Learn how to fix the “IISRESET Access Denied” error. Our IIS Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

“IISRESET Access Denied” Error | Causes & Fixes

You can stop worrying if you have encountered the “IISRESET access denied” error. According to our Experts, this error usually pops up when we try to restart Internet Information Services via the `iisreset` command, but our user account lacks sufficient permissions.

Today, we will explore the different causes and fixes for this issue.

An Overview:

• 1. Insufficient User Privileges
• 2. User Account Control Restrictions
• 3. Security Policies or Group Policies
• 4. IIS Service Permissions or Issues
• 5. Windows Firewall or Antivirus Restrictions
• 6. Running IISRESET from an Elevated Command Prompt
• 7. Corrupted User Profile
• Troubleshooting “IISRESET Access Denied”

Common Causes and Fixes

1. Insufficient User Privileges

The `iisreset` command requires administrative privileges to stop and restart IIS services. If logged in as a regular user or a non-administrator account, we will run into the “access denied” error.

Fix:

1. First, run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Then, right-click on Command Prompt or PowerShell and select “Run as Administrator”.
3. – If we use a regular user account, we have to switch to an administrator account or elevate privileges by selecting “Run as Administrator”.

2. User Account Control Restrictions

UAC can block administrative tasks even if we have administrator rights, especially if set to a high-security level.

Fix:

• Run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator.
• Alternatively, temporarily adjust UAC settings if needed:
  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Then, go to User Accounts > Change User Account Control settings.
  3. Now, move the slider to a lower level. Be careful, as this reduces security).

3. Security Policies or Group Policies

Group Policies (GPO) or Local Security Policies tend to restrict executing administrative commands like `iisreset.`

Some organizations implement security policies that limit what even administrators can do on a system; in that case, check with your IT department. Else, follow the fix given below.

Fix:
We can check and adjust the policies ourselves with these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Editor (`gpedit.msc`).
2. Then, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Information Services.
3. Also, ensure no policies are blocking the `iisreset` command.

4. IIS Service Permissions or Issues

The error may be caused by permission issues or misconfigurations in IIS services, such as the IIS Admin Service or World Wide Web Publishing Service.

Fix: We need to verify IIS services are running with appropriate privileges:

1. Open Services (`services.msc`).
2. Then, locate the IIS Admin Service and World Wide Web Publishing Service.
3. Ensure they are running and have sufficient permissions.
4. Now, restart these services manually if `iisreset` fails.

5. Windows Firewall or Antivirus Restrictions

Firewall or antivirus software can block commands like `iisreset` as a protective measure.

Fix: Temporarily disable the Windows Defender Firewall:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Then, go to Windows Defender Firewall > Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
3. Now, turn it off temporarily to test the command.
4. Review antivirus software settings to prevent blocking the `iisreset` command.

6. Running IISRESET from an Elevated Command Prompt

Running the command from a non-elevated prompt will result in an “access denied” error, even with administrator credentials.

Fix:

1. Right-click on Command Prompt or PowerShell and select Run as Administrator.
2. Alternatively, press `Win + X` and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

7. Corrupted User Profile

A corrupted user profile can lead to permission-related errors, even with administrator rights.

Fix:

1. Try running the `iisreset` command from a different administrator account.
2. If successful, consider creating a new user profile to replace the corrupted one.

Troubleshooting “IISRESET Access Denied”

1. Verify we are logged in with an administrator account and run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Lower UAC security levels temporarily if it’s blocking the command.
3. Review and modify group policies restricting administrative commands, if applicable.
4. Ensure the IIS Admin Service and World Wide Web Publishing Service run correctly and have sufficient permissions.
5. Temporarily disable firewalls and antivirus software to determine if they block the command.
6. Always execute `iisreset` from an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell.
7. Use another administrator account to rule out a corrupted user profile.

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Conclusion

With the above steps, we can resolve the “IISRESET access denied” error and restart IIS services without interruptions.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix the “IISRESET Access Denied” error.