How to Fix System Event Notification Service error in Windows 10

David Darlington

Dec 16, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

Windows has made its system so secure that logging on is made private and does not involve anything other than the user and a Windows service. It prevents any third-party software or malware from accessing the computer not to compromise any important file or folder within the PC. This security is provided by different services, functions, and DLL files.

Overview of the Error

Several reasons may cause this error to happen. First is that improper shutting down of the PC causes the System Event Notification Service or SENS to become corrupt, preventing the PC to connect to the local SENS server. Another reason could be the glitch that commonly occurs to the Windows Font Cache Service and results in the error.

There is one Windows Update file that affects the SENS server and may cause the error. This update is the KB2952664 and can be managed by uninstalling the said update file. Also, if the DHCP is disabled, the system may struggle to register DNS records and IP addresses, disallowing any updates and ultimately resulting in the error.

It could also be that an antivirus program is blocking the network from updating the services, causing Windows Updates to fail in pushing and installing the updates. If the antimalware causes the problem, it is best to disable it first and check if this resolves the problem.

How to Fix the Error

If your PC turns up with the System Event Notification Service error, you can try any of these methods to resolve the issue. You can follow these methods in order up until you find the fix that works for your computer.
Before trying anything else, remember to create a system restore point or backup your hard drive to ensure that you don’t lose pertinent files that may become corrupted or lost.

Fix 1: Checking the SENS settings

If your desktop’s System Event Notification Service settings are configured incorrectly, you might encounter this error. For tackling this problem, follow the below steps:

1. Open Run dialog box by simultaneously pressing Win + R. Key in services.msc and select OK.
2. Locate System Event Notification Service on the list of services in the right pane and right-click on it.
3. Choose Restart on the context menu. If this is grayed out, select Start instead.
4. Right-click on System Event Notification Service once more and choose Properties.
5. On the Startup Type section, choose Automatic on the dropdown menu. Select Apply and then OK.
6. Reboot your PC and check if the error is resolved by this method.

Fix 2: Resetting the Winsock Catalog

Your desktop may be facing the issue of notification error service due to unintentional changes in Winsock Catalog. No need to panic, all you have to do is to reset the Winsock catalog. To fix this, just follow the instructions:

1. Press windows+ R on your windows to launch the “Run” utility.
2. Type cmd in the blank space a then launch the command prompt by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.
3. A blank screen with certain codes will appear; type netsh Winsock reset and click enter. Restart your computer and check whether the error is resolved or not.

Fix 3: Uninstalling KB2952664 Windows Update

As already discussed, that many people complain about the KB2952664 error, so finally, here is a solution if your desktop is going through something similar.

1. Open Run dialog box by simultaneously pressing Win + R. Type in control and hit Enter.
2. Locate Programs and then choose Uninstall a program on the View by Category window.
3. Click on View installed updates found on the left side pane. And Select file KB2952664 from the list and right-click on it. Choose Uninstall and follow the wizard.
4. Restart the PC and check if the error is resolved by this method.

Fix 4: Enabling DHCP service and set to Automatic

If the DHCP Client service suddenly stops and the Startup type is set to Manual, then it might be the one causing the error. The service should be enabled and set to Automatic.

1. Open Run dialog box by simultaneously pressing Win + R. Key in services.msc and select OK.
2. Locate DHCP Client on the list of services in the right pane and right-click on it. Choose Properties on the context menu.
3. In the Properties window, find Service Status in the General tab and ensure that it is set to Running. If it is not, click on the Start button. On the Startup Type section, select Automatic on the dropdown menu.
4. Restart your PC and check if the error is resolved by this method.

Fix 5: Restarting Windows Font Cache Service

If your system event notification service is not working, take a quick look at whether the windows font cache service is running properly. Here is a quick tip on what to do:

1. Open Run dialog box by simultaneously pressing Win + R. Key in services.msc and select OK.
2. In the Services window, locate Windows Font Cache Service and double click on it.
3. In the General tab of the SENS Properties window, click on the Stop button and wait for a few seconds before pressing the Start button.
4. Restart the PC and check if the error is resolved by this method.

Fix 6: Optimize your desktop’s windows.

It could be a performance issue; maybe your operating system windows could be causing a problem. Well, you can easily solve this problem using a windows performance troubleshooter. The troubleshooter scans your computer thoroughly for whether multiple programs are running, are multiple users are logged in. These are some of the issues that can slow down your computer, which in return may lead to a “system event notification service” error. Here is what you can do:

1. Click on the Windows logo on the left side of the screen. Click on the “Control panel.”
2. Select “Troubleshooting” and check the performance issues by going to system and security.
3. Once the process of troubleshooting completes, your computer should go back to its normal speed.
   To avoid any such issues in the future, you can limit the number of programs running at a time.
4. Restart the desktop and check whether the issue is resolved or not.

TIP: Adding more of the RAM capacity to your desktop will also help.

Fix 7: Update your antivirus.

There are many complaints of system event notifications not working immediately after they have updated their antivirus. It may be due to server or protection by the anti-virus. There are many ways of software/apps updates like automated or sent reminders from time to time to update the app.

So, it is impossible to provide one single solution. You can look for it on YouTube tutorials based on the type of anti-virus software you are using and how you update it.

Conclusion

So, I hope that with these tips, you could tackle the "Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service"error. There can be many reasons, but the point here is, if you know how to use the administrative tools, you can review System Event Log as to why the service wasn’t able to respond to the request. These methods have been tested and proven to work, but if none of them happens to resolve the issue, you can contact a professional to look at your desktop and troubleshoot the problem. They will be able to fix your PC efficiently and ensure that your files are safely stored while they do so.