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How to Start Windows Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC)

Published by: Alex George on July 26, 2009
If Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) is not started on a Windows computer, it cannot detect any available wireless networks. It is an important Microsoft service which normally starts at boot time and this utility manage WiFi connections. If WZC is disabled on a device, it cannot find and join WiFi networks. So if you are facing any WiFi connectivity issues on your computer, the first step is to check whether WZC is enabled. This article tells how to enable WZC on a Windows computer and fix issues related to WiFi connectivity. Here we can see two different methods to activate this service. You can activate it either by executing a Command Prompt command or by following GUI instructions. These two methods are explained in this article.


Steps to Enable Wireless Zero Configuration
  1. Click on start

  2. Click on Run

  3. On Run window type services.msc press OK
    Service

    Now the services windows will be opened. The Wireless Zero Configuration is the third service from last.
    wzc 871122

  4. Open the service and click on start button to enable this service.
    in win7


Start WZC From Command Prompt

Here we use a DOS command to start Wireless Zero Configuration. The procedure is given below.
  1. Start Command Prompt

  2. Type the command net start wzcsvc and press enter
Now onwards it is started on your computer and it will work as long as you manually set its status stop. If you are using third-party utilities like Dell DW WLAN Card Utility or Linksys WiFi Network Monitor etc, they may set the status of WZC as stopped. As long as they work properly it is not necessary to enable it back but if these third-party tools show issues, it is better to disable them and start Microsoft Utility. I recommend this because, in my personal experience, this built-in Microsoft Utility works better than third-party utilities. However, you should not use two different network monitoring utilities at the same time.

Where to Find Wireless Zero Configuration on Windows 7 & 8

I am getting comments regarding wireless zero configuration on Windows 8 and 7 computers. They want to know where to find WZC in Windows 7 and 8 as they couldn't find it on the services page. Actually, there is no WZC on Windows 8, Vista and Windows 7. It is an important service on Windows XP and Server 2003 but discontinued on later versions. Instead of using it, they use WLAN Autoconfig to manage the wireless network. To know more about this service to find and manage WiFi, visit the link below.
How to Start WLAN AutoConfig Service

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32 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:10 PM

    Thank you soo much...this was very useful :))

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex George12:57 AM

    I am happy to hear this :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laz10:59 AM

    easy to follow and actually works! thanx.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Diana11:02 PM

    I never thought it is so easy to start and stop wireless zero configuration in my computer. Thanks for your tip

    Very simple and gentle ,thank you again

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown9:24 PM

    thanks a bunch!
    best and simplest advice ever received - especially related to ms

    ReplyDelete
  6. Peter12:41 PM

    Thanks for the article. Can I follow the same steps to enable Wireless Zero Configuration (wzc) in Windows 7 laptop ?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous2:08 AM

    your comment helped me to solve my problems.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Alex George9:45 AM

    @ Peter

    There is no WZC for Windows 7 computers. Instead of WZC Windows 7 uses Wlan Autoconfig. I have added those details in this post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sarfaraz9:45 PM

    thankyou very much friend. started very easily using your blog. thanks again

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous8:42 PM

    Thanks perfect and I thought I would have to go to the repair shop. Perfect tip.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous4:03 PM

    i have this problem in my pc but when i turn off the pc and turn on again the service wzc is stopped, and have to start everytimes.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Siju George9:53 PM

    I think you set Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) as manual instead of automatic. Please make sure WZC is automatic

    ReplyDelete
  13. Alex George9:54 PM

    WZC startup should be Automatic

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous12:41 AM

    thank u very much ..that was really easy

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous3:11 AM

    Aaalright. It works.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous3:11 AM

    Aaalright. It works.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous11:29 AM

    hi thanks for ur tips but i still have the problem there;s msg appearing to tell me that the ip address conflict with another system on the network
    i'm xp windows

    ReplyDelete
  18. Siju George11:02 PM

    This issue may occur if two devices in the same network posses same IP address. Please click on the link below to know more details about this issue.

    http://www.corenetworkz.com/2009/07/theres-ip-address-conflict-with-another.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous9:28 AM

    OMG best tip ever. Fu$%^ Geek Squad

    ReplyDelete
  20. enterdel8:38 PM

    Wow thank you mate
    now I can share my internet connection via wifi

    ReplyDelete
  21. tolito8:38 AM

    I start it. But then it stops any advise ..?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Siju George9:54 PM

    Hi tolito,

    Can you explain your issue with more details.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous7:36 AM

    i tried to start this thing but when i pressed start button it is showed a window saying: "the wireless zero configuration service on the local computer started and then stopped. some services stop automatically if they have no work to do for example the performance logs and alerts service. how can i fix this problem?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Scratchmen Apoo7:55 PM

    Workkk!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. seniorfdolce2:55 PM

    Follow the directions as told and now it's saying you have a limited or no connectivity

    ReplyDelete
  26. Siju George1:29 AM

    Please follow the link below to fix limited or no connectivity issue.

    http://www.corenetworkz.com/2009/08/wireless-connection-limited-or-no.html

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous5:07 AM

    Can you tell me about setup WZC or wireless zero configuration in Windows 8 ?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Shyam Rai5:19 AM

    Is there WZC in Linux computer? I am using Ubuntu.

    Shyam

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous5:10 AM

    Well that's good with Windows XP. What can I do with my Windows 8 computer ?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Priya2:51 PM

    Where is Wireless Zero Configuration in Windows 10?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Alex George9:46 AM

    @ Priya

    In Windows 10, we use WLAN AutoConfig to do the functions of WZC.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oscar Alfredo2:09 PM

    On the contrary, wzc not working well, tplink software saved me.

    ReplyDelete

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