Windows Defender Network Stream Filter Driver (wdnsfltr) Service Defaults in Windows 10

Windows Defender Network Stream Filter by Microsoft Corporation.

The Windows Defender Network Stream Filter Driver service exists only in:

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:Windows Defender Network Stream Filter Driver
Service name:wdnsfltr
Service type:kernel
Error control:normal
Group:NDIS
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\wdnsfltr.sys
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wdnsfltr

Default Behavior

Windows Defender Network Stream Filter Driver is a kernel device driver. In Windows 10 it is starting only if the user, an application or another service starts it. If Windows Defender Network Stream Filter Driver fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the wdnsfltr service has failed to start due to the error.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Windows Defender Network Stream Filter Driver

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

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

sc config wdnsfltr start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The wdnsfltr service is using the wdnsfltr.sys file that is located in the C:\Windows\system32\drivers directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 10 installation media.