While shutting down our computers, we hardly expect an error to disrupt the process. However, some users have found their Windows computers to unexpectedly show the Please Wait for the GPSVC message as soon as they shut down the computer.
This issue has left many users scratching their heads. If you’re also encountering this message on your screen, do not worry. Simply follow the discussed methods below and eliminate this problem in no time.
What is GPSVC?
Group Policy Client Service, or GPSVC, is an account management utility in every Windows OS iteration. It is used to manage user accounts and their environment. As soon as you boot or shut down your computer, some critical processes start working in the background.
The GPSVC is a part of these back-end processes, which communicates between various components like the RPC server, Winlogon service, and more. GPSVC communicates to load various policies after cross-checking the computer and user configurations.
Why does the Please Wait for the GPSVC Message Show Up?
The Please Wait for the GPSVC message mainly occurs while shutting down your computer. It can also occur during the startup process, which is rare. This message causes the computer to get stuck on a blue screen with this message and a loading animation.
The reasons behind it could be one or more listed below –
- Group policy waits to complete the various complex operations.
- Group policy errors
- Conflicting third-party software
- System file corruption
- Malware
How to fix the Please Wait for the GPSVC issue?
In this section, we will see some methods to get rid of the please wait for the GPSVC message preventing you from shutting down your computer.
Before you proceed –
As your computer is stuck at the shutdown screen, press and hold the power button to force shut down the computer. Restart it afterward and check if it shuts down normally. If you still receive the same message again, force shut down the computer again to boot the computer and use the methods explained ahead.
Caution – Using force shut down frequently can harm your PC by corrupting or damaging system files or the disk drive, causing further damage and even data loss. Hence, use it sparsely.
Method 1: Use CTRL + ALT + DEL to Shut Down your PC
Sometimes, there is an issue with the taskbar that could be causing you to see the Please Wait for the GPSVC message on the shutdown screen. Try using the CTRL + ALT + DEL key combination to access the Security Options window to shut down the computer. Here are the steps –
- Press CTRL + ALT + DEL to open the Security options window.
- Navigate to the Power icon in the lower-left corner.
- Press it and click on Shut down.
- Restart your computer afterward.
Method 2: Restart the GPSVC Service
There could be a temporary glitch or an underlying issue causing the GPSVC service to malfunction and generate the Please Wait for the GPSVC message on your screen. You can fix this issue by restarting the service. To do this –
- Press WINDOWS + R to open the Run utility.
- Type services.msc and press Enter.
- You’ll see the Services window. Locate the Group Policy Client service.
- Right-click on it and press Properties.
- Click on the Stop button and wait for a few minutes.
- Then, click on Start to restart the service.
- Expand the pull-down menu and select Automatic.
- Click on Apply and then OK.
- Close everything and restart your Windows PC.
Method 3: Reset Local Group Policy Settings
In some cases, it is found that an underlying problem or misconfigured Local Group Policy settings could be behind the Please Wait for the GPSVC message. To check if this is the case, reset the Local Group Policy settings. Doing this will restore the default configurations and eliminate any conflicts or issues.
Note – Doing this will remove any customizations done via GPE.
Follow the steps mentioned below to reset Local Group Policy settings –
- Press WINDOWS + R to Launch Run.
- Type CMD and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to launch it with administrator privileges.
- Type the following command – RD /S /Q “%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers” && RD /S /Q “%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy” and press Enter to execute it.
- After this, execute the following command – gpupdate.exe /force
- Close everything and restart the PC.
This will reset the Local Group Policy settings and resolve the Please Wait for the GPSVC message.
Method 4: Modify the GPSVC Registry
In certain scenarios, the reason your computer displays the Please Wait for the GPSVC message could be missing or corrupted GPSVC registry keys. In such a scenario, you could modify the associated registry to get rid of this pesky issue.
Caution – As registry keys are vital components of the OS, modify them carefully or take help of a professional. Incorrectly altering the registry keys can result in issues, such as frequent crashes, BSoDs, corruption, and more. This is risky as it can lead to a system-wide failure that can cause data loss.
Notes –
Once you have taken a backup of the registry keys and created a restore point, carefully follow the steps mentioned here to modify the GPSVC registry keys –
- Press WINDOWS + R to launch Run.
- Type regedit and press Enter.
- Once inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location – Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost.
- Right-click on Svchost. Choose New > Key.
- Name the newly created key GPSvcGroup.
- Double-click to open it.
- Right-click anywhere in the right pane.
- Click on New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Rename this value as AuthenticationCapabilities.
- Double-click on the newly created value, select Base to Decimal and type 12320 in the value data.
- Click OK.
Once this is created, you will have to create another value at the same location.
- Again, right-click anywhere in the right pane.
- Go to New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name this value as ColnitializeSecurityParam.
- Double-click on it, change the base to Hexadecimal and type the Value as 1.
- Click OK.
Creating registry keys will help you eliminate the Please Wait for the GPSVC message. Close everything, restart your computer, and shut it down to see if the issue is fixed.
Conclusion
The Please Wait for the GPSVC message is an annoying issue that prevents users from shutting down their Windows computers. It is an unexpected problem that occurs when there is a problem with group policy, or there are missing or corrupt system files.
While this error is strange, you should not worry and use the methods discussed above to eliminate it. However, even after employing these methods, if you encounter this message, reset your computer or perform a clean installation of Windows as a last resort. But be sure to take a backup of your data before resetting.
Enable controlled folder access on Windows 10/11
[FIXED] – Requested operation requires elevation error
FAQs
Q. What does Please Wait for the GPSVC mean?
A. If you see the Please Wait for the GPSVC message, it means that the computer is waiting for the Group Policy Client Service to complete certain tasks.
Q. What causes the GPSVC service to stall?
A. Incorrect Group Policy settings, corrupt system files, malware, etc., are the main reasons that stall the GPSVC service.
Q. Will modifying the GPSVC registry key crash my computer?
A. If the registry key is correctly modified, there will be no issue. However, incorrect modification can lead to severe system issues like crashes, BSoDs, freezing, data loss, and more.
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