The following is the solution to the problem of "Windows cannot start WLAN AutoConfig service": 1. Check whether the service is set to automatic: Open the service manager to ensure that the startup type of WLAN AutoConfig is automatic, and start the service manually; 2. Run the network troubleshooting tool: Run Internet connection troubleshooting through system settings to fix common problems; 3. Reinstall or repair the wireless driver: Uninstall the wireless network card driver in the Device Manager and restart the computer to automatically reinstall the system, or manually update the driver; 4. Reset TCP/IP and Winsock: Run the command prompt as an administrator and execute the netsh int ip reset and netsh winsock reset commands in turn and restart the computer; 5. Enable the correct startup type through the registry: only for advanced users, change the WlanSvc start value to 2 in the registry editor and restart the computer. Usually, you can try it one after another from the first step.

If you're seeing the error "Windows cannot start the WLAN AutoConfig service," it usually means your Wi-Fi isn't working properly. The WLAN AutoConfig service is responsible for managing wireless network connections, so when it's not running, you won't be able to connect to any Wi-Fi networks. Let's go over a few practical ways to get this fixed.

Check if the Service Is Set to Automatic

The first thing to check is whether the WLAN AutoConfig service is enabled and set to run automatically.

• Press Win R , type services.msc , and hit Enter.
• Scroll down until you find WLAN AutoConfig , then double-click it.
• Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic .
• If the service isn't running, click the Start button under Service status.

Sometimes the service might be disabled or stopped due to system changes or updates — turning it back on can resolve the issue quickly.

Run the Network Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix common network problems.

• Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot (or search "Troubleshoot settings" in the Start menu).
• Click Other troubleshooters .
• Find Internet Connections , and click Run .

This tool often catches small issues like misconfigured services or connectivity glitches. It doesn't always solve everything, but it's a fast way to rule out simple problems.

Reinstall or Repair Wireless Drivers

Corrupted or outdated drivers are a common cause of this error. Updating or reinstalling your wireless adapter driver may help.

Here's how:

• Press Win X and select Device Manager .
• Expand Network adapters .
• Right-click your wireless adapter (eg, Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm) and choose Uninstall device .
• Restart your computer — Windows will try to reinstall the driver automatically.

Alternatively, you can manually update the driver by selecting Update driver instead of uninstalling.

If you're not sure which adapter you have, you can check your laptop manual or look up your model online.

Reset TCP/IP and Winsock

Sometimes network stack corruption can interfere with the WLAN service. You can reset it using Command Prompt.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:

 netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

After running both commands, restart your PC. This resets some core network components and often helps restore normal functionality.

Enable the Correct Startup Type via Registry (Advanced)

In rare cases, the startup type for WLAN AutoConfig might be locked by a policy or registry setting.

?? Warning: Editing the registry can be risky — only do this if you're comfortable, and back up the registry before making changes.

• Press Win R , type regedit , and hit Enter.
• Navigate to:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WlanSvc
• On the right side, double-click Start .
• Change the value to 2 (which means automatic).
• Close the editor and restart your PC.

This step is more technical but useful if other methods don't work.

Fixing the "Windows cannot start the WLAN AutoConfig service" issue usually comes down to checking the service settings, updating drivers, or resetting parts of the network configuration. Some steps are simpler than others, so start from the top and work your way down. Most of the time, one of the first few fixes does the trick.

Basically that's it.

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