Client License Service (ClipSVC) Error 126

When you start the Client License Service (ClipSVC) service on your computer, error 126 may occur. Here’s the full error message text:

Windows could not start the Client License Service (ClipSVC) service on Local Computer.

Error 126: The specified module could not be found.

ClipSVC provides infrastructure support for the Microsoft Store. This service is started on demand, and if disabled, applications bought using Windows Store will not behave correctly. You may be unable to install Appx and Msixbundle packages if ClipSVC fails to start. Doing so results in the following error message:

App installation failed with error message: error 0xC0020036: windows.licensing failed to start ClipSvc. Try again and contact the package publisher if the problem persists.
(0xc0020036)

Cause

ClipSVC error 126 occurs if the ServiceDLL registry value points to a non-existent file. It’s most likely caused by malware which sets the ServiceDLL to %SystemRoot%\System32\ClipSVC.dlla instead of %SystemRoot%\System32\ClipSVC.dll

Resolution

To fix the ClipSVC error 126, download clipsvc.reg and run it.

Additionally, make sure that the file “C:\Windows\System32\ClipSVC.dll” exists on the computer. If it’s missing, you’ll need to run the System File Checker.

Restart Windows for the changes to take effect.

FYI, here are the contents of the REG file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC]
"DependOnService"=hex(7):72,00,70,00,63,00,73,00,73,00,00,00,00,00
"Description"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\ClipSVC.dll,-104"
"DisplayName"="@%SystemRoot%\\system32\\ClipSVC.dll,-103"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"FailureActions"=hex:84,03,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,14,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
6b,00,20,00,77,00,73,00,61,00,70,00,70,00,78,00,20,00,2d,00,70,00,00,00
"LaunchProtected"=dword:00000002
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"RequiredPrivileges"=hex(7):53,00,65,00,43,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,47,\
00,6c,00,6f,00,62,00,61,00,6c,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,\
67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,43,00,68,00,61,00,6e,00,67,00,65,00,4e,00,6f,\
00,74,00,69,00,66,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,\
65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,45,00,6e,00,76,\
00,69,00,72,00,6f,00,6e,00,6d,00,65,00,6e,00,74,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,\
69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,00,00
"ServiceSidType"=dword:00000001
"Start"=dword:00000003
"SvcMemSoftLimitInMB"=dword:ffffffff
"Type"=dword:00000020

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\Parameters]
"DisableSubscription"=dword:00000000
"InactivityShutdownDelay"=dword:0000012c
"RefreshRequired"=dword:00000001
"ServiceDll"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
43,00,6c,00,69,00,70,00,53,00,56,00,43,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00
"ServiceDllUnloadOnStop"=dword:00000001
"ProcessBiosKey"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\Security]
"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,b8,00,00,00,c4,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,00,02,00,88,00,06,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,ff,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
05,12,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,fd,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,9d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,04,00,00,00,00,\
00,18,00,94,00,00,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,0f,02,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
14,00,9d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,14,00,00,\
00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,0b,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,\
01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\0]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:36,00,34,00,44,00,31,00,44,00,30,00,34,00,35,00,2d,00,46,00,36,00,\
37,00,35,00,2d,00,34,00,36,00,30,00,42,00,2d,00,38,00,41,00,39,00,34,00,2d,\
00,35,00,37,00,30,00,32,00,34,00,36,00,42,00,33,00,36,00,44,00,41,00,42,00,\
00,00
"DataType0"=dword:00000002
"GUID"=hex:67,d1,90,bc,70,94,39,41,a9,ba,be,0b,bb,f5,b7,4d
"Type"=dword:00000006

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\1]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,08,bc,a3,21,07,85,41
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\2]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,10,bc,a3,21,07,85,41
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\3]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,18,bc,a3,21,07,85,41
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\4]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,20,bc,a3,21,07,85,41
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\5]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,28,bc,a3,21,07,85,41
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\6]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,30,bc,a3,21,07,85,41
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSVC\TriggerInfo\7]
"Action"=dword:00000001
"Data0"=hex:75,68,bc,a3,22,02,8f,02
"DataType0"=dword:00000001
"GUID"=hex:16,28,7a,2d,5e,0c,fc,45,9c,e7,57,0e,5e,cd,e9,c9
"Type"=dword:00000007

I Hope ClipSVC can start correctly after applying the registry fix.