Windows could not start the AutoConfig WLAN service… Why?

Has your wireless connection suddenly stopped working? Every once in a while, your laptop or desktop might fail to identify or detect a wireless network. According to some users, when trying to manually start the WLAN AutoConfig service, the following error message appears: “Windows could not start the WLAN AutoConfig service on Local Computer. Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start.”

What is WLAN AutoConfig Service On Windows?

The WLAN AutoConfig service (WLANSVC) is responsible for enabling your computer to discover, configure, connect to and disconnect from a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). The service also allows your computer to be used as an access point by other computers or devices to connect wirelessly to your computer.

This service ensures that your computer can connect to the Internet seamlessly. If the service doesn’t run properly, it means you can’t access the internet and most of your online work will, therefore, come to a halt. To avoid such a scenario, here’s how to fix ‘Windows could not start the WLAN AutoConfig service on Local Computer’.

How to Fix WLAN AutoConfig Service Problems

Fix 1: Check for Hardware Problems

First things first. You need to rule out whether your PC has hardware issues. To do this:

1. Right-click “Start” and open “Device Manager”.
2. Next, find and expand “Network adapters”.
3. Right-click your wireless network and select “Properties”. You should see a message that says, “This device is working properly”.

However, if your machine has a hardware problem, you may have to talk to a qualified technician to fix it for you.

Fix 2: Check if WLAN AutoConfig Service is Running

For one reason or another, your WLAN AutoConfig service could be disabled. This means that there is no way for your computer to detect a wireless network or Wi-Fi. Here’s how to enable the WLAN AutoConfig service:

1. Open “Run” by simultaneously pressing the Windows Key and R.
2. Enter the following in the text box: services.msc, and press “OK”.
3. In the “Services” window that opens, locate “WLAN AutoConfig”. Press “W” on your keyboard to make this fast.
4. Right-click this option and select “Properties” or simply double-click it.
5. Check if the “Service status:” says “Running”. If it does, then this is not the source of the problem. However, if the service isn’t running, click the drop-down menu next to the “Startup type:” section and select “Automatic”.
6. Click the “Apply” button followed by “OK”.
7. Restart Windows and check if this fix gets rid of the WLAN AutoConfig service problems.

Fix 3: Restart Your Router

Restarting your router does not always fix internet issues. However, it’s worth a try. Switch off your router and give it a minute. Turn the router back on and try to connect to the internet. If it works, then your mystery is solved. If it doesn’t, don’t fret, there are plenty of other options below that you could try.

Fix 4: Try the Network Troubleshooter

Usually, the Windows built-in troubleshooter comes in handy in such situations. It’s a crucial feature that can help you resolve PC issues fast.

To run the Network Troubleshooter:

1. Press the Windows logo+X and select “Settings”.
2. Open Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
3. Click “Internet Connections” to highlight it, and then select “Run troubleshooter”.
4. Let the system complete detecting the problem and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting steps.
5. Next, still in the “Settings” app, repeat the same steps with “Network Adapter”.

If the troubleshooter doesn’t resolve the issues, try the next fix.

Fix 5: Optimize Your Windows System

Every once in a while, your system needs maintenance to remove hundreds of useless junk files, invalid entries and corrupt keys left behind after installing and uninstalling apps, which are likely to put a load on your PC’s performance, including your internet speed.

To ensure your computer operates optimally, you need an optimization tool like Auslogics BoostSpeed to tweak your system settings for optimal performance. Not only does this program improve your download speed and browsing experience, but it also erases junk files and duplicate files, cleans the registry, enables faster boot, and frees up memory by stopping unnecessary services.

And that’s not all. Auslogics BoostSpeed has other features that you’ll find absolutely important in keeping your PC optimized at all times. Running the software can help resolve the WLAN AutoConfig issues and help you connect to the internet.

Fix 6: Reset Network Configurations

Your network settings could be disrupted by a virus or the installation and uninstallation of a third-party program. Resetting Network Configurations will help reinitialize your network settings.

1. Open “Command Prompt” with admin privileges.
2. Type netsh winsock reset, and press “Enter”.
3. Restart the system to effect these changes and then check if the error message still appears.

Fix 7: Repair Windows System Files

If your system files are corrupted due to a virus attack or power outage, your wireless connectivity could be affected. For this reason, repairing Windows system files might help save the situation.

To do so:

1. Open “Command Prompt” with administrative privileges (press the Windows logo+X and choose “Command Prompt” (Admin)).
2. Execute the following command: sfc /scannow.
3. Once the System File Checker is finished repairing your system files, restart the machine and check if you can connect to Wi-Fi.

Fix 8: Modify the Registry

Editing the Registry is not always recommended because it can render your machine useless. Therefore, proceed with caution here:

1. Press the Windows Key+R and type regedit in the “Run” text box. Press “Enter”.
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcp.
3. Find DependOnService on the right pane and double-click on it.
4. Delete all the entries except “Afd”.
5. Press “Ok” and exit the Registry Editor.
6. Restart Windows and check if you can now access the internet.

Fix 9: Perform a System Restore

If all the above outlined workarounds fail to resolve your internet connection issues, you should roll back your Windows system to a time when Wi-Fi was working just fine.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Press the Windows logo and type “Restore” (without the quotes).
2. Click on “Create a restore point”.
3. Click the “System Restore” button.
4. Click “Next”.
5. Choose a restore point and click “Next”. If you don’t see all the restore points, check the box next to “Show more restore points”.
6. Click “Finish” and confirm that you want to perform a system restore. This may take a while, so be sure to plug in your machine.

When the restoration process is complete, the ‘Windows could not start the WLAN AutoConfig service on Local Computer’ problem should now be resolved.

We hope this helps! Please let us know if there any other options that worked for you by commenting below.