Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) (SharedAccess) Service Defaults in Windows 11
Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Manual |
| Display name: | Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) |
| Service name: | SharedAccess |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p |
| File: | %SystemRoot%\System32\ipnathlp.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess |
| Privileges: |
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Default Behavior
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is a Win32 service. In Windows 11 it starts only if the user, an application or another service starts it. When the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service is started, it logs on as LocalSystem and running in a shared process of svchost.exe. If Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the SharedAccess service startup failure.
Dependencies
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) cannot be started, if the Base Filtering Engine service won't start.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) 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 SharedAccess start= demand
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The SharedAccess service is using the ipnathlp.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.