Base Filtering Engine - Windows 8 Service
The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) is a service that manages firewall and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) policies and implements user mode filtering. Stopping or disabling the BFE service will significantly reduce the security of the system. It will also result in unpredictable behavior in IPsec management and firewall applications.
This service also exists in Windows 10, 11, 7 and Vista.
Startup Type
| Windows 8 edition | Windows 8 | Windows 8.1 | Windows 8.1 Update 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Pro | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Enterprise | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Default Properties
| Display name: | Base Filtering Engine |
| Service name: | BFE |
| Type: | share |
| Path: | %WinDir%\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceNoNetwork |
| File: | %WinDir%\System32\bfe.dll |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | NetworkProvider |
| Object: | NT AUTHORITY\LocalService |
| Privileges: |
|
Default Behavior
The Base Filtering Engine service runs as NT AUTHORITY\LocalService in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other services might run in the same process. If Base Filtering Engine fails to start, the error is logged. Windows 8 startup proceeds, but a message box is displayed informing you that the BFE service has failed to start.
Dependencies
Base Filtering Engine won't start, if the following services are stopped or disabled:
The following services are unable to start if Base Filtering Engine is stopped:
- IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
- Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
- IPsec Policy Agent
- Network Connectivity Assistant
- Routing and Remote Access
- Windows Firewall
- Windows Defender Network Inspection System Driver
Restore Default Startup Type of Base Filtering Engine
Automated Restore
1. Select your Windows 8 release and edition, and then click on the Download button below.
2. Save the RestoreBaseFilteringEngineWindows8.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.
Note. Make sure that the bfe.dll file exists in the %WinDir%\System32 folder. If this file is missing you can try to restore it from your Windows 8 installation media.