Fix “Failed to Connect to a Windows Service” Error on Windows 11

Windows Services are a crucial component that enables the operating system to perform various functions. The “Failed to connect to a Windows service” error in Windows 11 typically occurs when your computer fails to connect to a critical background service such as Group Policy Client, Windows Event Notification Service, or Windows Update Service. This can be due to various factors, including issues with service dependencies, incorrect service configurations, or conflicts with other software or updates. Whatever the reason, here is how to fix it.

Why failed to connect to Windows service?

When you see this error message, it indicates that a particular Windows service—a background application that performs specific functions for the operating system or other programs—is unable to start or communicate properly.

• Service Issues: A specific service, often the System Event Notification Service (SENS), might be disabled, corrupted, or failing to start.
• Update Problems: Unfinished or interrupted Windows updates can sometimes leave services in a problematic state.
• Driver Conflicts: New driver installations can sometimes introduce conflicts that prevent services from connecting.
• Malware Infections: Malware can interfere with system services.
• Third-Party Software: Some third-party applications might conflict with Windows services.

Restart Your PC and Boot in Clean Mode

Sometimes, a simple restart helps resolve temporary service glitches. To take it further, boot into Clean Boot Mode to eliminate third-party interference.

• Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• Go to the Services tab. Check “Hide all Microsoft services”, then click “Disable all”.
• Next, move to the Startup tab > click “Open Task Manager”. Disable all startup items.
• Reboot your PC. If the error doesn’t appear, one of the third-party apps was causing the issue.

Manually Start the Group Policy Client Service

If the Group Policy Client (gpsvc) service is disabled or fails to start, this error can appear.

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
• Look for the Group Policy Client.
• Double-click it, and set Startup type to Automatic.
• Click Start if the service isn’t running.
• Click Apply > OK.

Repeat this for the System Event Notification Service and Windows Event Log as well.

Check Service Dependencies:

• In addition, locate the service that is failing. Right-click the service and select “Properties.”
• Go to the “Dependencies” tab. Note down the services it depends on.
• Ensure these dependent services are running (their “Status” should be “Running”). If not, try to start them first.

Scan and Repair Corrupted Files

Corrupted or missing system files can prevent Windows services from launching. The System File Checker (SFC) and DISM commands scan for and repair those files automatically, often resolving deep system issues without reinstalling Windows.

• Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
• Type command sfc /scannow and press enter, This command scans protected system files and replaces any corrupted ones using cached backups from Windows.

• After the scan finishes, run this DISM command to repair the system image: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• This command downloads clean files from Windows Update and replaces damaged files in your system image.
• Once both commands complete successfully, restart your computer.

Reset Windows Networking and Services

Corrupted network components and misconfigured services can prevent system services from launching. These reset commands restore default settings.

Open the command prompt as administrator and run the following commands.

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

This is especially helpful if you also face internet issues or DNS errors alongside the “Failed to connect to Windows service” message.

Disable Fast Startup (May Cause Service Delays)

Fast Startup is meant to reduce boot time, but it sometimes prevents critical services from initializing properly during boot — especially on slower drives or older machines.

• Press Windows Key + R, type “powercfg.cpl” and hit enter to open Power Options.
• Choose what the power buttons do
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
• Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended)
• Click Save changes and reboot

Disabling this can allow services more time to load during system startup.

Use Event Viewer to Identify the Failing Service

Event Viewer logs detailed system errors. You can use it to find out which service is causing the connection failure, giving you clues on where to focus your troubleshooting.

• Press Windows + X → Click Event Viewer
• Go to: Windows Logs > System
• Look for Error or Critical entries around the time you got the error message
• Click each entry and check the Source and Event ID

Search online for the Event ID to learn what specific service failed and how to fix it.

Create a New User Account (If Profile is Corrupt)

Sometimes your Windows user profile gets corrupted, preventing certain services from initializing properly. Creating a new profile is a quick way to test and fix this.

• Open Settings > Accounts > Other users
• Click Add account > I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
• Click Add a user without a Microsoft account

• Create a new local user
• Log in with the new user account

If the error doesn’t appear on the new account, your old user profile is likely damaged.

You can transfer your files to the new account and delete the old one later if needed.

If you recently made changes, installed updates, or apps that triggered this error, using System Restore can bring your PC back to a previous working state.