How to Solve the “RPC Server is Unavailable” Error in Windows 10

The RPC Server is Unavailable error can restrict access to certain files, but it is easy to resolve.

To someone with little to no networking knowledge, the “RPC Server is Unavailable” Windows 10 error may seem daunting.

But with a little bit of tweaking, you can easily fix the error. Before we get to the fixes, users should know the meaning of this error. The RPC Server is Unavailable error pops up when a Windows computer cannot communicate with other devices on the same network. It may be due to a fault in your firewall settings or interference from third-party software.

Here’s how you fix the RPC Server is Unavailable error on Windows 10.

1. Restart the RPC Server

The most effective way to resolve the error is to restart the service. This will make Windows re-establish all connections and recall all processes.

1. In the Start menu search bar, type Control Panel and open it.
2. Click on Administrative Tools and subsequently select Services.
3. Look for DCOM Server Process Launcher and double click on it.
4. Ensure that “Startup type” is set to Automatic and “Service status” is Running.
5. If there is any discrepancy, set the “Startup type” to Automatic and click Start below “Service status.”

Restarting your computer is a solution to many Windows problems and is often a great first option before delving into more serious fixes.

2. Clean Boot the Computer to Rule Out Third-Party Applications

A “clean boot” is a boot state that disables all third-party software and services. Although this is not an automatic in-built feature in Windows, it’s fairly easy to do. Many users report that the “RPC Server is unavailable” error is caused by faulty third-party applications.

To rule this as the cause of the error, you will have to clean boot your computer:

1. In the Start menu search bar, enter sysconfig and open System Configuration.
2. Go to the Services tab and check the Hide all Microsoft services button.
3. Subsequently, check all the services from the list and click on Disable all.
4. After this, open Task Manager via right-clicking on the Taskbar and selecting Task Manager.
5. Go to the Startup tab and click on each service one by one and click Disable.
6. Exit and restart the computer.

Try using your computer and see if the error reappears. If it doesn’t, it means that the error resulted from interference from a third-party application. It would be best to uninstall any recently installed applications and download a different version.

3. Check Your Network Connection Settings

If you’re unable to open specific folders or files using File Explorer, it is possible that your network settings have not been configured properly. Follow these steps to enable the ideal options for your network:

Related: How to Change Your WiFi Password in Windows 10

How to Configure Your Network

1. Press Windows Key +R to open the Run command. In the dialog box, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
2. Right-click on the relevant network connection. For example, if you’re using Wi-Fi, right-click on Wi-Fi.
3. Then click on Properties. Administrator privileges will be required to do so.
4. In the Properties menu, enable the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) options.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, users can also try reinstalling the network drivers. This will cause Windows to redownload and install the network drivers, which could resolve the issue. To do this, follow these steps:

How to Uninstall Network Drivers

1. Press Windows Key + R and type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box.
2. The Device Manager will open.
3. Navigate to the Network adapters option and expand it.
4. Right-click on the network drivers and click on Uninstall.
5. Close all windows and restart your computer.

4. Change Your Firewall Settings

The Windows Firewall may sometimes block RPC server traffic, resulting in the “RPC Server is unavailable” error. In such cases, users need to reconfigure their firewall settings to allow traffic.

For third-party firewalls, the steps may vary, but this is how you reconfigure the Windows Firewall:

1. In the Start menu search bar, enter Control Panel and open it.
2. In the Control Panel search bar, type “firewall.”
3. Under the Windows Firewall option, click on Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
4. In the dialog box, look for Remote Assistance and check all the boxes.
5. Save changes and restart your computer.

Related: 5 Reasons You Should Use a Firewall

5. Change Registry Settings

Before you attempt this fix, be sure to create a restore point and back-up your registry. If none of the fixes above helped resolve the error, it might be worth looking into your registry to check for any faulty values and fix them.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSet
   ervicesRpcSs.

4. Double click on the Start entry and set “Value data” to 2.
5. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSet
   ervicesDcomLaunch

6. Double click on Start value and change “Value data” to 2.
7. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSet
   ervicesRpcEptMapp

8. In the Start value, set “Value data” to 2.

If you’re unable to find these registry entries, it may be time to reinstall Windows or use System Restore to restore your computer. For users who have no restore points, it’s best they set Windows to create a daily restore point to avoid such mishaps in the future.

6. Use System Restore to Restore Your Computer

If users have tried everything on the list and are still unable to resolve the error, it may be time to use System Restore. If you have System Protection enabled, Windows will usually create restore points automatically or when installing new software.

To use System Restore, follow these steps:

1. In the Start menu search bar, type Control Panel and select the Best Match.
2. In the Control Panel search bar, enter “recovery” and click on the Recovery option.
3. Click on Open System Restore in the Recovery window. You’ll need administrator privileges to do so.
4. Click on Next, then select a restore point from the list.
5. Click on Finish.

After this, Windows will automatically reboot your computer to an earlier state. Alternatively, you can also check out 4 other ways to reset your computer.

Bid Farewell to the RPC is Unavailable Error

As is evident from the fixes listed above, the error is not particularly difficult to resolve. But it does prevent users from opening or modifying certain files, which causes panic.

Work through these easy steps, and you’ll be back up and running in no time.

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