How to Fix the "Windows Security Center Service Can't Be Started" Error

Windows Security Center is an essential part of the operating system's security ecosystem. It lets you monitor the status of key security components in Windows, such as Microsoft Defender. So it can be alarming to suddenly see this error message: "Windows Security Center service can't be started".

The longer Windows Security Center stays down, the more exposed your computer is. Fortunately, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to solve the problem.

1. Make sure Windows Security Center is enabled

You can check whether Windows Security Center is enabled in the Registry Editor. Just be sure to create a system restore point first, because even the smallest mistake can leave your PC unusable.

Once your system restore point is created, follow the steps below to enable Windows Security Center:

1. Press Win + R to open Windows Run, type regedit into the text box, then press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

2. Click Yes on the UAC prompt.

3. Copy the text below and paste it into the Registry Editor's address bar:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesSecurityHealthService

4. Double-click the Start key on the right to edit it.

5. If Value data is set to 4, that means Windows Security Center is disabled, so change it to 2.

6. Click OK to apply and save the changes.

7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for the key below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServiceswscsvc

Now restart your computer and see whether you still get the "Windows Security Center service can't be started" error message.

2. Make sure the services related to Windows Security Center are running properly

For Windows Security Center to start correctly, you need to make sure the configuration of the services it depends on isn't messed up. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Press Win + R to open Windows Run, type services.msc into the dialog box, and press Enter.

2. Locate Windows Management Instrumentation and double-click it.

3. On the General tab, make sure Startup type is set to Automatic. If it isn't, click the drop-down menu and select Automatic.

4. Next, make sure Service status is set to Running. If it isn't, click the Start button.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.

We do this because Windows Security Center relies on both the WMI and RPC services for a variety of important functions. When you're done, restart Windows and check whether you can now start Windows Security Center.

3. Repair the WMI Repository

A corrupted WMI Repository can keep Windows Security Center from starting, and repairing it can fix the problem in most cases. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Click the search bar on the Taskbar and type cmd.

2. Right-click the Command Prompt app in the search results and select Run as administrator.

3. Enter the command below in Command Prompt and press Enter to run it:

winmgmt /salvagerepository

When Windows finishes repairing the WMI Repository, Command Prompt will display the message: WMI Repository is consistent. Now restart your computer and check whether everything is fine with Windows Security Center.

4. Reset your Windows PC

If none of the fixes above work, it may be time for a last resort. To fix the error once and for all, back up all your data and reset Windows to its original defaults. Hopefully you won't need to go that far, but it's far less trouble than running a computer without a working Windows Security Center.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phát Lâm

Website Administrator, Hung Phat Laptop

I'm Phát Lâm, CEO of Hungphatlaptop.com and an IT specialist with years of experience in PC reviews, technology infrastructure and networking. With a deep understanding of hardware configurations, system performance and market trends, I focus on recommending the right solution so every customer gets a device that fits their needs, delivers strong performance, keeps costs in check and offers real value.

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