OfficeBackgroundTaskHandlerRegistration flashes a window every hour

Anonymous
2017-04-15T05:19:15+00:00

Is there a really, really good reason that the "OfficeBackgroundTaskHandlerRegistration" task (see it in Task Scheduler, Microsoft, Office) must run every hour?  This is what it says that it does: "This task initiates Office Background Task Handler, which updates relevant Office data."

I ask, because it runs officebackgroundtaskhandler.exe in such a way that it flashes a window (itself) on the screen. Only instantaneously to be sure, but it's noticeable, especially once you catch onto what's happening. You can run the task manually if you want to see it without waiting.

Why doesn't the task use one of the many tricks to hide a window from displaying?

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Anonymous
2017-05-30T14:37:13+00:00

( Update 6/7/17 - PaulSey... )

The fix is now available in mainstream builds 16.8210.2075 released on 6/6/17

This issue is fixed starting with build 16.0.8201.2025 which is now available as the latest update for those participating in the Office Insiders Slow program. It will be included in a future update for those not participating in Insiders.

For more information on joining Office Insiders see the Office Insider page.

Thank you everyone for reporting this issue!

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-04T04:03:33+00:00

    To fix this you can go to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 folder and right click on officebackgroundtaskhandler.exe and go to Properties. Click the Compatibility tab and tick Run this program as an Administrator and then click OK. This must give it permission to run in the background or something.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-04-18T13:30:26+00:00

    +1, it also gets focus so it takes me out of fullscreen apps.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-04-21T19:33:56+00:00

    No help to you now, but there's an easier way: edit the task and set it to "At log on of any user," just like its cousin task with the similar name.

    Great to hear though that this is a new issue (I was just thinking that I hadn't noticed it for a couple months, or did, and dismissed it as something else) and that it's being looked at.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-04-21T21:48:58+00:00

    I've been seeing this as well. I only caught the name of the window just now when it appeared and actually stayed visible for several seconds before disappearing.

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