Windows Services is an app that lists all the services running on your system. It is a very important utility as it ensures that your system keeps all services running smoothly.
Whenever you feel that certain services are not working on your Windows device, you can open the Service Manager app and check all running services.
You can even disable or stop certain services using the Windows Services application. But the problem is that like any other Windows component, the Windows Services app can sometimes run into issues.
When the Windows Services app encounters issues, it may fail to open or you may not be able to change the Windows Services. So if you unable to access Services on Windows 11continue reading the guide.
The best ways to fix Services.msc not opening in Windows
Below we have shared some troubleshooting tips that will help you resolve the issue Services.msc does not open on Windows 11 problem. Let’s start.
1. Restart your Windows 11 PC
Before you try anything else, restart your Windows 11 computer once. Restarting helps by releasing apps and processes from memory.
Rebooting is a good idea if you haven’t done it in a while. After rebooting, click Windows Search, type Services and select the Windows Services app.
2. Run Windows Services as administrator
Many Windows 11 users have claimed that they cannot fix the Services app problem by running it as administrator. That’s why you can do it.
Follow some of the simple steps we shared below to run Windows Services as an administrator.
1. First click on Windows Search and type ‘Services‘.
2. Right-click on Services and select ‘Run as administrator‘.
That is it! This time the Windows Services app opens and works fine.
3. Try running Windows Services from the command prompt
As the Services.msc app not opening straight away; you can try to open it from command prompt. Here’s how to run Windows Services from the command prompt.
1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type Command Prompt. Right-click on the command prompt and select ‘Run as administrator‘.
2. At the command prompt, type ‘services.msc‘ command and press the Enter knob.
That is it! This is how to fix services not opening on Windows 11 computers.
4. Select Microsoft Management Console as the default app for .msc files
Microsoft Management Console is a part of Windows that provides an interface for users to configure the system. It is responsible for listing all Windows services running on your device.
If the Microsoft Management Console is not set as the default for .msc files, the Services.msc file cannot be opened. Here’s how to fix it.
1. First open the Institutions app on your Windows 11 device.
2. Then select ‘Settings’Applications‘. Select on the right ‘Default apps‘.
3. Then in the default apps, search for .msc and open the Microsoft Management Console.
4. Click the ‘Set defaultoption in the Set Default app for .msc files.
That is it! For example, you can set Microsoft Management Console as the default app for .msc files to prevent Windows Services from opening.
5. Run Windows built-in troubleshooters
Windows services not opening on Windows 11 may indicate system maintenance issues. You can easily fix this with the system maintenance troubleshooter. Here’s how to do it.
1. First click on Find Windows 11 and type System Maintenance.
2. Select ‘Perform the recommended maintenance task automatically‘.
3. Then tick the ‘Apply repairs automatically‘ choice.
4. When you are done, click the Next one knob.
That is it! This will run the System Maintenance troubleshooter on your Windows 11 computer.
6. Run the SFC scan
System file corruption is another prominent reason why Services are not opening on Windows 11. You can easily repair the corrupted system files by running the System File Checker tool. Here are the steps to follow.
1. First click on Windows Search and type ‘Command Prompt‘. Then right-click on Command Prompt and select ‘Run as administrator’.
2. When Command Prompt opens, type the given command and press Enter.
sfc /scannow
3. Now you have to wait patiently for the scan to complete. If SFC returns an error, run the DISM tool by running these commands one by one.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
That is it! Restart your Windows 11 computer after completing the steps above. This should fix the Services app not opening on Windows 11.
7. Run a full antivirus scan
Malware may prevent you from accessing the Services to avoid detection. So if the Windows Services app still won’t open, running a full antivirus scan with Windows Security is a good choice.
1. Click on Search Windows 11 and type in Windows security. Then open the Windows Security app from the list.
2. When the Windows Security app opens, click the Protection against viruses and threats tab.
3. Click the on the right side Scan options.
4. Select ‘Full scan‘ and click the ‘Scan now‘ knob.
That is it! After running a full scan, restart your PC and re-open the Windows Services app.
8. Reset Windows 11
If nothing helps, resetting Windows 11 is the only option left. Resetting Windows 11 fixes most Windows 11 issues including system apps like Services.msc does not open.
However, the reset deletes all user-created settings and important registry and local group policy settings. So back up all your important files before resetting your computer.
There are multiple ways to reset Windows 11 computers, but the easiest is through Settings. Here is a detailed guide on how to reset Windows 11 PC using Settings.
So, these are some of the best ways to fix Services.msc not opening in Windows 11. If you need more help in fixing Services.msc not opening in Windows, let us know in the comments. And if the article helped you, share it with your friends.
