Skip to content

WINDOWS SERVICE

wlidsvc: Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant

Enables user sign-in through Microsoft account identity services.

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Service namewlidsvc
Display nameMicrosoft Account Sign-in Assistant
Runs fromC:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe
Command linesvchost.exe -k netsvcs -p
Runs asLocalSystem
VerdictDepends on what you use
Microsoft, Windows Server 2016 guidanceOK to disable (Microsoft accounts are N/A on Windows Server)

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 states that if this service is stopped, users cannot sign in to the computer with their Microsoft account. Both of its lists rate it OK to disable, with the note that Microsoft accounts do not apply to Windows Server. So it depends on how you sign in: with a Microsoft account, leave it. Its default startup type is Manual: on the PC used for this page it was stopped, with a trigger registered to start it.

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

  1. See its state and start type

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

  2. Let it start only when needed (administrator)

    Note the START_TYPE that sc qc printed first, so you can put it back.

    sc config wlidsvc start= demand
    cmd

  3. Put it back

    Use the start type you noted.

    sc config wlidsvc start= <auto|delayed-auto|demand>
    cmd

Common questions

What does the wlidsvc service do?

Enables user sign-in through Microsoft account identity services. It runs C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe (svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p) as LocalSystem.

Can I disable wlidsvc?

Depends on what you use. Microsoft states that if this service is stopped, users cannot sign in to the computer with their Microsoft account. Both of its lists rate it OK to disable, with the note that Microsoft accounts do not apply to Windows Server. So it depends on how you sign in: with a Microsoft account, leave it. Its default startup type is Manual: on the PC used for this page it was stopped, with a trigger registered to start it.

What breaks if I disable wlidsvc?

Microsoft's description names one thing: users can no longer sign in to the computer with their Microsoft account. If your Windows account is a Microsoft account, do not disable it.

How do I check that it is the real service?

On Windows 11 build 26300 it is registered as svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p, runs as LocalSystem and loads C:\Windows\system32\wlidsvc.dll, signed by Microsoft Windows. It depends on RpcSs and has a trigger registered.