How to Fix Failed to connect to a Windows service Windows 10 Error

Feeling annoyed with the Failed to connect to a Windows service error notification? Learn how to fix Failed to connect to a Windows service Windows 10 error.

As you are reading the Group Policy Client service error tutorial, we can assume that you are interested in knowing how to fix failed to connect to a Windows service error in Windows 10.

Is that right? Well, each computer is having Group policies in its registry which allow a user to configure security settings. If you want to access Group policies you can open them from the Active Directory or Group Policy Editor. Some users reported that they come across an error message like this while accessing group policy editor on Windows 10 PC:

Failed to connect to a Windows service

Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client service. This problem prevents standard users from signing in. As an administrative user, you can review the System Event log for details about why the service didn’t respond.

failed to connect to a windows service

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Services are a very important part of every Windows 10 computer, and such service related issues generally happen when the operating system is unable to start or connect to a specifically required Windows service to carry out its commands.

Important note: Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client service is used only as an example here but it could be the System Event Notification service, Windows Font Cache service, Windows Event Logs service or any other service too.

This error is quite frequent to Windows 10 users and if you see Failed to connect to a Windows service Windows 10 error appearing on the bottom-right corner then you won’t be able to access group policy editor.

Why Does My Computer Say Failed to Connect to a Windows Service?

In most of the cases, this error appears is when a computer crashes after the rebooting process during Windows Updates. If your computer shutdowns unexpectedly then you will come across failed to connect to a Windows service error.

This might also lead to some changes in the registry settings which need to initialize Group Policy editor on a computer.

These are some of the possible reasons for getting failed to connect to a Windows service error on Windows 10 computers:

  • The sudden shutdown of pc due to power supply cut off
  • Due to incomplete Windows updates or Windows updates failed
  • Due to installation of new driver and support components
  • If your computer is infected with a virus or other malware
  • The installation of unpatched and unauthorized third-party software
  • Or any other unknown reasons

How to Fix Failed to connect to a Windows service Windows 10

Now that you know almost all the possible reasons of why do you get Group Policy Client service error on your Windows 10 computer, you should start the process to fix failed to connect to a Windows service Windows 10 issue.

Follow the steps mentioned below in order to fix “Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client service. This problem prevents standard users from signing in.” failed to connect to a Windows service error message on Windows 10 PC:

Step (1): First of all, press Windows + R keys together to open Run dialog box and then type regedit in it and then hit Enter key.

Step (2): Once the Registry editor is opened on your computer, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services

Step (3): Now check and see if a registry key named gpsvc is present inside Services folder or not. If the gpsvc folder (registry key) is present there then you can proceed to the next step.

failed to connect to a windows service windows 10

Step (4): On the left pane of the registry editor, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost 

group policy client

Step (5): Next, check for a multi-string value GPSvsGroup inside SvcHost folder.

Step (6): If multi-string value GPSvsGroup is not present inside the SvcHost folder then right-click on the SvcHost folder and then select New > Multi-String Value.

system event notification service

Step (7): Now rename the new multi-string value by right-clicking on it and typing GPSvcGroup then pressing Enter. Next, double click on the GPSvcGroup to modify its Value data field with the GPSvc and click on OK.

group policy client service

Step (8): Now you have to create a new registry key (folder) inside the SvcHost folder with the name GPSvcGroup. To create a new registry key, right click on the SvcHost folder and then select the New > Key option.

fix failed to connect to a windows service

Step (9): And then rename the new registry key with the name GPSvcGroup.

failed to connect to a windows service error

Step (10): Next open the GPSvcGroup key to see its contents displayed in the right pane. Here you have to create two new DWORD (32-bit) Value with the name AuthenticationCapabilities and CoInitializeSecurityParam. In order to create new DWORD (32-bit) values in the right pane of GPSvcGroup:

  • Right-click on the empty space and then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value then rename it with the name AuthenticationCapabilities and Value data 12320 and its base should be Decimal.

authenticationcapabilities

  • Right-click on the empty space and then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value then rename it with the name CoInitializeSecurityParam and Value data 1 and its base should be Decimal.

coinitializesecurityparam

Step (11): Once you have created these 2 new DWORD (32-bit) values successfully, close the Registry Editor and then restart your computer.

Windows 10 failed to connect to a Windows service error “Windows couldn’t connect to the group policy client service. This problem prevents standard users from signing in.” should be solved.

Perform a Clean Boot to fix Failed to connect to a Windows service

Alternatively, you can also perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10 to resolve the Group Policy Client service issue. Basically, the clean boot is performed to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update or when you run a program on Windows 10 PC.

Follow the steps mention below to Clean Boot Windows 10 computer:

Step (1): At first, press Windows + R keys together to open Run dialog box and then type msconfig in it and then hit the Enter key.

Step (2): Now choose Selective startup and then uncheck Load startup items option.

clean boot windows 10

Step (3): Next, go to the Services tab and check “Hide all Microsoft Services” option and then click on Disable All button.

Step (4): Finally, click on the Apply and OK button for Windows 10 clean boot.

Conclusion

This is how you can easily fix failed to connect to a Windows service Windows 10 error. Let us know using the comments section below – Which method did you follow to fix Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client service issue?

Also feel free to let us know if you have any other helpful method to fix Windows 10 failed to connect to a Windows service error.

Stay connected with us to know more about Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification service, Windows Font Cache service, and Windows Event Logs service error.

You might also like: The Group Policy Client Service failed the logon Windows 10

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