SOLVED Can't connect to Group Policy Client service

[Jennifer Crippen]

Thanks @windowsmith for your nicely detailed explaination of the problem and your resolution. I experienced the Chrome, Windows Update, Group Policy Client can't connect error and attempted other suggested fixed that did not solve the probem. The part that seemed to work for me was disabling the "turn on fast startup".

I would mention that for me after completing this I executed a Shutdown and that process took about 1.5 hours and it seems like it actually did a restart, even though I selected Shutdown. On my first login there was an almost immediate shutdown on it's own. Then on my second login, which maybe took a little longer, everything looked good: no error message, I was able to see the Windows update in settings, Chrome opened immediately and I further verified that Group Policy Client was in fact "Running" - YEAH!

 

[Baracus800]

Again, thanks @windowsmith I had this problem on a brand new HP Pavillion. Another symptom I experienced was that I was unable to even create a New Folder within my documents.

I used this fix:
Right click on the start menu button
-Click on command promt (admin)
- type "netsh" and press enter
- type "winsock reset" and press enter
- restart your computer

One thing to note though for anyone needing to do this - it took my 3 week old laptop 2 and 3/4 hours to restart! I was convinced it wasn't working, but in the end I'm glad I stuck with the process.

Thanks again - I wouldn't have a clue what to do without the help of this forum.

 

[Michaeltx]

Right click the start button and choose system
From the left column choose System Protection.
Click the System Restore button
Click the Next button
You may need to check the box at the bottom that says, "Show more restore points"
Pick a date / point in time before the problem occurred and see if that helps.

I tried right clicking start then selecting system. Nothing happens. what's next ?

 

[Michaeltx]

Right click the start button and choose system
From the left column choose System Protection.
Click the System Restore button
Click the Next button
You may need to check the box at the bottom that says, "Show more restore points"
Pick a date / point in time before the problem occurred and see if that helps.

>>> disregard last message <<<<

 

[Trouble]

I tried right clicking start then selecting system. Nothing happens. what's next ?

Can you launch the "Run" dialog box, either by right clicking the Start Button and choosing "Run" from the context menu or by
Holding the Windows Logo key and striking the "r" key on your keyboard?
IF so in the run dialog box type
sysdm.cpl
hit enter or click OK

 

[Michaeltx]

I tried you suggestion of holding the Window key + r and did get the dialog box and typed sysdm.cpl and clicked ok and it rolled ove to nothing. I saw the blue circle then nothing. I aslo tried to right click on the pc short cut and then from the windows icon in the lower left hand but nothing happened. While signed in as administrator, I get a time out error. I have previously gotten into services/applications but not today. O great noob whisperer what now ?

 

[Michaeltx]

Right click the start button and choose system
From the left column choose System Protection.
Click the System Restore button
Click the Next button
You may need to check the box at the bottom that says, "Show more restore points"
Pick a date / point in time before the problem occurred and see if that helps.

I tried your suggestion of System Restore and on 5/26/16 was available. Shouldn't there be a date before this? Ok what's next?

 

[farm]

Hi all,
i just got this error myself and for my system the fix was:
ctrl+alt+del - startup tab - enable microsoft onedrive - restart computer
(a few weeks ago i turned microsoft onedrive service off / disabled from auto startup in an attempt to boot faster.)

hope that helps somebody

 

[Stumplstltskn]

Here is the result of my research into this problem as I solved it by reading people's comments on this and other forums.

I updated all 3 of our family laptops to windows 10 and within a few weeks they had all developed this problem. I was therefore in a position to compare what software was on each laptop and try various things.

Symptoms: The Group policy client message was not the only symptom. After this message showed, it was impossible to access the "Update and security" part of the "settings" menu. Also, the policy client message only occurred on startup following a shutdown which was halted by a message saying that a "taskhost" windows was still running an "automatic app update". This was the same on all 3 laptops.

So this error seems linked to the update process not the content of the update itself. The first thing you need to do is get your pc temporarily working properly again. I tried various things but a you-tube video led be to this process which worked every time:
- open a command prompt window as an administrator (right click on the app in the start menu)
- type "netsh" and press enter
- type "winsock reset" and press enter
- restart your computer

At least for me this got rid of the message and made the update menu start working again. I've no idea what this resets but it works and appears to do no harm. HOWEVER, this is only a temporary fix and your issue will come back in a few days!

I read somewhere else that this problem is caused by apps that are installed with "admin" rights trying to update themselves. Chrome is mentioned in particular. I uninstalled chrome and tried to stop other apps from auto-updating. I also suspected MS Office 2007 as this was one of the few apps on all 3 laptops. So I stopped "update" from updating "other window products" under advanced options. I noticed under update history that an update for MS Office 2007 kept failing, so I manually installed that update.

Some of this seemed to make the problem take longer to come back, but it always did at different times on all 3 laptops. I suspect that I didn't manage to stop all apps doing this.

Then a post about the "taskhost" process stopping shutdown led my to the solution. Windows 10 has a special "fast startup option". Basically this seems to make your PC take longer to shutdown but makes the startup a bit quicker. Turn this off! That's it! You find it by:
- Start
- Settings
- System
- Power and sleep
- additional power settings
- click on "choose what the power buttons do"
- scroll down to Shutdown settings
- uncheck the box next to "turn on fast startup"
- click save changes

This worked for all 3 PCs.

My view is that this problem happens when certain apps are trying to update themselves when you turn off your pc. Something conflicts with how the windows "fast startup" process shuts down your pc. This corrupts something about the user accounts and windows update program. But this only happens for certain hardware/software combinations so only a few people get this error.

Hope this helps other frustrated users out there!

Oh man! Thank you so very much! I'm financially strapped at the moment and was worried that the new laptop I got for work was defective which, exchanges and all that are a pain to deal with. I tried this fix and so far so good!

 

[windowsmith]

This is quite weird isn't it? I had this problem after the last windows update yesterday. Have not had the problem before. I set up a pin windows login some time ago, and a microsoft account login on the same computer. The message about Can't connect to Group Policy Client service appeared when logging in with my pin number this morning. So, I changed to log-in using microsoft account and it worked!

Next, after reading windowsmith's findings, I just unchecked the "turn on fast startup", shut down, then started computer again, and this time logged-in with my pin number (as I had always wanted to do) and it worked!

I have 2 different desktop computers, a home-made one and a Dell Inspiron, both with Windows 10 home, it was the Dell that had the problem, yet the same automatic windows updates occurred yesterday on both computers

So what do you make of that guys?

Sorry for the very late reply, I have been using my computer rather than trying to fix it!!
I would say this adds weight to my theory that this problem only happens for certain software / hardware combinations, but I think only the only way to know why it happen would be for someone to take apart the fast startup code. Obviously Microsoft should do this but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Audrey Lawrence]

I just want to thank Trouble for the solution to Failed To Connect To a Windows service, your suggestion fixed the problem.

 

[JamieL]

I am having this same problem. I barely bought the computer three weeks ago. I updated it and this very same message started appearing after I updated it two days ago. I went to system properties and tried clicking on system restore but it doesn't allow me to do it. It is not highlighted as it is just grey. It doesn't give me the option to do it. I feel like returning it back to the store but if anyone could help me out here I'd appreciate it so much. Thank you very much.

Rez777 I don't know if you ever figured this out? On 1 or 2 of my computers it wasn't set up to restore. Above the drives there were 2 options; I selected the one that allowed backups (sorry - don't remember exactly what it said). Then I configured to allow about 3 GB of space for backups, and manually created a restore point (although I haven't yet fixed these problems - just testing out that part).

I'm still waiting for effected computer #1 of 2 to get off the dang black screen (AGAIN) so I can try to fix it. I don't want to mess with the 2nd one until I fix the backup laptop...

 

[RP2121]

Help! I'm having the same issue (error message "Can't connect to Group Policy Client") when I log in as a user. I logged in as an Administrator and have tried several solutions but nothing is working.

I've tried:
1.
- Start
- Settings
- System
- Power and sleep
- additional power settings
- click on "choose what the power buttons do"
- scroll down to Shutdown settings
- uncheck the box next to "turn on fast startup"
- click save changes

No luck. When I get to Shutdown Settings the "Turn on fast startup" is greyed out so I cannot click on it.

2.
-Right click the start button and choose system
-From the left column choose System Protection.
-Click the System Restore button

When I click on System Restore nothing happens and it times out.

3. I've also tried typing in "regedit" in the Windows search box but it timed out as well.

This is happening on our home-based business desktop and it's completely shut down our business since I cannot log on. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[JamieL]

With the "Turn on fast startup": when you get to the last step, if the text is greyed-out there should be a blue & yellow shield toward the top of the page. There should be text saying "Change settings that are currently unavailable". Click that & it should "un-grey" the options. Sorry, can't help with the regedit.

 

[RP2121]

Thanks JamieL...I tried that but when I click on "Change settings that are currently unavailable" the system gives me an error and times out. I think I'll have to try to take it to a computer repair place.

 

[Alexandre Parks]

Here is the result of my research into this problem as I solved it by reading people's comments on this and other forums.

I updated all 3 of our family laptops to windows 10 and within a few weeks they had all developed this problem. I was therefore in a position to compare what software was on each laptop and try various things.

Symptoms: The Group policy client message was not the only symptom. After this message showed, it was impossible to access the "Update and security" part of the "settings" menu. Also, the policy client message only occurred on startup following a shutdown which was halted by a message saying that a "taskhost" windows was still running an "automatic app update". This was the same on all 3 laptops.

So this error seems linked to the update process not the content of the update itself. The first thing you need to do is get your pc temporarily working properly again. I tried various things but a you-tube video led be to this process which worked every time:
- open a command prompt window as an administrator (right click on the app in the start menu)
- type "netsh" and press enter
- type "winsock reset" and press enter
- restart your computer

At least for me this got rid of the message and made the update menu start working again. I've no idea what this resets but it works and appears to do no harm. HOWEVER, this is only a temporary fix and your issue will come back in a few days!

I read somewhere else that this problem is caused by apps that are installed with "admin" rights trying to update themselves. Chrome is mentioned in particular. I uninstalled chrome and tried to stop other apps from auto-updating. I also suspected MS Office 2007 as this was one of the few apps on all 3 laptops. So I stopped "update" from updating "other window products" under advanced options. I noticed under update history that an update for MS Office 2007 kept failing, so I manually installed that update.

Some of this seemed to make the problem take longer to come back, but it always did at different times on all 3 laptops. I suspect that I didn't manage to stop all apps doing this.

Then a post about the "taskhost" process stopping shutdown led my to the solution. Windows 10 has a special "fast startup option". Basically this seems to make your PC take longer to shutdown but makes the startup a bit quicker. Turn this off! That's it! You find it by:
- Start
- Settings
- System
- Power and sleep
- additional power settings
- click on "choose what the power buttons do"
- scroll down to Shutdown settings
- uncheck the box next to "turn on fast startup"
- click save changes

This worked for all 3 PCs.

My view is that this problem happens when certain apps are trying to update themselves when you turn off your pc. Something conflicts with how the windows "fast startup" process shuts down your pc. This corrupts something about the user accounts and windows update program. But this only happens for certain hardware/software combinations so only a few people get this error.

Hope this helps other frustrated users out there!

I created an account simply to say that THIS method worked for me!!
It saved me from messing around in my registry and from reformatting my operating system.

Thank you SO much !

 

[Trouble]

Welcome to the forum Alexandre and thanks for taking the time to join.
That post seems to have helped a lot of people. Glad it worked for you as well.

 

[AgedCoder]

Thanks JamieL...I tried that but when I click on "Change settings that are currently unavailable" the system gives me an error and times out. I think I'll have to try to take it to a computer repair place.

Hi RP2121 , if the " Change settings that are currently unavailable " option is greyed out try the following -
Select Restart from the Start menu , PC will go through restart procedure and seem to take forever on the light blue screen with a rotating cursor. After 2 or 3 minutes when no HDD activity is evident shutdown the PC with the power button ( sustained press for about 5 second usually does it )
Start the PC in the normal fashion and when back at the User interface you should be able navigate to the " Change settings that are currently unavailable " option which should now be available.
This worked for me on 2 seperate PC's , I think because when you start the PC after what is essentially an incomplete shutdown procedure it takes longer to start back up before loading the user interface , giving the GPC service time to load properly (?)
Works for me anyway , hope it helps

 

[ilovebatz]

Hi RP2121 , if the " Change settings that are currently unavailable " option is greyed out try the following -
Select Restart from the Start menu , PC will go through restart procedure and seem to take forever on the light blue screen with a rotating cursor. After 2 or 3 minutes when no HDD activity is evident shutdown the PC with the power button ( sustained press for about 5 second usually does it )
Start the PC in the normal fashion and when back at the User interface you should be able navigate to the " Change settings that are currently unavailable " option which should now be available.
This worked for me on 2 seperate PC's , I think because when you start the PC after what is essentially an incomplete shutdown procedure it takes longer to start back up before loading the user interface , giving the GPC service time to load properly (?)
Works for me anyway , hope it helps

I created an account simply to say that THIS method worked for me!!
It saved me from messing around in my registry and from reformatting my operating system.

Thank you SO much !

Here is the result of my research into this problem as I solved it by reading people's comments on this and other forums.

I updated all 3 of our family laptops to windows 10 and within a few weeks they had all developed this problem. I was therefore in a position to compare what software was on each laptop and try various things.

Symptoms: The Group policy client message was not the only symptom. After this message showed, it was impossible to access the "Update and security" part of the "settings" menu. Also, the policy client message only occurred on startup following a shutdown which was halted by a message saying that a "taskhost" windows was still running an "automatic app update". This was the same on all 3 laptops.

So this error seems linked to the update process not the content of the update itself. The first thing you need to do is get your pc temporarily working properly again. I tried various things but a you-tube video led be to this process which worked every time:
- open a command prompt window as an administrator (right click on the app in the start menu)
- type "netsh" and press enter
- type "winsock reset" and press enter
- restart your computer

At least for me this got rid of the message and made the update menu start working again. I've no idea what this resets but it works and appears to do no harm. HOWEVER, this is only a temporary fix and your issue will come back in a few days!

I read somewhere else that this problem is caused by apps that are installed with "admin" rights trying to update themselves. Chrome is mentioned in particular. I uninstalled chrome and tried to stop other apps from auto-updating. I also suspected MS Office 2007 as this was one of the few apps on all 3 laptops. So I stopped "update" from updating "other window products" under advanced options. I noticed under update history that an update for MS Office 2007 kept failing, so I manually installed that update.

Some of this seemed to make the problem take longer to come back, but it always did at different times on all 3 laptops. I suspect that I didn't manage to stop all apps doing this.

Then a post about the "taskhost" process stopping shutdown led my to the solution. Windows 10 has a special "fast startup option". Basically this seems to make your PC take longer to shutdown but makes the startup a bit quicker. Turn this off! That's it! You find it by:
- Start
- Settings
- System
- Power and sleep
- additional power settings
- click on "choose what the power buttons do"
- scroll down to Shutdown settings
- uncheck the box next to "turn on fast startup"
- click save changes

This worked for all 3 PCs.

My view is that this problem happens when certain apps are trying to update themselves when you turn off your pc. Something conflicts with how the windows "fast startup" process shuts down your pc. This corrupts something about the user accounts and windows update program. But this only happens for certain hardware/software combinations so only a few people get this error.

Hope this helps other frustrated users out there!

I too created an account just to say Thank you. This worked for me. The first solution I ran across said that I had to add "gpsvc" to a key in regedit. After adding it, I realized that Windows 10 home doesn't have the group policy editor. I came across this solution and it worked! Thanks again.

 

[Tiernn]

Here is the result of my research into this problem as I solved it by reading people's comments on this and other forums.

I updated all 3 of our family laptops to windows 10 and within a few weeks they had all developed this problem. I was therefore in a position to compare what software was on each laptop and try various things.

Symptoms: The Group policy client message was not the only symptom. After this message showed, it was impossible to access the "Update and security" part of the "settings" menu. Also, the policy client message only occurred on startup following a shutdown which was halted by a message saying that a "taskhost" windows was still running an "automatic app update". This was the same on all 3 laptops.

So this error seems linked to the update process not the content of the update itself. The first thing you need to do is get your pc temporarily working properly again. I tried various things but a you-tube video led be to this process which worked every time:
- open a command prompt window as an administrator (right click on the app in the start menu)
- type "netsh" and press enter
- type "winsock reset" and press enter
- restart your computer

At least for me this got rid of the message and made the update menu start working again. I've no idea what this resets but it works and appears to do no harm. HOWEVER, this is only a temporary fix and your issue will come back in a few days!

I read somewhere else that this problem is caused by apps that are installed with "admin" rights trying to update themselves. Chrome is mentioned in particular. I uninstalled chrome and tried to stop other apps from auto-updating. I also suspected MS Office 2007 as this was one of the few apps on all 3 laptops. So I stopped "update" from updating "other window products" under advanced options. I noticed under update history that an update for MS Office 2007 kept failing, so I manually installed that update.

Some of this seemed to make the problem take longer to come back, but it always did at different times on all 3 laptops. I suspect that I didn't manage to stop all apps doing this.

Then a post about the "taskhost" process stopping shutdown led my to the solution. Windows 10 has a special "fast startup option". Basically this seems to make your PC take longer to shutdown but makes the startup a bit quicker. Turn this off! That's it! You find it by:
- Start
- Settings
- System
- Power and sleep
- additional power settings
- click on "choose what the power buttons do"
- scroll down to Shutdown settings
- uncheck the box next to "turn on fast startup"
- click save changes

This worked for all 3 PCs.

My view is that this problem happens when certain apps are trying to update themselves when you turn off your pc. Something conflicts with how the windows "fast startup" process shuts down your pc. This corrupts something about the user accounts and windows update program. But this only happens for certain hardware/software combinations so only a few people get this error.

Hope this helps other frustrated users out there!

I just signed up to say thanks. This fixed the problem for me. I was using Chrome when I first encountered a performance issue, maybe this has something to do with it.

I only needed to disable the fast startup and so far my laptop is working fine.

Thanks!!