Windows Font Cache Service (FontCache) Defaults in Windows 7

Optimizes performance of applications by caching commonly used font data. Applications will start this service if it is not already running. It can be disabled, though doing so will degrade application performance.

Default Settings

Startup type:

Windows 7 Starter	Manual
Windows 7 Home Basic	Manual
Windows 7 Home Premium	Manual
Windows 7 Professional	Manual
Windows 7 Ultimate	Manual
Windows 7 Enterprise	Manual
Windows 7 Starter SP1	Automatic (Delayed Start)
Windows 7 Home Basic SP1	Automatic (Delayed Start)
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1	Automatic (Delayed Start)
Windows 7 Professional SP1	Automatic (Delayed Start)
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1	Automatic (Delayed Start)
Windows 7 Enterprise SP1	Automatic (Delayed Start)

Display name:

Windows Font Cache Service

Service name:

FontCache

Service type:

Error control:

normal

Object:

NT AUTHORITY\LocalService

Path:

%SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceAndNoImpersonation

File:

%SystemRoot%\system32\FntCache.dll

Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FontCache

Privileges:

SeChangeNotifyPrivilege
SeAuditPrivilege

Default Behavior

Windows Font Cache Service is a Win32 service. It won't be started if the user doesn't start it in all editions of Windows 7 SP0. This service is starting automatically after the operating system is started in all editions of Windows 7 SP1.

When the Windows Font Cache Service is started, it is running as NT AUTHORITY\LocalService in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other system components, such as drivers and services, may run in the same process. If Windows Font Cache Service fails to start, Windows 7 attempts to write the failure details into Event Log. Then Windows 7 startup should proceed and the user should be notified that the FontCache service is not running because of the error.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Windows Font Cache Service

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Depending on the version of your operating system, copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER.

For Windows 7 SP0 Home Basic, Windows 7 SP0 Enterprise, Windows 7 SP0 Home Premium, Windows 7 SP0 Professional, Windows 7 SP0 Starter, Windows 7 SP0 Ultimate:
sc config FontCache start= demand

For Windows 7 SP1 Home Basic, Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise, Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium, Windows 7 SP1 Professional, Windows 7 SP1 Starter, Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate:
sc config FontCache start= delayed-auto
sc start FontCache

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The FontCache service is using the FntCache.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 7 installation media.