How to Easily Fix Services.msc Access Denied Error

Step 1: Verify Your User Account Permissions

Your user account must have sufficient permissions to access and manage system services. Here’s how to check and adjust your permissions:

1. Press Windows Icon + R, type compmgmt.msc, and hit Enter to open Computer Management.
2. Select Local Users and Groups, then double-click Users.
3. Double-click on Administrator to view account details.
4. In the Member Of tab, confirm that your account is listed under the Administrators group; if not, click Add.
5. Type Administrators as the object name, click Check Names, and then select OK.
6. Log out and then back into your account to apply the changes, after which you can attempt to open services.msc again.

Pro Tip: Always ensure you’re logged in with an account that has administrative rights to perform system modifications.

Step 2: Adjust User Account Control Settings

User Account Control (UAC) settings may restrict access to services.msc. Here’s how to modify UAC settings:

1. Click the Windows Icon and open the Control Panel.
2. Select System and Security.
3. Click on Security and Maintenance.
4. Choose Change User Account Control settings.
5. In the UAC settings window, move the slider to the second position from the top labeled Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer (default).
6. Click OK and confirm any prompts. Restart your computer and then try accessing services.msc again.

Pro Tip: Adjusting UAC settings might expose your system to security risks; proceed with caution.

Step 3: Take Full Ownership of Registry Keys

If the access issue relates to registry keys, you’ll need to take ownership to modify them:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Approve any prompts that ask for permission.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services.
3. Right-click on the specific service and choose Permissions.
4. Click Advanced to access advanced security settings.
5. Change the owner to your user account. Click Change, input your username, and confirm by clicking Check Names.
6. Once your username is updated, check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and click Apply.
7. Return to the Permissions window, select your user account, and grant it Full Control ; click OK to save changes.

Step 4: Modify Service Settings Using the Registry Editor

You can alter the service’s startup settings directly via the Registry Editor:

1. Open the Registry Editor again with Windows Icon + R and typing regedit.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\.
3. Select the service you want to modify.
4. Double-click on Start and set the value data to 2 to enable automatic start. Confirm by clicking OK.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer to implement the changes.

Step 5: Perform a Repair Install of Windows

A repair install can address various system issues, potentially resolving your access denied error:

1. Download the latest Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft.
2. Right-click the ISO file and choose Mount.
3. Open the mounted drive and run setup.exe.
4. Follow the prompts, ensuring to choose the option to keep personal files and apps.
5. Complete the installation process and check if the access issue persists.

Step 6: Uninstall Third-Party Security Software

Third-party antivirus software can often interfere with Windows services. Here’s how to uninstall these to check if they are causing the access issues:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows Icon + I.
2. Select Apps.
3. Find your third-party antivirus or security software in the list and click Uninstall.
4. Follow the prompts to finish the uninstallation.
5. Restart your computer and try accessing services.msc once more.

Pro Tip: If the issue resolves after uninstalling security software, consider contacting the software provider for a compatible version.

What does the “Access Denied” error mean for Services.msc?

Can third-party antivirus software cause access issues?