Winsock IFS Driver - Windows 10 Service
Winsock IFS Driver.
This service also exists in Windows 11, 8 and Vista.
Startup Type
Winsock IFS Driver is a kernel driver, therefore its startup must be configured depending on installed hardware. Changing its startup configuration might cause unexpected hardware issues. In the table below you can see how it is configured on my system, but your default settings might differ from mine.
| Windows 10 version | Home | Pro | Education | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1507 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1511 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1607 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1703 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1709 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1803 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1809 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1903 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 1909 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 2004 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 20H2 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 21H1 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 21H2 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
| 22H2 | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled | Disabled |
Default Properties
| Display name: | Winsock IFS Driver |
| Service name: | ws2ifsl |
| Type: | kernel |
| Path: | %WinDir%\system32\drivers\ws2ifsl.sys |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | PNP_TDI |
Default Behavior
The Winsock IFS Driver service is a kernel mode driver. If Winsock IFS Driver fails to start, the error is logged. Windows 10 startup proceeds, but a message box is displayed informing you that the ws2ifsl service has failed to start.
Restore Default Startup Type of Winsock IFS Driver
Automated Restore
1. Select your Windows 10 edition and release, and then click on the Download button below.
2. Save the RestoreWinsockIFSDriverWindows10.bat file to any folder on your hard drive.
3. Right-click the downloaded batch file and select Run as administrator.
4. Restart the computer to save changes.
Note. Make sure that the ws2ifsl.sys file exists in the %WinDir%\system32\drivers folder. If this file is missing you can try to restore it from your Windows 10 installation media.