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

This is a very common error when setting up USBIPD on Windows to pass devices (like USB drives or webcams) into WSL2. It is frustrating because it implies a simple restart will solve it, but often it does not.

Since you mentioned a "long post," I will provide a comprehensive troubleshooting guide. This covers why this happens and the step-by-step fixes to resolve it without rebooting every time.

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

Solution 2: Manually Start the usbipd Service

You do not need to reboot if you can start the service manually.

Q: Can I use usbipd without the service?

No. The service is mandatory for communicating with Windows USB drivers.

Step 4: The "Clean Slate" Reinstall

If the driver is stuck in a "Stopped" state or Windows refuses to load it, a reinstall is usually the fastest fix. Do not just reinstall the MSI. You need to clean the driver store.

1. Uninstall usbipd via Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
2. Open Device Manager again (View > Show hidden devices).
3. Right-click and uninstall any device listed under "USB/IP" or "USBIP". Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" if available.
4. Crucial Step: Open PowerShell (Admin) and check the system driver store. Run:

   pnputil /delete-driver usbip_vhci.inf /uninstall /force
   

   (If it says no drivers found, that is fine).
5. Restart your computer. (I know, I know, but this is the last time).
6. Install the latest version of usbipd-win (using winget install --interactive --exact dorssel.usbipd-win is the recommended method).
7. Open a fresh PowerShell (Admin) and run usbipd list.

Fix 2: Re-bind the Stub Driver

If the service won't start, the driver might not be loaded. USBIPD includes a command to force the installation of the "stub" driver, which is required for sharing devices.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run the bind command (ensure no WSL instances are currently using the device):

The warning "usbipd: warning: The service is currently not running; a reboot should fix that"

(or similar "driver not running" variants) typically occurs when the Windows service or its required VBoxUsbMon

driver fails to initialize. While the error suggests a reboot, this often fails to resolve the underlying configuration or dependency issues. Core Causes for the Warning Disabled Service

service might be set to "Manual" instead of "Automatic" in the Windows Service Manager. Driver Conflict : A full installation of VirtualBox can interfere with the VBoxUsbMon driver used by usbipd-win Missing Dependencies

: If the service fails with "Error 1068," it means a dependency (like the driver) failed to start. Registry Corruption

: In rare cases, non-canonical access control lists in the registry can prevent the service from modifying necessary entries. Recommended Fixes 1. Manual Service Restart

Before rebooting again, try manually starting the service via PowerShell (Admin): sc.exe stop usbipd sc.exe start usbipd If it fails, use sc query VBoxUsbMon to check if the underlying driver is even installed. 2. Check Windows Services App Services.msc and locate USBIP Device Host Ensure the Startup Type If it is "Running," but the warning persists, try the 3. Resolve VirtualBox Conflicts

If you have VirtualBox installed, it may be using a different version of the same driver. : Uninstall VirtualBox if not needed. : Reinstall usbipd-win to ensure its version of the driver takes precedence. 4. Network Adapter Reset

A known community workaround involves cycling the virtual network adapters: Disable the Ethernet adapters in Network Connections. Re-enable the adapters. Restart the Summary of Troubleshooting Steps Check Event Log Look for crash reports or specific error codes. Run as Admin Ensure you are using an Administrator PowerShell for bind/attach commands. Update WSL wsl --update

to ensure your kernel supports USB/IP (needs 5.10.60.1 or higher). Check PATH Verify that C:\Program Files\usbipd-win\ is in your System PATH.

For further technical details or to report persistent crashes, you can check the usbipd-win GitHub Issues or the official Troubleshooting Wiki Did you encounter this warning after a new installation or after a Windows update

usbipd: error: Server is currently not running. #122 - GitHub 29 Nov 2021 —

This specific error message often crops up for developers and hobbyists using WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) who are trying to pass through USB devices like Arduinos or webcams. This is a very common error when setting

If you’re seeing the message "usbipd: warning: The service is currently not running. A reboot should fix that," here is a quick guide on how to get it moving without necessarily restarting your whole computer. What’s Happening?

The usbipd-win tool relies on a background service in Windows to bridge your physical hardware to the Linux environment. This warning means that while the command-line tool is installed, the engine that does the actual work hasn't started or has crashed. Step 1: Start the Service Manually

Before you go through the hassle of a full reboot, you can try to force the service to wake up using the Windows Services manager: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Scroll down to find USBIPD Device Host.

Right-click it and select Start (or Restart if it claims to be running already). Alternatively, you can do this via PowerShell (Admin): powershell Start-Service usbipd Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Step 2: Check for Version Mismatches

Sometimes this error persists because the version of usbipd installed on Windows doesn't match the tools installed inside your WSL distribution.

Update Windows side: Download the latest .msi from the usbipd-win GitHub releases.

Update Linux side: Inside your WSL terminal, ensure you have the latest tools:

sudo apt update sudo apt install linux-tools-virtual hwdata sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/local/bin/usbip usbip `ls /usr/lib/linux-tools/*/usbip | tail -n1` 20 Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Step 3: The "Soft" Reboot

If the service won't start, a full Windows reboot usually clears the driver lock. However, you should also ensure WSL itself is fresh. In PowerShell, run: powershell wsl --shutdown Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard

Then, try starting the usbipd service again before opening your Linux terminal. Step 4: Check for Conflicting Drivers

If you use other USB redirection software (like VirtualBox or VMware), they can occasionally fight over the USB/IP drivers. If the service fails to start even after a reboot, try temporarily disabling those programs.

SummaryIn 90% of cases, manually starting the USBIPD Device Host in services.msc fixes the issue instantly. If that fails, a clean install of the latest version is your best bet.

Are you having trouble binding a specific device once the service is actually up and running?

When using usbipd-win, the warning "The service is currently not running; a reboot should fix that" usually indicates that the background service responsible for managing USB/IP connections—often specifically the VBoxUsbMon driver—has failed to start automatically after installation or a system change. Core Issue: Service Failure

The usbipd command relies on a Windows service that should be set to "Automatic Start". If this service is inactive, the software cannot bridge your USB devices to the WSL environment. Common Root Causes

Driver Interference: If you have a full installation of VirtualBox, it may clash with the VBoxUsbMon service used by usbipd-win.

Pending Driver Initialization: Some driver updates, especially after using the --force flag, require a full system restart to properly bind the device to the usbipd stub driver.

Installation Glitches: Standard MSI installers sometimes fail to register the service correctly; users frequently report that a clean install via winget resolves the issue. Recommended Troubleshooting Steps Uninstall usbipd via Windows Settings > Apps >

Verify Service Status: Open an Administrator PowerShell and check if the service is registered and running by using the Windows Service Manager command:sc query VBoxUsbMon or sc query usbipd. Manual Start: Try to force-start the services manually: sc start VBoxUsbMon sc start usbipd.

Check Event Logs: If the service fails to start, check the Windows Event Viewer (Application logs) for crash reports or dependency errors.

Reinstall via Winget: If a reboot fails, a "clean" reinstall is often the most effective fix. Run these commands in an Admin terminal: winget uninstall usbipd winget install usbipd.

Disable Core Isolation: In some cases, Windows "Core Isolation" security features can block the necessary drivers from loading.

If you've already rebooted and the warning persists, would you like the specific Event Viewer path to find the exact error code?

This warning typically appears when using usbipd-win, a tool often used to pass through USB devices from Windows to the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2).

While a reboot sometimes resolves temporary driver conflicts, it often doesn't solve the underlying issue if the service fails to start automatically or is blocked by other software. Understanding the Warning

The error "usbipd warning: the service is currently not running" means the USBIP Device Host service on your Windows host has stopped. Without this service, the command-line tool cannot communicate with your USB hardware or share it with your WSL instance. Immediate Troubleshooting Steps

If a reboot did not fix the problem, follow these steps to manually restore the service: 1. Manually Start the Windows Service

The service is designed to start automatically, but you can force it to run via the Services app: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Look for USBIP Device Host in the list. Right-click it and select Start. If it’s already running, try Restart. Pro Tip: Ensure the "Startup type" is set to Automatic. 2. Reinstall Using Winget (Recommended Fix)

Many users find that a "clean" installation via the Windows Package Manager resolves persistent service issues where standard MSI installers fail. Open PowerShell as an Administrator. Run the following commands: powershell winget uninstall usbipd winget install dorssel.usbipd-win Use code with caution.

This often fixes broken paths or driver registration issues that a reboot cannot touch. 3. Resolve VirtualBox Conflicts

If you have VirtualBox installed, it may conflict with the VBoxUsbMon driver used by usbipd-win. Check if VirtualBox is running and try closing it.

Some users report that reinstalling VirtualBox or updating to the latest version of usbipd-win resolves this specific driver clash. 4. Update the WSL Kernel

Fix: USBIPD Service Not Running Warning Getting the "usbipd warning: the service is currently not running" error usually means the background process responsible for sharing USB devices with WSL2 hasn't started.

While a reboot often works, you can usually fix this in seconds without restarting your computer. 🚀 Quick Fix: Start the Service Manually

You can force the service to start using Windows Services or PowerShell. Using PowerShell (Admin):

Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). (If it says no drivers found, that is fine)

Type the following command and hit Enter:Start-Service usbipd Verify it's running:Get-Service usbipd Using Windows Services: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Scroll down to usbipd. Right-click it and select Start. Set Startup type to Automatic so this doesn't happen again. 🛠 Troubleshooting Persistent Issues

If the service fails to start or the error returns after a reboot, try these steps:

1. Update USBIP-WINOutdated versions are prone to service crashes. Run: winget upgrade dorssel.usbipd-win

Or download the latest .msi from the official GitHub releases.

2. Check for Port ConflictsUSBIPD uses port 3240. If another app is using this port, the service will fail. Run: netstat -ano | findstr :3240

If a process appears, you may need to identify and stop that application.

3. Reinstall the DriverIf the service is running but WSL still can't see devices: Uninstall USBIPD from Settings > Apps. Reinstall the latest version. 💡 Pro Tip: WSL Check

Ensure your WSL distribution is updated. In PowerShell, run wsl --update to make sure the kernel supports USB binding. If you're still seeing the warning, let me know: Which WSL distro are you using (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)? Did you recently update Windows? Does the service stop immediately after you start it?

This error message typically occurs when the background service for usbipd-win (often including the VBoxUsbMon

driver) has failed to start or was interrupted. While a reboot is the simplest fix, you can often resolve this by manually restarting the service through Windows tools. Immediate Fix: Manual Service Restart Before rebooting, try to force-start the service using an Administrator PowerShell Stop any existing instances: powershell sc.exe stop usbipd sc.exe stop VBoxUsbMon Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Start the services in order: powershell sc.exe start VBoxUsbMon sc.exe start usbipd Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard If successful, you should be able to run usbipd list without the warning. Common Troubleshooting Steps Check Service Status: services.msc ) and find USBIP Device Host

. Ensure its status is "Running" and Startup Type is set to "Automatic". VirtualBox Interference: If you have VirtualBox installed, its version of the VBoxUsbMon driver might conflict with the one used by usbipd-win

. Closing VirtualBox or updating it can sometimes resolve the conflict. Repair Installation:

If the service consistently fails to start, the registry entries or driver files may be corrupted. Download the latest official usbipd-win GitHub Run the installer and select Check Windows Event Log: If the service crashes immediately upon starting, check the Windows Event Viewer Windows Logs > Application . Look for "Error" entries from the source for specific crash codes.

The warning "usbipd: error: The service is currently not running; a reboot should fix that"

usually indicates that the Windows background service responsible for sharing USB devices is stopped or was never started after installation

. While a reboot is the simplest fix, you can often resolve this immediately by manually starting the service. Quick Fix: Restart the Service Manually You can start the service using Command Prompt PowerShell

with Administrator privileges to avoid a full system reboot. Open Terminal as Admin : Right-click the button and select Terminal (Admin) PowerShell (Admin) Start the Service : Run the following command: sc.exe start usbipd Verify Status : Ensure it is running by typing: sc.exe query usbipd should show 4 RUNNING Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

If the service fails to start or the error persists, follow these steps to identify and fix the underlying issue. 1. Check Service Startup Type

service is designed to start automatically on Windows boot. If it is disabled, it will trigger this error. services.msc USBIP Device Host in the list. Right-click it and select Properties Startup type . If it is "Stopped," click 2. Resolve Driver Conflicts usbipd-win tool relies on drivers like VBoxUsbMon . If you have a full installation of VirtualBox , it may conflict with the usbipd-win : Try a "Repair" installation. Download the latest official GitHub releases and run the installer again, selecting 3. Update WSL and Drivers