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In Short.
To fix the 'Please wait for the GPSVC' screen issue in Windows 11, you can try a few methods. First, boot your PC in Safe Mode and troubleshoot from there. Then, restart your PC to resolve any service deadlock or interference. You can also run SFC and DISM scans to repair system files. Restarting the Group Policy Service or modifying the GPSVC registry file might help too. Resetting local group policy settings or performing a system restore can also be effective. If all else fails, you can reset your PC to reinstall the operating system.

The 'Please wait for the GPSVC' screen can arrive at the startup, shutdown, or when you are trying to switch users. GPSVC stands for Group Policy Client Service Policy, which applies policies enforced by the administrator to all computer users.

Typically, the error presents itself when the GPSVC service malfunctions or the particular system files are corrupted or damaged. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to resolve this problem on your computer.

Since this error does not let you access your PC, first, you must log in using Safe Mode on your PC. It will allow you to run the necessary troubleshooting steps to rectify the problem.

Boot Up your PC in Safe Mode

Since this error does not let you access your system the regular way, you would need to boot into safe mode to be able to troubleshoot your PC. Safe Mode only loads essential services and software on your PC to avoid interference by any third-party app/services.

First, power on your system, and at the first signal of boot up, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to force shut down the system. If you have a Desktop computer, feel free to pull the plug on it. Repeat this process three times.

On the fourth attempt, let the PC boot up normally. Windows will automatically load the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

On the WinRE screen, click the 'Troubleshoot' option to proceed.

Click the 'Advanced options' tile on the next screen to proceed.

Now, locate and click on the 'Startup settings' tile to continue.

Afterward, click the 'Restart' button in the bottom right corner to continue. This will restart your PC immediately.

Once restarted, you will see a numbered list of the modes available. Press the number for the 'Safe Mode with Networking' option, as it allows you to connect to the Internet.

Note: To access the Internet in 'Safe Mode with Networking' mode, you might need to connect your PC using a LAN cable, as the system might disable Wi-Fi.

1. Restart Your PC

A simple service deadlock or third-party interference could often cause the issue. And though a restart may seem like a very elementary fix, it can work wonders and resolve issues in a swish.

To do so, head to the Start Menu and click the 'Power' icon. Then, select the 'Restart' option.

2. Run SFC and DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management scans will check and repair the existing operating system files installed on your device and other system files currently on your PC.

Head to the Start Menu and type 'Terminal'. Then, right-click on the 'Terminal' tile and select the 'Run as administrator' option to proceed.

Next, if you are not logged in with an admin account, enter the credentials for one. Otherwise, click on the 'Yes' button to proceed.

After that, click on the 'Chevron' (downwards arrow) icon and select the 'Command Prompt' option.

Then, type or copy and paste the below-mentioned command and hit Enter on your keyboard. This will restore the currently installed OS image on your device.

DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth

Once completed, type or copy and paste the following command to check and repair the system files on your PC. SFC is a free tool from Microsoft that can help you find and recover corrupted files on your PC.

SFC /scannow

3. Restart Group Policy Service

The Group policy is enforced on the computer through the GPSVC service; a deadlock or interference from other apps/services can also cause it to malfunction. A simple restart of the service can sometimes resolve the issue fairly easily.

First, head to the Start Menu and type 'Services'. Then, click on the 'Services' tile from the search results.

Next, manually scroll down or press the G key on the keyboard to jump to services starting from the alphabet. Once located, right-click on the service and select the 'Properties' option.

On the properties window, click 'Stop.' This will disable the service. Wait a few minutes, then click on the 'Start' button.

Finally, click 'Apply' and 'OK' to save the changes. Now, restart your computer to check if the issue has been resolved.

4. Modify GPSVC Registry File

First, head to the Start Menu and type 'Registry.' Then, click on the 'Registry Editor' tile from the search results to proceed.

On the Registry Editor window, type or copy and paste the below directory in the address bar and hit Enter to navigate to it.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost

Now, right-click the 'Svchost' key from the left section and hover over the 'New' option. Then, select 'Key' to proceed. Rename the new key to GPSvcGroup.

Next, select the new key and right-click on it. Hover over the 'New' option and select the 'DWORD' option. You shall see the new file in the right section of the window. Rename it to AuthenticationCapabilities.

After that, double-click on the DWORD file to open it.

Next, overwrite the 'Value' field and insert 12320 and select the 'Decimal' option. Finally, click 'OK' to save changes.

Once done, restart your computer and check if the issue has been rectified.

5. Reset Local Group Policy Settings

First, head to the Start Menu and type 'Terminal'. Then, from the search results, right-click on the 'Terminal' tile and select the 'Run as administrator' option.

Next, a UAC (User Account Control) window will appear on your screen. If you are not logged in as an admin, provide credentials for one. Otherwise, click on the 'Yes' button.

After that, click on the 'chevron' icon and select the 'Command Prompt' option.

On the Command Prompt tab, type or copy and paste the below-mentioned command and hit Enter to proceed.

RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers" && RD /S /Q "WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"

Once the above command is executed successfully, type or copy and paste the below command and press Enter to execute.

gpupdate.exe /force

Once done, restart your computer from the Start Menu and check if the issue has been resolved.

6. Roll Back to a System Restore

If you have created a system restore point previously, you can easily roll back to it and regain full-fledged access to your system.

Head to the Start Menu and type 'Control'. Then, click on the 'Control Panel' tile from the search results.

After that, locate and click on the 'Recovery' tile from the grid.

Next, click on the 'Open System Restore' option from the list. This will open a separate window on your screen.

From the separately opened window, click on the 'Next' button.

All created system restore points will be listed on the screen. Click to select the desired one and then click on the 'Next' button to initiate the rolling back process.

Next, a list of drives the rollback will impact will be displayed, along with the timestamp of the restore point created. You can also check the programs that will be affected by clicking on the 'Scan for affected programs' button. A new window will appear on the screen.

On the new window, you can view the programs that will be deleted and the ones that will be restored (since no programs will be affected on the test PC, the list in the screenshot is empty). Click on the 'Close' button to navigate to the previous window.

Finally, click the 'Finish' button to initiate the rollback process.

7. Reset Your PC

If none of the methods worked for you, or you did not have a System Restore point to roll back to the best bet is to reset your PC. This will completely reinstall the operating system without impacting your personal files and folders.

To reset your PC, head to the Settings app from the Start Menu.

After that, make sure you have selected the 'System' tab from the left sidebar present on the Settings window.

Next, from the right section of the window, scroll down to locate and click on the 'Recovery' tile to continue.

Now, locate the 'Reset this PC' tile under the 'Recovery options' section and click on the 'Reset PC' button on the tile's far right edge. This will open a separate window.

You will have two options on the separate 'Reset this PC' window. Choose the 'Keep my files' by clicking on it to roll the system settings and apps to a fresh start whilst keeping your personal files and folders intact.

On the next screen, you must choose a method for reinstalling the operating system on your machine. Since there could be an issue with the copy already present on your system, it is recommended that you click on the 'Cloud download' option.

Note: 'Cloud download' will require an active internet connection and consume upwards of 4GB of data.

After that, Windows will list the settings that you have chosen. if you wish to change any of it, click the 'Change settings' option to continue.

If you change the setting, you can configure the following settings on the next screen. You can choose not to restore the apps and settings by clicking on the toggle switch under the 'Restore preinstalled apps?' option and bringing it to the 'No' position. You can even switch from the Cloid download to the local installation by clicking on the toggle switch under the 'Download Windows?' option to change the installation method. Once adjusted according to your preference, click the 'Confirm' button to proceed.

Then, click the 'Next; button at the bottom of the window to continue.

It might take a while for Windows to load the next screen. On the next screen, Windows will list the impact of resetting your PC. Read them carefully and click the 'Reset' button to start resetting.

Your machine may restart several times, which is completely normal. Depending on your computer and the settings for resetting the PC, it may take several minutes.