Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center (LocalKdc) Service Defaults in Windows 11

This service enables users to log on to the local machine using the Kerberos authentication protocol. If this service is stopped, users will be unable to log on to the local machine. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

The Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center service exists only in:

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center
Service name:LocalKdc
Service type:share
Error control:normal
Group:MS_WindowsRemoteValidation
Object:LocalSystem
Path:%SystemRoot%\System32\lsass.exe
File:%SystemRoot%\system32\localkdcsvc.dll
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LocalKdc

Default Behavior

Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center is a Win32 service. In Windows 11 it starts only if the user, an application or another service starts it. When the Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center service is started, it logs on as LocalSystem and running in a shared process of lsass.exe. If Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the LocalKdc service startup failure.

Dependencies

Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center cannot be started, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service won't start.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Kerberos Local Key Distribution Center 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 LocalKdc start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The LocalKdc service is using the localkdcsvc.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 11 installation media.