Windows Container Isolation (wcifs) Service Defaults in Windows 11
Provides a virtual filesystem view for processes running within Windows Containers.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Automatic |
| Display name: | Windows Container Isolation |
| Service name: | wcifs |
| Service type: | filesys |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | FSFilter Virtualization |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\wcifs.sys |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wcifs |
Default Behavior
Windows Container Isolation is a file system driver. In Windows 11 it starts automatically during the operating system startup. If Windows Container Isolation fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the wcifs service startup failure.
Dependencies
Windows Container Isolation cannot be started, if the FltMgr service won't start.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Windows Container Isolation
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Windows Container Isolation 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 wcifs start= auto
sc start wcifs
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The wcifs service is using the wcifs.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.