RPC Server Unavailable on Windows 10: Fixed?

The “RPC server is unavailable” error on Windows 10 is a common network or service failure, but it is almost always fixable without reinstalling the OS. The fix involves restarting the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service, checking the RPC Endpoint Mapper, and ensuring the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service is running—usually in that order.

What Causes the RPC Server Unavailable Error?

The RPC (Remote Procedure Call) service is the backbone that lets programs on your PC talk to each other and to remote computers. When it stops, or when the services that depend on it fail, you see the error. Common triggers include:

• The RPC service or its dependencies (like DCOM Server Process Launcher) is disabled or stopped.
• Windows Firewall or a third-party firewall is blocking RPC traffic on ports 135, 137-139, or 445.
• Network discovery or file sharing is turned off, preventing the RPC Endpoint Mapper from responding.
• Corrupted system files or a recent Windows update broke a service dependency.
• Malware or a misconfigured group policy has disabled RPC-related services.

The error often appears when you try to open Device Manager, access a shared printer, or run Windows Update—all of which rely heavily on RPC.

How to Fix the RPC Server Unavailable Error

Try these steps in order. Most users resolve the issue with the first two.

1. Restart the RPC service. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Scroll to Remote Procedure Call (RPC). Right-click it and select Restart. If the option is grayed out, the service is already stopped—right-click and choose Start.
2. Check its dependencies. Right-click the same service, select Properties, and go to the Dependencies tab. Ensure DCOM Server Process Launcher and RPC Endpoint Mapper are both running. Restart them if needed.
3. Run the Windows System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow. This repairs corrupted system files that may be breaking RPC.
4. Check Windows Firewall. Go to Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Make sure Remote Assistance and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) are checked for both private and public networks.
5. Restart the WMI service. In services.msc, find Windows Management Instrumentation. If it is not running, start it. If it is running, restart it. WMI often fails silently and takes RPC down with it.

After each step, try the action that originally failed (e.g., opening Device Manager). If it works, you are done.

What If the RPC Service Won’t Start?

If the RPC service fails to start, the problem is usually a broken dependency or a corrupted registry key. First, check the Dependencies tab again—if any dependency is disabled, RPC will not start. Enable them manually.

If that does not help, run a DISM scan to repair the system image. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This can take 10-20 minutes. After it finishes, restart your PC and try starting the RPC service again.

RPC Error When Accessing a Network Resource

If the error appears when you try to access a shared folder, printer, or another computer on your network, the issue is often network-specific, not local. On the computer that hosts the resource, make sure:

• Network discovery is enabled. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings and turn on network discovery and file sharing.
• The Function Discovery Resource Publication service is running. This service advertises the computer to the network.
• The firewall on the host allows inbound RPC traffic. If you use a third-party firewall, check its logs for blocked ports 135 and 445.

On the client computer, try ping hostname to confirm basic connectivity. If ping works but RPC fails, the problem is likely a firewall or service issue on one side.

RPC Error in Device Manager or Disk Management

When the error appears while opening Device Manager or Disk Management, it usually means the RPC service is running but the WMI service is not. WMI is what these tools use to query hardware information. Restart WMI as described in step 5 above. If WMI fails to start, check the Windows Event Log for errors related to WMI—these often point to a corrupted repository.

To repair the WMI repository (advanced, but safe if done carefully):

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type winmgmt /verifyrepository to check for corruption.
3. If it reports corruption, type winmgmt /salvagerepository to attempt a repair.

If that fails, you may need to rebuild the repository using winmgmt /resetrepository—but note this will reset all WMI settings to default, which can affect some third-party monitoring tools.

RPC Error After a Windows Update

Sometimes a Windows update can break RPC dependencies, especially if the update was interrupted or failed. If the error started after a recent update, try uninstalling that update:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
2. Find the most recent update and uninstall it.
3. Restart your PC and check if the error is gone.

If the error persists, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter from Settings, which can fix corrupted update components.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the RPC server unavailable error be caused by malware?

Yes, some malware disables RPC-related services to prevent security tools from running. If you have tried all the steps above and the error persists, run a full antivirus scan with Windows Defender or a reputable third-party tool. Also check the Services list for any unknown or suspicious services that might be interfering.

Is it safe to set the RPC service to Automatic (Delayed Start)?

Yes, the default startup type for the RPC service is Automatic, and changing it to Automatic (Delayed Start) is generally safe. However, do not set it to Manual or Disabled—that will break many Windows features. If you have changed it, revert to Automatic.

Why does the RPC error appear when I try to print?

Printing relies on the Print Spooler service, which in turn depends on RPC. If you see the RPC error when printing, first restart the Print Spooler service in services.msc. Then check that the printer driver is compatible with Windows 10—older drivers can cause RPC failures.

Does the RPC error affect Windows 11 too?

Yes, the RPC server unavailable error can occur on Windows 11 as well, and the fixes are essentially identical. The service names and menu paths are the same, so the steps in this article work for both operating systems.

Is there a way to prevent this error from happening again?

Keep Windows updated, avoid disabling services you don’t recognize, and regularly run sfc /scannow if you suspect file corruption. Also, ensure your firewall is configured to allow RPC traffic on trusted networks—overly aggressive firewall rules are a common cause of recurrence.

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