Usbipd Warning The Service Is Currently Not Running A Reboot Should Fix That May 2026

Resolving the "usbipd Warning: The Service Is Currently Not Running" Error in Windows (WSL 2)

Why Reboot Might "Fix" It Temporarily (And Why It Returns)

When you reboot, Windows restarts all services in their configured order. If usbipd is set to Automatic, it will start cleanly. However, if a driver or another service interferes later, the issue can reappear. Common recurrence triggers include:

• Putting the PC to sleep or hibernating.
• Hot-plugging certain USB devices (especially USB hubs or phones).
• Running usbipd bind or usbipd unbind with incorrect parameters.
• Third-party USB redirection software (e.g., VMware USB arbitrator, VirtualBox USB).

If the problem returns after a reboot, you need to investigate the event logs.

Step 3: Force Windows to Load the Driver

Sometimes Windows chooses not to load the driver because it thinks the hardware isn't present (since it's virtual). You can force it via PowerShell (Admin): Resolving the "usbipd Warning: The Service Is Currently

1. Run the following command to create the service instance:

   pnputil /add-driver "C:\Program Files\usbipd-win\driver\usbip_vhci.sys" /install
   

   (Note: Adjust the path if you installed usbipd to a custom location). Putting the PC to sleep or hibernating

2. Alternatively, use the SC command to query the service status:

   sc query usbipd
   

   • State: RUNNING: It should work.
   • State: STOPPED: Try sc start usbipd.
   • State: START_PENDING: It is stuck; you likely have a conflicting USB driver or antivirus blocking it.

Check Dependencies:

1. Open services.msc.
2. Right-click usbipd → Properties → Dependencies tab.
3. Ensure all listed dependencies are running (e.g., Plug and Play, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)).

Via Command Prompt (Administrator):

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run:

   net start usbipd
   

   or (depending on version):

   net start usbipd-win
   

3. Check the service status:

   sc query usbipd
   

   You should see STATE : 4 RUNNING.

Common Scenarios Where This Warning Appears

Before diving into fixes, identify which scenario matches your situation: If the problem returns after a reboot, you

| Scenario | Description | |----------|-------------| | Fresh Install | You just installed usbipd-win and tried running usbipd list without starting the service. | | After Windows Update | A Windows update may have changed service startup permissions or reset configurations. | | Post-Crash | The service terminated due to a USB device conflict, driver issue, or resource exhaustion. | | User Error | You or a script stopped the service manually using net stop usbipd. | | WSL Distro Change | Switching or reinstalling WSL distributions can sometimes orphan the USB/IP binding. |

Common Scenarios Where This Warning Appears

Closing

These steps should help you diagnose and fix the "service is currently not running" warning without relying solely on reboots. If you want, I can convert this into a full blog post with screenshots, commands formatted as code blocks, and a short troubleshooting flowchart.