Fix: Diagnostics Policy Service not Running on Windows 10/11

A faulty network driver can be the reason for this error

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Key notes

  • The Diagnostics Policy Service is not running error can be caused by corrupt system files.
  • Another known cause of this problem is a faulty or outdated network driver.
  • You can fix this issue quickly by granting your network an administrator privilege.
diagnostics policy service is not running

The Diagnostics Policy Service is not running error is one that occurs for some users when trying to connect to the internet.

When they try to connect, a Connect to a Network window opens, stating computer has limited network connectivity. The Windows Network Diagnostic troubleshooter states Diagnostics Policy Service is not running.

Consequently, the troubleshooter does little to resolve the issue, and the users’ connections remain down. These are a few fixes for the Diagnostics Policy Service error in Windows 10.

How to fix Diagnostics Policy Service issues

1. Check the Diagnostics Policy Service is Running

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and click the OK button.
    services diagnostics policy service is not running
  2. Double-click Diagnostic Policy Service to open its properties.
    option
  3. Now, set its Startup type to Automatic and click the Start button.
    automatic
  4. Click the Apply button followed by OK to save the changes.
    apply diagnostics policy service is not running
  5. Finally, right-click your network’s system tray icon and select Troubleshoot problems to launch Windows Network Diagnostics.

The Windows Network Diagnostic troubleshooter does say that the Diagnostic Policy Service isn’t running. As such, you might need to switch that service on if it’s off.

2. Give the Network Services Admin Privileges

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd admin
  2. Type the command below and hit Enter to run it: net localgroup Administrators /add networkservicenetwork
  3. Now, type the command below and press Enter: net localgroup Administrators /add localservicelocal diagnostics policy service is not running
  4. Finally, restart your PC.

Some users have fixed the Diagnostics Policy Service is not running error by granting admin privileges to the local and network services. You should be able to do this by following the steps above.

3. Reinstall Network Adapter Card Driver

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
    devmgmt
  2. Double-click Network adapters to expand it and right-click your device.
  3. Now, select the Uninstall device option.
    uninstall device
  4. Click the Uninstall button to confirm the action.
    uninstall button
  5. Next, click the Scan for hardware changes icon at the top to reinstall the driver.
    scan for
  6. Finally, restart your PC.

The Diagnostics Policy service is not running error might also be due to a corrupted network adapter driver. Thus, reinstalling the network adapter driver might resolve the issue. You can reinstall the network adapter by following the steps above.

If your network adapter driver needs updating, download the latest driver from the network adapter manufacturer’s website. Open the linked page for further guidelines for updating drivers.

4. Roll Windows Back to a Restore Point

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type rstrui, and click the OK button.
    rstrui diagnostics policy service is not running
  2. Click the Next button to open a list of system restore points.
    next
  3. Now, select a restore point and click the Next button.
    restore point
  4. Press the Scan for affected programs button to check what software gets deleted for a restore point.
  5. Finally, click the Finish button to confirm the action.
    finish diagnostics policy service is not running

Some users have stated that the System Restore utility has fixed the Diagnostics Policy Service is not running error for them. So reverting Windows to a time when you could connect to the network might fix the issue.

5. Run a System File Checker Scan

  1. Launch Command Prompt as admin.
    cmd admin
  2. First, run the Deployment Image Servicing tool by typing the command below and hitting Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthdism restore
  3. Now, wait for the command to finish running.
  4. Next, type the command below and hit Enter: sfc /scannowsfc diagnostics policy service is not running
  5. Finally, wait for the scan to complete and restart your PC.

Finally, you might need to fix a few system files to resolve the Diagnostics Policy Service is not running error. You can do that with the System File Checker utility in Windows that repairs corrupted system files.

One, or more, of those resolutions, will probably fix the Diagnostics Policy Service error and restore your net connection.

Similarly, if you are dealing with a lost internet connection error on Windows 10, check our detailed guide to fix it.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.

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