File Information FS MiniFilter (FileInfo) Service Defaults in Windows 11
Collects information about files in memory to be consumed by other system services.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Boot |
| Display name: | File Information FS MiniFilter |
| Service name: | FileInfo |
| Service type: | filesys |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | FSFilter Bottom |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\fileinfo.sys |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FileInfo |
Default Behavior
File Information FS MiniFilter is a file system driver. In Windows 11 it starts by the operating system Boot Loader before the Kernel initialization, as a part of the driver stack. If File Information FS MiniFilter fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the FileInfo service startup failure.
Dependencies
File Information FS MiniFilter cannot be started, if the FltMgr service won't start.
If File Information FS MiniFilter doesn't work properly, the SysMain service can't start.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of File Information FS MiniFilter
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which File Information FS MiniFilter 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 FileInfo start= boot
sc start FileInfo
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The FileInfo service is using the fileinfo.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 11 installation media.