WINDOWS SERVICE

DeviceAssociationService: Device Association Service

Q: How do I check that it is the real service?

On build 26300 it is registered as svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p, runs as LocalSystem and loads C:\Windows\system32\das.dll, signed by Microsoft Windows. It has no dependencies.

Enables pairing between the system and wired or wireless devices.

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Service name	DeviceAssociationService
Display name	Device Association Service
Runs from	C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe
Command line	svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p
Runs as	LocalSystem
Verdict	Depends on what you use
Microsoft, Windows Server 2016 guidance	No guidance

Paths, signer and service account observed on Windows 11 build 26300 on 12 November 2026. Run the commands below to check your own PC.

Should you touch it?

Depends on what you use

Microsoft's guidance for fixed-purpose Windows 10 and 11 IoT Enterprise devices rates it OK to disable. On a PC where you pair devices, leave it. Its default startup type is Manual and it has a start trigger, so Windows starts it when it is needed: on the PC used for this page it was stopped.

What PC Tweaker does with it

PC Tweaker does not change this service. No control in the catalogue stops it, disables it or edits its start type.

Check it yourself

See its state and start type

Get-Service DeviceAssociationService | Format-List Name, DisplayName, Status, StartType
sc qc DeviceAssociationService

PowerShell

02
Let it start only when needed (administrator)
Note the START_TYPE that sc qc printed first, so you can put it back.
```
sc config DeviceAssociationService start= demand
```
cmd

Put it back

Use the start type you noted.

sc config DeviceAssociationService start= <auto|delayed-auto|demand>

cmd

Common questions

What does the DeviceAssociationService service do?

Enables pairing between the system and wired or wireless devices. It runs C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe (svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p) as LocalSystem.

Can I disable DeviceAssociationService?

Depends on what you use. Microsoft's guidance for fixed-purpose Windows 10 and 11 IoT Enterprise devices rates it OK to disable. On a PC where you pair devices, leave it. Its default startup type is Manual and it has a start trigger, so Windows starts it when it is needed: on the PC used for this page it was stopped.

DeviceAssociationService is stopped. Will pairing still work?

A stopped service is its normal idle state: Microsoft lists Manual as the default, and on Windows 11 build 26300 it has a trigger registered, so Windows starts it when it is needed. Check that the startup type has not been changed to Disabled: Get-Service DeviceAssociationService | Select-Object Status, StartType.

How do I check that it is the real service?

On build 26300 it is registered as svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p, runs as LocalSystem and loads C:\Windows\system32\das.dll, signed by Microsoft Windows. It has no dependencies.