Windows Security Smart Card Error: 7 Ways to Fix it

If Windows Security throws a Smart Card error or pop-up on your screen, it’s likely due to a misconfiguration. Surprisingly, the error even appears for users who have never had a smart card!

The problem arises due to corrupt SSL certificates or saved web credentials, issues with the smart card driver, or a buggy Windows update.

As for users who do use a smart card to access important apps and websites, the Windows Security error message reads, The smart card cannot perform the requested operation or the operation requires a different smart card. In this case, try unplugging the smart card and reconnecting it to a different port, and if that doesn’t work, move on to the solutions listed next!

How can I fix the Windows Security smart card error?

Tip

If you are using a smart card and intend to continue with it, the first three solutions will help. For others who are not using one and still get the Windows Security Smart Card pop-up, solutions 4-7 will do the trick!

1. Clear the SSL certificates

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type inetcpl.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Go to the Content tab, and click on Clear SSL state.
3. Now, click on Certificates.
4. Select each certificate listed here, click on Remove, and confirm the change.
5. Head back to Internet Properties and click Apply and OK to save the changes.
6. Restart the computer and check for improvements.

In 9 out of 10 cases, clearing the SSL state and deleting saved certificates fixed Windows Security’s Smart Card error and allowed you to use the smart card to access the website/webmail it was intended for without throwing any further pop-ups.

2. Reinstall the smart card drivers

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager from the list.
2. Expand the Smart Card entry, right-click on the affected smart card, and select Uninstall device.
3. Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, if available, and then click Uninstall.
4. Restart the computer, let Windows automatically install a fresh copy of the smart card driver, and check for improvements.

If the smart card has a warning sign next to its icon in the Device Manager, it indicates driver corruption. Here, you will need to reinstall the device driver for Windows Security to stop throwing error messages like A communication error occurred with the smart card.

3. Update the smart card driver

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Device Manager in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Expand the Smart Card entry, right-click on the one that appears in the Windows Security error, and choose Update driver.
3. Select Search automatically for drivers and wait for Windows to install the best locally available version.
4. Restart the computer and check for improvements.

If the Windows Security error message reads, The smart card requires drivers that are not present on the system. Please try another smart card or contact your administrator, updating the drivers will do the trick!

In case Windows can’t find a better version, head to the manufacturer’s website, and manually install the driver. Or, for a seamless and error-free installation experience, use a top-rated driver updater tool.

4. Disable smart card login

4.1 Via Registry

NOTE

The following steps will modify the Registry, so I recommend you create a restore point beforehand. This will allow you to revert to the previous stable configuration in case things go wrong.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
3. Paste the following path in the address bar and hit Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
4. Double-click the scforceoption DWORD on the right.
5. Enter 0 under Value data to disable smart card login and click OK to save the changes.
6. Restart the computer.

4.2 Via Local Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Local Group Policy Editor comes pre-installed on the Pro edition of Windows. If you are using the Home edition, you will need to manually install gpedit.msc.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type gpedit.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Now, navigate the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Smart Card
3. Double-click the Turn On Smart Card Plug and Play service policy on the right.
4. Choose Disabled and click on Apply and OK to save the changes.
5. Restart the computer and check whether the Windows Security Smart Card error is fixed.
6. If you continue receiving smart card pop-ups, disable other policies in the list.

5. Delete all saved web credentials

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Credential Manager in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Now, individually expand all saved credentials under Web Credentials, and click on Remove for each.
3. Click Yes in the confirmation prompt.
4. Once done with all the saved web credentials, restart the computer.

6. Uninstall the last Windows update

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Windows Update from the left pane, and click on Update history.
2. Scroll down and click on Uninstall updates.
3. Click the Uninstall option next to the recently installed update.
4. Click on Uninstall in the confirmation prompt, then restart the PC and check for improvements.

For roughly 2 out of 5 users, the problem started after installing a new version of Windows. And in this case, uninstalling the Windows update did the trick. Remember, you may have to uninstall a few updates to get things back on track!

7. Factory reset the PC

When nothing else works, the last option is to reset the PC to factory defaults. During reset, you can choose the Keep my files option to prevent them from being deleted. Still, I would recommend backing them on an external storage drive in case the reset runs into an error and corrupts the stored data.

After you are done with the reset (it may take upto an hour), there won’t be Windows Security Smart Card pop-up errors anymore.

When I once started receiving these pop-ups, deleting the SSL state and certificates fixed things in no time. However, it could be a different solution for you. So, try them all!

Before you leave, discover some quick tips to make your Windows PC run faster than ever.

Which fix worked for you? Share with our readers in the comments section.