Unable to Start Security Center Service — How to Fix It?

Many users encounter the issue of the Windows Security Center service failing to start. This can be concerning, as Security Center is a key feature that helps protect your device from viruses and other threats. In this article, we’ll explore the main causes of this issue and offer effective ways to resolve it.

Why Won’t the Security Center Service Start?

There are several possible reasons for the Security Center service failing to start:

  • Corrupted Windows system files
  • Conflicts with antivirus software
  • Permission issues with the service
  • Viruses and malware
  • Registry errors

Let’s go over how to solve this problem step by step.

Step 1: Check the Status of the Security Center Service

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  2. Go to the Services tab and find Security Center.
  3. Right-click on it and select Start. If this doesn’t work, proceed to the next steps.

Step 2: Restart the Service via Services Console

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type services.msc and click OK to open the Services Console.
  3. Find Security Center, right-click it, and select Properties.
  4. Ensure the startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start).
  5. Click Start, then Apply to save the changes.

Step 3: Run a System File Check

Sometimes, the issue is caused by corrupted system files. You can use the SFC command to check for and repair these files:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator by pressing Win + X and selecting Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  3. Wait for the scan to complete. If any issues are found, the system will attempt to fix them automatically.

Step 4: Run a Full Virus Scan

Malware can interfere with Windows services, including Security Center. Run a full scan with your antivirus software. If you don’t have a third-party antivirus, you can use the built-in Windows Defender:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security.
  2. Select Windows Defender and run a full scan.

Step 5: Repair System Files with DISM

The DISM command can help restore corrupted Windows image files. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
  3. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your computer.

Step 6: Modify the Registry Settings

If the above steps don’t work, you might need to adjust your registry settings. Warning! Editing the registry can be risky; consider creating a system backup first:

  1. Press Win + R and type regedit, then click OK.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurityHealthService.
  3. Find the Start entry and change its value to 2 (Automatic).
  4. Close the registry editor and restart your computer.