Once you, as a standard user, try to login into Windows, an error message that Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client service might be shown to you.  Do you know how to fix it? Follow the tutorial from  MiniTool Partition Wizard. It introduces some methods for you.

Group Policy Client service, also called GPSVC for short, is a Windows tool that can help to control the policies related to computer security and access restrictions.

If your Windows fails to connect to the Group Policy Client service, you cannot log in with a standard user account. While using an administrator account, you can log in to Windows successfully, but the same message will be shown in the notification bar.

Therefore, when you receive the message that Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client service, you have to find ways to fix the issue. Below are some efficient methods for you. Please note all the methods require you to log in to your computer, so you must log in with the administrative account.

Method 1: Set Group Policy Client Service to Automatic

When the GPSVC startup type is changed improperly, it can cause the issue that Windows couldn’t connect to the GPSVC service. As for this, you need to set GPSVC to automatic.

Step 1: Press Windows + R keys to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type services.msc in the blank and click OK to enter the Services panel.

Step 3: Scroll down to find Group Policy Client and then double-right it to reach its properties window.

Note: You can also open the Group Policy Client Properties window by right-clicking it and selecting Properties.

Step 4: Choose Automatic from the Startup types, and click Start to start the service again if the service was stopped.

Step 5: Remember to click Apply and then OK to save the change.

After the operation, you should restart your computer and the Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client issue will be resolved.

Method 2: Run SFC and DISM Scans

Something wrong with the system files on Windows may cause the issue that Windows could not connect to the Group Policy Client, too. To fix it, you can run both SFC and DISM scans to find and repair the corrupted files.

Step 1: Search for Command Prompt in the search bar and then right-click the Command Prompt from Best match to select Run as administrator.

Run Command Prompt as administrator

Step 2: Type the following commands one by one, and press Enter after each to execute them.

  • sfc /scannow
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 3: Reboot your computer after these commands are completed.

The issue that Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client has been fixed.

Method 3: Fix the Registry Settings

Using Registry Editor may fix the error that Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client as well.

Note: In case any improper operation when fixing the registry settings affects your computer, you’d better create a System Restore point first.

Step 1: Press Windows + R keys to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type regedit and then click OK or press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Type regedit

Step 3: Unfold the following contents to find gpsvc:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesgpsvc

Find gpsvc

Step 4: Double-click ImagePath in the right pane to check its value data. The data is in charge GPSVC service.

Note: In the tutorial, the value data is svchost.exe -k netsvcs. While you may see svchost.exe -k GPSvcGroup on your computer. If so, you need to modify GPSvcGroup rather than netsvcs after navigating to the Svchost path in the next step.

Check value data

Step 5: Then navigate to the path: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWOW6432NodeMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSvchost. Double-click the netsvcs in the right pane to check the Value data.

Check the Value data

Step 6: Make sure gpsvc is included in the Value data. If it misses, you need to add it carefully. Finally, click OK.

Make sure gpsvc is not missing

Step 7: Expand the Svchost folder at the left pane, and right-click Netsvcs below it. Then choose New to create DWORD (32-bit) Value named AuthenticationCapabilities. Set its value data as 12320 in decimal base. Next, create another DWORD (32-bit) Value named CoInitializeSecurityParam with 1 as its value data.

Create two DWORD (32-bit) Values

When all the steps above are completed, reboot your computer and the issue that Windows couldn’t connect to the Group Policy Client is repaired.

There are three methods provided for you to fix the issue that Windows could not connect to the Group Policy Client. Try them when you meet the issue. Any comment can be left in our comment part if you still have questions about the issue.

  • linkedin
  • reddit

About The Author

Yamila
Yamila

Position: Columnist

Yamila is a fan of computer science. She can solve many common issues for computer users by writing articles with simple and clear words. The very aspect that she is good at is partition management including create partition, format partition, copy disk and so on. When she is free, she enjoys reading, doing some excerpts, listening to music and playing games.