Quick Answer
infopath.exe is safe. It's part of the InfoPath form designer/viewer shipped with Microsoft Office; it uses multiple processes for forms, data connections, and rendering.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE
Warning
Multiple processes may appear
InfoPath loads forms, data connections, and rendering tasks; expect several INFOPATH.EXE instances when editing complex forms
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close InfoPath when not in use; you can uninstall Office InfoPath components if you no longer need it
What is infopath.exe?
infopath.exe is the executable for Microsoft InfoPath, the form design and data-entry tool in the Office family. It launches when you open InfoPath forms or templates, or when forms are submitted to SharePoint and external data sources. The process can spawn child tasks for rendering, validation, and data connections to services.
InfoPath runs in a multi-part architecture: a main process manages the UI and form metadata, while child tasks handle rendering, data connections, and validation. It interacts with SharePoint or web services to fetch, submit, or sync form data while enforcing form logic.
Quick Fact: InfoPath was part of Office for form design and data capture; modern Office apps rely on other services, but InfoPath remains in legacy deployments.
Types of InfoPath Processes
- Designer/Viewer: Main UI for creating and filling forms (INFOPATH.EXE)
- Data Connection Manager: Handles data connections to SharePoint, XML, SQL, etc.
- Rendering/Validation: Renders form UI and validates user input
- Submission/Workflow: Submits completed forms to servers or SharePoint libraries
- Background Sync: Syncs form data or templates with services when connected
Is infopath.exe Safe?
Yes, infopath.exe is Safe when it's the legitimate file from Microsoft installed with Office.
Is infopath.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real infopath.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes masquerades with similar names.
How to Tell if infopath.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE. Any INFOPATH.EXE elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Microsoft Corporation".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-12% CPU per form, 100-350 MB total memory. Extremely high or constant usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: InfoPath should run when editing/viewing forms. If INFOPATH.EXE starts without you launching InfoPath, scan for malware.
Red Flags: If INFOPATH.EXE is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when not using InfoPath, has no digital signature, or uses constant high resources, scan your system. Beware of similarly-named files like 'infopath32.exe' from untrusted sources.
Why Is infopath.exe Running on My PC?
infopath.exe runs when you open InfoPath forms or when Office components use InfoPath data entry features. It may also run to render templates and synchronize with SharePoint.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Form Editing: You have an InfoPath form open or in edit mode; each form instance can spawn its own processing thread.
- Data Connections: InfoPath connects to SharePoint lists, XML data sources, or databases to populate fields or submit data.
- Template/Preview Rendering: Previewing or validating a template runs rendering tasks that keep the UI responsive.
- Office Integration: Office workflows or InfoPath form services in SharePoint can launch InfoPath for form submission.
- Background Sync: Form data or templates may sync in the background when you have connectivity.
Can I Disable or Remove infopath.exe?
Yes, you can disable infopath.exe. If you don't use InfoPath, you can remove the Office component or disable it from Office setup.
How to Stop infopath.exe
- End Active Form: Close the InfoPath form or Designer window (if open) to stop processing.
- Close InfoPath: Exit all InfoPath windows and ensure no background tasks remain in Task Manager.
- Prevent Startup: Office components may start InfoPath on demand; disable any startup tasks in Task Scheduler if present.
- Disable Background Sync: In Office settings, disable any SharePoint or data-sync related options for InfoPath.
- Uninstall InfoPath (Office): Run Office setup and choose Modify; deselect InfoPath components to remove.
How to Uninstall InfoPath
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Microsoft Office -> Modify -> Office Tools -> InfoPath Designer/Viewer -> Remove
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Microsoft Office -> Change -> Add or Remove Features -> InfoPath
- ✔ Consider reinstalling Office without InfoPath if you don't need it
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If infopath.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Heavy Form with Data Connections: Close unused forms and limit active data connections; consider exporting data bindings to reduce load.
- Large or Complex Forms: Split large forms into smaller sections or use form templates to reduce rendering load.
- Outdated Office/InfoPath: Update Office to the latest version to fix performance issues.
- Corrupted Form Templates: Repair Office installation or re-create the InfoPath form template (.xsn) to fix corruption.
- Conflicting Add-ins: Disable unnecessary add-ins or data adapters in InfoPath.
- Malware Masquerading as INFOPATH.EXE: Run a full antivirus scan and verify file location and signature (see Safety verification).
Quick Fixes:
1. Close unused InfoPath forms and disable nonessential data connections
2. Update Office and InfoPath components
3. Repair Office via Control Panel or Windows Settings
4. Check for malware and verify INFOPATH.EXE signature
5. Limit background syncing and automatic form submissions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is infopath.exe?
infopath.exe is the executable for Microsoft InfoPath, an Office tool used to design, fill, and submit electronic forms and data connections to SharePoint or other services.
Is infopath.exe safe?
Yes, when located in the Office installation directories (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE) and digitally signed by Microsoft.
Why is infopath.exe running after I close InfoPath?
InfoPath may run background tasks for data synchronization or in response to background services. Ensure you fully close forms and disable background syncing if needed.
Can I uninstall InfoPath?
InfoPath can be removed by modifying Office installation and deselecting InfoPath components, or by using the Office setup tool. If you need it later, you can reinstall Office.
Where is infopath.exe located?
Common locations are C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE or C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\INFOPATH.EXE depending on Office version.
How do I reduce InfoPath's resource usage?
Close large or multiple forms, reduce the number of active data connections, update Office, and consider splitting complex forms into smaller sections.