Security Accounts Manager (SamSs) Service Defaults in Windows 10

The startup of this service signals other services that the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) is ready to accept requests. Disabling this service will prevent other services in the system from being notified when the SAM is ready, which may in turn cause those services to fail to start correctly. This service should not be disabled.

Default Settings

Startup type: Automatic
Display name:Security Accounts Manager
Service name:SamSs
Service type:share
Error control:normal
Group:MS_WindowsLocalValidation
Object:LocalSystem
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\lsass.exe
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SamSs

Default Behavior

Security Accounts Manager is a Win32 service. In Windows 10 it is starting automatically when the operating system starts. Then the Security Accounts Manager service is running as LocalSystem in a shared process of lsass.exe along with other services. If Security Accounts Manager fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the SamSs service has failed to start due to the error.

Dependencies

Security Accounts Manager cannot be started under any conditions, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service is disabled.

While Security Accounts Manager is stopped, disabled or working incorrectly, the following services do not start:

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Security Accounts Manager

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Security Accounts Manager 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 commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config SamSs start= auto
sc start SamSs

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The SamSs service is using the lsass.exe 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.