. Alternatively, you can right click the Windows Start menu and choose Run to open it.

Step 2. Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter after each to unregister the DLL files.

regsvr32.exe /u msimtf.dll

regsvr32.exe /u msctf.dll

They say this about ctfmon and the "alternative user input" which, no doubt, you never plan to make use of:

Ctfmon.exe, also known as CTF (Collaborative Translation Framework) Loader, is a Microsoft process that always runs in the background. It is used by Microsoft Office to control the Alternative User Input Text Input Processor and the Microsoft Office Language Bar.

The ctfmon.exe process can provide text support for handwriting recognition, speech recognition or other alternative user input services. So if you are using any of the above, you shouldn’t disable the process on your computer.

Generally, the ctfmon.exe process always runs in the background and will not interfere with the normal operation of the system.

Wisewiz · Dec 28, 2023

@TechnoMage2021

There are only two working copies of the file. Have you tried deleting them? I don't know whether Windows will permit it, bujt it's worth a try.

TM21 · Dec 28, 2023

Believe it or not, I've tried all that and it just don't work on my Windows 11/Pro/64.

So I changed the name of those two .dll files, so they could not register on boot up, and it totally disabled Task Manager.
I had to do that in SAFE mode.
Then I had to resort to System Restore to put things right again.

This isn't the first day that I've tried to stop ctfmon.exe from running. I've been at it for a while.
That's why I opened this thread, hoping someone else may have had success in doing what I've not been able to.
It wouldn't be the first time!!!!

dacrone · Dec 28, 2023

Wisewiz said:
@TechnoMage2021

There are only two working copies of the file. Have you tried deleting them? I don't know whether Windows will permit it, bujt it's worth a try.
View attachment 82566

You can boot from Recovery media and use Cmd at System level to delete anything lol. It’s the repercussions you’ll have to worry about

Wisewiz · Dec 28, 2023

I'd try these in a command prompt window with admin rights
regsvr32.exe /u msimtf.dll <enter>
regsvr32.exe /u msctf.dll <enter>
and then reboot the PC.

Ghot · Dec 28, 2023

Wisewiz said:
The good folks over at Mini-Tool (of Partition Wizard fame say this:

Syntax error (missing parenthesis).

TM21 · Dec 28, 2023

Echo: I just did that, with error messages telling me that I can't do thatl The error code was "0x80004005".

I have two new versions of Windows, , , Tiny 11 and Micro 11, in which they have removed a lot of added MS BS, but Ctfmon.exe remains.

Why? I know what it's used for, and in all the years that I've been running Windows, I've never needed it. But yet it's taking up space and cpu cycles and memory on my PC. I just want that dang thing GONE!

Wisewiz · Dec 28, 2023

Ghot said:
Syntax error (missing parenthesis).

I SAW that, you bugger! :grrr:

I just didn't think it was worth going back in to change it.

pseymour · Dec 28, 2023

Process Explorer says ctfmon.exe is being run by the "Text Input Management Service," so you'd probably have to disable that service. I am definitely not recommending you do so, just saying that is what is launching it on my 23H2 system.

abactuon · Dec 28, 2023

As before, you can disable "TextServicesFramework monitor task" .

dacrone · Dec 28, 2023

Wouldn’t be in use if you boot from installation media

TM21 · Dec 29, 2023

pseymour said:
Process Explorer says ctfmon.exe is being run by the "Text Input Management Service," so you'd probably have to disable that service. I am definitely not recommending you do so, just saying that is what is launching it on my 23H2 system.

Well, I'd like to disable that....but it's locked and cannot be stopped, re-labeled or anything. It seems to be a real "Touch me not!".

Thanks anyway, good try,
TM

galileo · Dec 29, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
Well, I'd like to disable that....but it's locked and cannot be stopped, re-labeled or anything. It seems to be a real "Touch me not!".

Thanks anyway, good try,
TM

Of what value to you is disabling Ctfmon.exe? ...just curious as I also dealt with this issue back in the XP and 7 days.

TM21 · Dec 29, 2023

A little Windows History:

Every program running in Windows requires some amount of System resources, whether it be CPU cycles, ram usage or whatever.
And it just aggravates the heck out of me to have something running, for some obscure reason, that I don't want, use or need. Eh?

So I just fixed it!

First, I went into SAFE mode.
Then I navigated down to Ctfmon.exe, took ownership of it, (couldn't delete it) and changed .exe to .xxx.
Then on rebooting the PC, I looked in Task Manager and found the Ctfmon.exe no longer running. Problem solved.

I may attempt to write a little program to do that same task.

Thank Y'all for all your good advise.
TM

galileo · Dec 29, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
A little Windows History:

Every program running in Windows requires some amount of System resources, whether it be CPU cycles, ram usage or whatever.
And it just aggravates the heck out of me to have something running, for some obscure reason, that I don't want, use or need. Eh?

So I just fixed it!

First, I went into SAFE mode.
Then I navigated down to Ctfmon.exe, took ownership of it, (couldn't delete it) and changed .exe to .xxx.
Then on rebooting the PC, I looked in Task Manager and found the Ctfmon.exe no longer running. Problem solved.

I may attempt to write a little program to do that same task.

Thank Y'all for all your good advise.
TM
View attachment 82600

Hilarious! That's exactly what I did back in the XP and 7 days...just change the file extension...well done mate!

Anak · Dec 29, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
So I just fixed it!

If you wouldn't mind I'd like to see a post from you in a few days or so about "how's it going?" since you made the change.

According to HTG (How to Geek) if this is done in win11 you might lose your Keyboard input:

How to Disable Ctfmon.exe on Windows 11.

You cannot disable ctfmon.exe, or the associated Text Input Management Service, on Windows 11. If you kill ctfmon.exe via the Task Manager, it will instantly restart. The service, Text Input Management Service (formerly Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service on Windows 10), cannot be disabled or stopped.

Even if it were possible to disable it, the likely result would be a PC that can't accept any input from the keyboard at all.

Whether you're in Windows 10 or Windows 11, you're best off leaving ctfmon.exe --- like other Windows processes --- alone if you want your computer to work correctly.

How to Geek the end of the article.
I understand HTG's caution with their readers as they wouldn't like to lose their confidence but you and I are different b/c we and most of the members here aren't afraid to experiment for the greater good.

IanMosley · Dec 29, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
So far I've not been able to find such a program, if it exists.
Any ideas, or help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
TM

Try the free version of Revo Uninstaller Pro

dacrone · Dec 29, 2023

why did you ask how to remove it if you only wanted to rename it?

TM21 · Dec 29, 2023

There is very little difference! If you can Rename an .exe file, to .xxx or anything else that Windows doesn't recognize as an executable file, then it's effectively DEAD.
In this case, once I killed Ctfmon and rebooted my PC, I went back in and Deleted the file.
But I could have just as well left it.

My aim was to find a way, to stop Ctfmon from running on my PC, and I did that.
The process wasn't as simple as I thought I could make it, but I got the job done anyway.

I was hoping that a Script writer would come up with a Script to get rid of Ctfmon, in normal mode.
I had to do it in SAFE mode.

Solved How to kill Ctfmon.exe ?

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