Windows Color System (WcsPlugInService) Service Defaults in Windows 10

The WcsPlugInService service hosts third-party Windows Color System color device model and gamut map model plug-in modules. These plug-in modules are vendor-specific extensions to the Windows Color System baseline color device and gamut map models. Stopping or disabling the WcsPlugInService service will disable this extensibility feature, and the Windows Color System will use its baseline model processing rather than the vendor's desired processing. This might result in inaccurate color rendering.

The Windows Color System service exists only in:

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:Windows Color System
Service name:WcsPlugInService
Service type:share
Error control:normal
Object:NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k wcssvc
File:%SystemRoot%\System32\WcsPlugInService.dll
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WcsPlugInService
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Default Behavior

Windows Color System is a Win32 service. In Windows 10 it is starting only if the user, an application or another service starts it. When the Windows Color System service is started, it is running as NT AUTHORITY\LocalService in a shared process of svchost.exe along with other services. If Windows Color System fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the WcsPlugInService service has failed to start due to the error.

Dependencies

Windows Color System cannot be started under any conditions, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service is disabled.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Windows Color System

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Windows Color System depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config WcsPlugInService start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The WcsPlugInService service is using the WcsPlugInService.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 10 installation media.