How to enable the smart card service on Windows 7

Applications that use smart card readers rely on the Windows smart card service. If the service is disabled, such applications cannot function correctly.

SIM Manager is clever enough to try and start the service by itself, but when it fails to do so - an error message is shown. Usually that means that the service is disabled.

To change that:
1. run the service manager
2. find the 'smart card service' in the list
3. change the startup type to 'Automatic'
4. start the service

After these actions, your smart-card enabled software should work correctly.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• windows
• howto
• smart cards
• card reader
• sim manager
• sim card
• instructions
• software
• tips & tricks
• computers
• apps
• cellphones

[iGameAlotOnTunngle]

@ralienpp Yea i agree, i was just going through my pc/freeing up memory/disabling unused services etc. I can easily get back to it i just didn't want to ruin something lol Thank you. :)

[ralienpp]

The program may not give a meaningful error message like "Smart card service is offline", so you'll be baning your head against walls trying to figure out what is wrong.

I bet that by the time it happens, you'll forget you've disabled the service - so it will take you a long time to figure out where the culprit is.

Hence I recommend you set it to "Manual" :-)

[ralienpp]

@iGameAlotOnTunngle, there are several rules of thumb that make life easier:

- if it isn't broken, don't fix it

- if you change something, remember how you did it - to undo the change if necessary

The safe bet is to set it on "Manual", the service will not start automatically, but will start when a program that actually needs it requests it.

If you leave it "Disabled", it won't be running, and it won't start when some program requires it.

[iGameAlotOnTunngle]

I have the option to disable this service but i don't know what it is...do i need it? ty in advance

[DaBananaboat]

Thanks mate, exactly what I needed.