How to Fix the “Remote Procedure Call Failed” Error in Windows

“Remote Procedure Call,” or RPC, in Windows is a way that programs communicate with one another across a network. But sometimes things can go wrong with the procedure. For instance, if you’re trying to open an app, and it fails to start, your system might display the “Remote Procedure Call Failed” message instead. This tutorial walks you through what you can do to remove this error from your system.

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Fixing the “Remote Procedure Call Failed” Error

When encountering the “Remote Procedure Call Failed” error, an issue with a Windows service or application is typically to blame Although hardware failures are also a potential source for the error, they are significantly less common than software problems. Such an error message may appear, for instance, if a client and server are unable to establish a connection.

Causes related to software include corrupt system files, malware infection, and issues with the Remote Procedure Call service. Start by going through these troubleshooting procedures to help narrow down the source of the issue to hopefully fix it.

1. Boot Into Safe Mode With Networking

If the problem is caused by malware, outdated drivers, or conflicting background processes, restarting in Safe Mode with Networking should resolve it. But if you want to learn how to stop background apps and processes from running in Windows, read on.

When you boot into Safe Mode, Windows will load with the minimum set of drivers and applications. If the problem goes away when you switch to Safe Mode, you can conclude that the error is most likely due to a malfunctioning program or driver. If that’s the case, you can use System Restore to revert to a Windows installation when the error was not manifesting.

A virus or malware could also be the source of this error. In this instance, booting into Safe Mode will allow you to execute an SFC scan without malware interfering.

FYI: learn how to use Focus Mode in Windows to boost your productivity levels.

2. Refresh the RPC Service

As explained above, the RPC (Remote Procedure Call) service in Windows manages how processes communicate with one another. It facilitates program collaboration and task completion by coordinating requests and responses.

If, for whatever reason, the service gets corrupted, it may result in the Remote Procedure Call Failed error. Restarting the RPC service could be a possible solution.

1. Press Windows + R to open a Run dialog.

2. Type services.msc in the box that appears.

3. Find and right-click on the “Remote Procedure Call” service in the Services window and select the “Refresh” option.

4. Attempt the operation that previously resulted in the RPC failed error.

3. Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

If the problem occurs while you’re trying to run a program from the Microsoft Store, you may want to run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.

1. Open Settings with the Win + I key combination.

2. Click “System -> Troubleshoot.”

3. Select “Other troubleshooters” from the menu.

4. Click the “Run” button next to the “Windows Store Apps” option.

5. Wait for it to detect the problems so that you can apply them.

6. If you’re using Windows 10, go to “Settings -> Update & Security -> Troubleshoot” to find the same troubleshooter.

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4. Restart the DCOM Server Process Launcher

The DCOM Server Process Launcher (DcomLaunch) service is in charge of managing many Windows services and processes, including the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service. As a result, you can see if relaunching the DCOM Server Process Launcher helps.

1. Open the Services app as shown above.
2. Locate and right-click on the “DCOM Server Process Launcher” service.

3. Select “Restart” on the menu that appears.

4. If the “Restart” option is grayed out, select “Refresh” instead.

5. Repair the Faulty Program

There’s a chance the program you’re attempting to run is corrupt. To eliminate the error, attempt to repair it using the built-in tool in Windows. If repairing the program doesn’t work, try resetting it. Note that not all apps and programs offer the repair option, but most built-in ones do.

1. Navigate to “Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps.”

2. Find the program that you were trying to run and press on the three dots next to its name.
3. Select “Advanced options” from the little pop-up menu that shows up.

4. Choose “Repair” from the list that appears – if it is an option.

5. If you can’t find it, select “Reset.”

Tip: seeing the ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error on your PC? Learn how to solve it.

There is no shortage of errors in Windows, and we’ve detailed some of the most common and their fixes. At the same time, keep in mind that Windows updates can also cause errors. Check out this guide to learn about the most recent ones and any possible fixes.

Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Oluwatokiloba Folami.