Security Accounts Manager (SamSs) Service Defaults in Windows 11
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 11 it starts automatically during the operating system startup. Then the Security Accounts Manager service logs on as LocalSystem and running in a shared process of lsass.exe. If Security Accounts Manager fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the SamSs service startup failure.
Dependencies
Security Accounts Manager cannot be started, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service won't start.
If Security Accounts Manager doesn't work properly, the following services will 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 11 installation media.