How to Repair Windows 11 Windows Defender Credential Guard Startup Errors
Windows Defender Credential Guard is a security feature in Windows 11 that helps protect your system from advanced persistent threats by isolating secrets, such as credentials and encryption keys, from the rest of the operating system. However, if you encounter startup errors related to Windows Defender Credential Guard, it can disrupt your system’s security and functionality. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to troubleshoot and fix common startup errors associated with Windows Defender Credential Guard in Windows 11.
Understanding Windows Defender Credential Guard
Windows Defender Credential Guard uses virtualization-based security to protect sensitive information from being stolen by attackers. It helps prevent attacks like Pass-the-Hash and Pass-the-Ticket by storing credentials securely in a virtualized environment that is isolated from the rest of the operating system.
Common Windows Defender Credential Guard Startup Errors
1. Error Code 0x80070643: This error indicates that the Windows Defender Credential Guard service failed to start.
2. Error Code 0x800706d9: This error may occur if the Windows Defender Credential Guard service is disabled or not configured correctly.
Steps to Repair Windows Defender Credential Guard Startup Errors:
- Check Windows Defender Credential Guard Settings: Navigate to the Windows Security app and ensure that Windows Defender Credential Guard is enabled. If it is disabled, enable it and restart your system.
- Update Device Drivers: Outdated or incompatible device drivers can cause startup errors. Update your device drivers to the latest versions from the manufacturer’s website.
- Run System File Checker: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the ‘sfc /scannow’ command to scan and repair corrupted system files.
- Perform System Scan: Use Windows Security to run a full system scan and check for any malware or security threats that may be causing the startup errors.
- Check Group Policy Settings: Incorrect Group Policy settings can impact Windows Defender Credential Guard. Verify the Group Policy settings related to Credential Guard and make necessary adjustments.
Potential Issues and Alternative Solutions:
If you encounter issues during the repair process, consider the following alternative solutions:
- Restart your computer and attempt the troubleshooting steps again.
- Restore your system to a previous point using System Restore.
- Consult with IT support services for advanced assistance in resolving the startup errors.
By following these steps and tips, you can effectively repair Windows 11 startup errors related to Windows Defender Credential Guard and ensure the security and stability of your system.

DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing
High Performance Multi-WAN Router - The Vigor 2962 makes full use of FTTP Fibre Broadband at up to 2.2Gbps throughput for single or multi-WAN configurations. With Quality of Service, Firewall and Content Filtering.
Buy Now on Amazon
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up
WiFI mesh coverage of up to 6,000 sq ft and up to 75 devices, With each satellite (sold separately) you can extend the range by up to 2,000 sq ft
Buy Now on Amazon
DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL
VDSL and Ethernet Load Balancer - Connect the Vigor 2865 to Superfast Fibre with the integrated VDSL modem. Use the Ethernet WAN with Cable and Ultrafast FTTP. Load Balance multiple connections to boost performance.
Buy Now on Amazon
TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh
Wi-Fi 7 Routers: With powerful Wi-Fi 7 performance, lightning-fast wired connections, and brand-new design
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)
NAS and iSCSI-SAN unified storage solution for server virtualization
Buy Now on Amazon
WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives
Centralised network storage: Organise your entire media collection, photos and files in one central, network location
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black
Online volume expansion
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM
The short depth design is suitable for installing in smaller racks or space-constrained locations
Buy Now on Amazon
Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)
Model Number: ST10000VN0008
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion
8GB DDR4 RAM (2 x SODIMM slots, max. 64GB, optional ECC RAM support)
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives
Accelerated Performance: 174% higher 4K random read IOPS and 76% faster sequential write speeds compared to its predecessor
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution
Powerful Performance - Over 3,100/2,600 MB/s sequential read/write throughput and over 173,100/80,800 random read/write IOPS2 support heavier applications
Buy Now on Amazon