Windows Task Scheduler Service Started then Stopped

When you’re trying to make things work automatically in Windows 11 or 10, like setting up tasks without having to remember to do them yourself, you might run into trouble with the Task Scheduler. This is the tool that helps with automating stuff, but sometimes it just refuses to start or stops right after starting. You might see a message saying “The Task Scheduler service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs.”

The Task Scheduler’s job is to kick off and manage tasks automatically. In this article, we’re going to explore why this might not be working and how you can fix it.

Task Scheduler Service Started then Stopped Windows 11 10

Page Contents

How to fix Task Scheduler service started then stopped or cannot be started

Here are some steps and solutions to tackle the issue where the Task Scheduler service won’t start in Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Also see: Services.msc “Startup Type” Greyed Out in Windows 11 or 10

Solution 1: Investigate Event Viewer for clues

Looking into the Event Viewer is a great first step to figure out what’s wrong with Windows services. It keeps a detailed log of what’s going on in your system, including any service-related issues.

Access Event Viewer:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type eventvwr.msc and press Enter.
Navigate to System Logs:
- Expand “Windows Logs” in the left pane of the Event Viewer window.
- Click on “System”.
Filter and inspect logs:
- Right-click on “System” and select “Find…”.
- Type “Task Scheduler” in the Find dialog and start the search.
- Look through any recent warnings or errors about the Task Scheduler to get clues on why it’s stopping.

What to look for:

Focus on entries that mention Task Scheduler either in the source or description. Errors or warnings about this service can help you understand the underlying problem.

Solution 2: Check and modify the registry entries for the Task Scheduler service

Sometimes, the problem with the Task Scheduler service could be because of messed-up or corrupted registry settings. Let’s see how to fix these registry issues.

Warning: Be careful when messing with the Windows Registry. A wrong move can cause big problems for your system. It’s a good idea to create a system restore point before you start. This way, you can go back to how things were if something goes wrong.

Navigate to the Task Scheduler service entry:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule.
Check the “Start” DWORD value:
- Look for the “Start” DWORD entry on the right pane.
- Make sure its value is 2, which means “Automatic”. If it’s not, change it to 2.
Optional: Check related entries:
- It’s also a good idea to look at the “TimeBrokerSvc” settings, as they can sometimes affect the Task Scheduler.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TimeBrokerSvc in the Registry Editor.
- Make sure the “Start” value is 3. If it’s not, change it.
Restart your computer:
- After making the changes, restart your PC to see if the Task Scheduler service starts working as it should.

Alternative method: Run CMD commands for the modifications

If you’re okay with using the Command Prompt, here’s a quicker way to back up the registry key and make the needed changes:

Run Command Prompt as administrator: Click the Start menu, type “cmd” in the search bar, right-click on “Command Prompt” in the search results, and select “Run as administrator”.REG EXPORT HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule %TEMP%\Schedule.reg
Backup Task Scheduler service entry:
```
REG EXPORT HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule %TEMP%\Schedule.reg
```
This saves the current Task Scheduler service registry settings to a .reg file in the temp folder.
Set Task Scheduler to Automatic:
```
REG ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule /F /V Start /T REG_DWORD /D 2
```
This command changes the Task Scheduler service’s “Start” value to “Automatic”.

For the Time Broker Service (TimeBrokerSvc):
First, back up the registry entry:

REG EXPORT HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TimeBrokerSvc %TEMP%\TimeBrokerSvc.reg

Then, set its “Start” value to “Manual” (so other services that need “TimeBrokerSvc” can start it when necessary):

REG ADD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TimeBrokerSvc /F /V Start /T REG_DWORD /D 3

Reminder: Be extra careful when using CMD commands to change the registry. A small mistake can cause big problems. Always start by making a backup.
Useful tip: Run CMD, PowerShell or Regedit as SYSTEM in Windows 11

Solution 3: Check the dependencies of the Task Scheduler service

The Task Scheduler service might need other services to work properly. If these services aren’t running, the Task Scheduler might not work right. Here’s how to check and make sure all dependent services are up and running:

Access Services.msc:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc and press Enter.
Find the Task Scheduler service:
- Scroll down in the Services window to find the Task Scheduler service.
Check Startup Type:
- Double-click on Task Scheduler to open its Properties.
- Make sure the Startup Type is set to “Automatic”. If not, change it.
Look at Dependencies:
- Go to the Dependencies tab in the Properties window.
- See if there are any services that the Task Scheduler depends on and make sure they’re running. If they’re not, it could be why the Task Scheduler isn’t working.

Solution 4: Use System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted system files might be messing up the service. The System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools can find and fix corrupted Windows system files.

Run System File Checker:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator from the Start button, type “cmd”, right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator.” Click “Yes” when the User Account Control pops up.
- Type this command and hit Enter:
```
sfc /scannow
```
- Wait until the scan is done. If SFC finds and fixes stuff, it’ll tell you when it’s finished.
If SFC doesn’t fix everything, try DISM:
- If SFC can’t fix everything or says some files couldn’t be repaired, it’s time for DISM.
- In the Command Prompt, type these commands one after the other, hitting Enter after each:
```
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
```
Restart your computer:
- After running SFC and/or DISM, restart your PC to apply the fixes and then check if the Task Scheduler service is working properly.

Pointers:

SFC scans and replaces corrupted system files with good ones.
DISM is a stronger tool, great for when SFC can’t fix the problem. It checks and fixes the Windows component store.

Solution 5: Create a new user profile

Sometimes, the issue might be with your user profile. If there’s something wrong with your profile, it could cause services to act up. Trying out a new, fresh user profile can help figure out if the problem is with your current profile.

Create a new user:
- Go to Settings from the Start menu or press Win + i.
- Head to Accounts > Other Users.
- Click on “Add account” under “Other users” and follow the steps to set up a new user. Make sure to give this user admin rights.
Switch to the new user:
- Log out from your current profile.
- Log into the new user profile.
Test the Task Scheduler service:
- With the new profile, try starting the Task Scheduler service to see if the same issue occurs.
Decide what to do next:
- If the Task Scheduler works fine with the new profile, the issue might be with your original profile. You could move your stuff to this new profile and start using it.
- If the problem is still there even with the new profile, it means the issue is with the whole system. You should go back to your original profile and look for other possible causes.

Important considerations:

Moving to a new user profile can take a lot of work. You’ll need to transfer your files, reinstall some apps, and reset your settings. It’s a big step, especially if other fixes haven’t worked.

Wrapping up

Often, the Task Scheduler service not starting or stopping suddenly can be fixed by just setting it to “Automatic”. Also, making sure all the services it depends on are running can quickly solve the problem for many users.