Windows Action Center is the hotspot point to manage the security options on a computer. Using Security Center, you can manage Firewall, Automatic updating, Antivirus, Maintenance, ResetInternet security settings, UAC (User Account Control) etc. Thus, from the maintenance point of view, Security Center is somehow an important parameter. But sometimes, you may face the error while turning the Security Center on. In this article, we’re going to discuss how to fix when you get The Windows Security Center service can’t be started error in your Windows system.

Here is the screenshot of the error we just received while turning on the Security Center:

The Windows Security Center service can't be started

As you can see in the image above, there is no other option than to close the error message. Well, you just need to start the associated service with Security Center and the issue could be fixed up significantly. Here is how to do that:

FIX : The Windows Security Center Service Can’t Be Started In Windows 10/8/7

FIX 1 – Using Services Snap-in

1. Press Windows Key + R and put services.msc in Run dialog box. Click OK to open Services.

2. In the Services window, scroll down and look for Security Center service. Since you’re facing the issue, the service should be disabled then. Double click on the same service to modify the status of it.

3. Now in the following window, select the Startup type to Automatic. Click Apply followed by OK. Then click on Start and again click on OK.

That’s it! Now reboot the system and you won’t see the error message again.

FIX 2 – Using Registry

If FIX 1 doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try the registry manipulation mentioned in this video fix:

This registry fix should definitely solve this problem for you.

Hope it solved your issue! Check this post if you can’t start Windows Defender on your system.

58 Comments

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  • Ogle

    Thanks for the tip. Nice article.

    I tried it on Windows 7 and it worked :-D

  • Sergey

    How to access Security Center in Windows 8 by the way?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ The Security Center lies in Windows 8, go to search, type Security Center and from search results, click Check security status and you’ll got the Action Center window, from where you can turn on Security Center.

  • jerry

    Security Center did not even come out in the services window. Help.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You mean that Security Center service is not available on your system?

  • Tracie

    Hi. Thank you so much for being so helpful. I think it’s amazing that there are highly intelligent people like you in the world who are willing to volunteer their time, while being off from their regular full time careers, to help people like me!! That being said, I can make my way around a computer OK but this one had me stumped until I found your page. But I only got to the section where it says to double click and change the startup type from “disabled” to “Automatic”. The reason? Mine is completely grayed out…I was going to supply a screen shot of the window but I couldn’t figure out how to do so (all my screen shot apps only work on webpages…not one will take a pic of my desktop of windows on my desktop). Either way, where yours says “Automatic (delayed start)” under Start-up type, mine says disabled and it won’t let me change ANYTHING in the window. Your thoughts? Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated!!

    Tracie

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Make sure you’re logged on as the administrator of your system. Also confirm that you’re set to recieve Windows Updates automatically.

  • Catrina

    THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!! I finally found your advice after starting my lap top in safe mode over and over! My problem was on startup, all lights & fans came on but then nothing…Blk screen w a curser. Then it would boot up fully in safe mode but I was getting the “security center service cannot be opened” after doing the steps u advised it worked!! Unfortunately now that It has booted up its just loading and loading on the “login” screen, and will not let me go onto the internet:( any advice on that? I have a 4yr old hp pavilion g series
    Thank you your knowledge is greatly appreciated!!!
    Catrina

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help. Boot it again into Safe Mode, switch to local account from Microsoft account. Now boot normally, it should work this time and then switch to Microsoft account :)

  • Ryacoed

    still not started and running as expected after you reconfigure and start Security Center

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Still receiving the same error message, or something else?

  • Tim

    I followed the steps exactly as posted. After applying the changes and hitting restart, I still get the same error: “Error 1068 The dependency service or group failed to start.”

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ In Security Centre‘s properties in Services there is a Dependency tab (step 3). Make sure each service on that tab is started. The dependencies are ‘Remote Procedure Call (RPC)‘ and ‘Windows Management Instrumentation‘.

  • Gary Smith

    In reference to Windows Security Center Service can’t be started:

    When I click on ‘Start” in the “Security Center Properties (Local Computer) box, the message I receive is “Windows could not start the Security Center Service on Local Computer. Error 1075: The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion.”

    What now???

  • Gary Smith

    Also when I open the ‘Dependency Tab’ I find two boxes:

    One says”This service depends on the following system components:”

    And also “The following system components depend on this service:”

    Both boxes are empty.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Open Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc and in the right pane, delete DependOnService. Let me know if it helps, Good luck!

  • muhammed faseen k

    thank you very much it realy helped for me thank you

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad we could help :)

  • Danan

    I tried it everything was going as you said until I had to click on security center, I couldn’t find it nowhere. Please help

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Please refer the registry manipulation discussed here in previous comments.

  • vinayak

    There was no security center option .what can i do …

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Try registry manipulation.

  • dharmesh

    security center is missing from services, there is a secuirty accounts thats showing started but the start stop option is not selectable.
    wscsvc is missng , there is a wpscsvc? what should do , do i have to get back wscsvc?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Can you spot the service in System Configuration Utility? (Run msconfig command, switch to Services tab then)

  • wajira

    thnks for tips..its working

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Cool :)

  • VURAL RAVAL

    It was really worked.thanks

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it worked 😊

  • shivam

    in mine it show error 2: files specified are not found.

    need help

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Run System File Checker scan: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-use-system-file-checker-to-repair-windows

  • PIYUSH OMAR

    With reference to windows security center,

    I tried everything as you said to start the Windows Security Center Service even the Registery Manipulation. But, it did not work. In Registery Manipulation when i deleted the DependOnSerivce it showed a error that “All specified value can not be deleted” . In security center properties, STARTUPTYPE is blocked. I can not start a sevice or stop it. Actually , I have no control over all the services which are present in services. msc.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ The registry steps are not mentioned here, may I know what steps you followed?

  • duane

    It gives me error code 1068

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Refer previous comments here.

  • Manju

    Thanq it worked at that time.. But when i turn off and started again then it was showing the same error windows security services cant be started

  • nikhil

    thank you so much for your help

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Happy to help 😊

  • jujun

    Thanks you verry much

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ You’re most welcome 😊

  • sadique

    thank you so much its very helpful…

  • John Watson

    Worked for me, thanks Kapil!

  • nagendra

    thnx buddy… got solved

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Nice!

  • sagar

    thanks sir

  • Heather Saul

    Thank you a lot for the information to help. I had no clue what was going on. I got the same message after following your steps ,that it still wouldn’t start. Because one of the dependents wasn’t started. So I’m glad someone asked in comments lol. Again thank you very much.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad the problem is fixed finally 😊

  • Sulaiman Adamu

    Thanks a lot this article is really helpful. it has helped me to solved many of my windows issues.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it helped 😎

  • sai

    I got error 1079 what to do

  • purna

    thank god finally i resolve the issue by reading this article.
    it’s very helpful to me……

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks a lot for your feedback purna 😊

  • Vinayak Kumbhar

    Finally, after so many weeks I was able to ON windows firewall. Thanks, kapil.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to hear it helped 😎

  • Tornado

    Status type doesnt illuminate

  • francis

    my pc got the same problem yesterday by installing third party applications some i watched ur video ,my security center folderor file is not there plz help me sir

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ There is no mention of ‘my security center folderor file’ in either article/video. Can you try uninstalling the third-party app and see if it helps.

  • Gayle

    Why I cant find mscsvc and?

  • Gayle

    I cant find security center too

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