Fix GeForce Experience “Unable to connect to NVIDIA. Try again later.” Error

— Computers

For the past month or so I’ve been getting an error message “Unable to connect to NVIDIA. Try again later.” whenever I start up nVidia GeForce Experience. I hadn’t used GeForce Experience until I built a new desktop PC with a GeForce GTX 770, but since then I’ve come to appreciate the ease of updating drivers that it provides.

When this error message started occurring, it prevented GeForce Experience from updating itself or the video card driver. While it’s not a big deal to manually download new drivers from nVidia’s website, I wanted to fix the problem rather than work around it. Fortunately I found a solution at https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/528477/geforce-experience/cannot-connect-to-nvidia/4/.

It turns out that the NVIDIA Network Service was stuck in “Starting” status, which caused GeForce Experience to throw the error message. I opened Services (Start Menu > Run and type services.msc) and verified that the service was indeed stuck in “Starting” status.

Screenshot of Services window showing NVIDIA Network Service stuck in Starting status.
The NVIDIA Network Service was stuck in “Starting” status.

The next step is to delete (or rename) the NSManagedTasks.xml file in C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation\NetService\. Note that it’s in the ProgramData folder, not the Program Files (x86) folder. You may need to show hidden folders in order to see it.

Screenshot of NSManagedTasks.xml file.
Delete or rename the NSManagedTasks.xml file.

Once NSManagedTasks.xml is deleted or renamed, open Task Manager, click the button to Show processes from all users, then end the NVNetworkService.exe *32 process.

Screenshot of Task Manager showing the NVNetworkService.exe process.
End the NVNetworkService.exe *32 process.

Now that the process is ended, go back to Services, right-click on the NVIDIA Network Service and start it.

Screenshot of the NVIDIA Network Service started.
The NVIDIA Network Service should not be started.

Exit GeForce Experience if it’s running, and start it up again. It should now be able to connect.

Comments

  1. IT WORKED !! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT !! Thank you very much , good sir !
  2. Hey there, seems like a great fix for me... it is Def in sarting mode on my laptop... but.. of course something else must go wrong. I can not find the NetService part on the programdata. it doesnt show. therefore i cannot fix the issue because i cannot delete or rename... why does it not show?
    1. Hi Gregg, The NetService folder is in the NVIDIA Corporation folder, not directly in the ProgramData folder. Look for it there. If it's still not showing up (I have Windows 7 if that matters), you could try searching for "NSManagedTasks.xml" from inside the ProgramData folder. It came up right away for me. As a last resort, you could try uninstalling GeForce Experience with Revo Uninstaller or a similar tool that cleans up and removes leftover files. It should take care of the NSManagedTasks.xml file, but it will also wipe out any preferences or settings you have saved for GeForce Experience. Good luck.
      1. Hey Josh. Thank you for the reply. Really appreciate it. I Checked exactly as you showed in ProgramData Nvidia Corp file. there is no "NetService" folder for me to click on and also when i put the : NSManagedTasks.xml file it says windows cannot find that file. LOL. i have windows 8.1 (64bit.) i kinda dont want to uninstall and reinstall specially when i see awesome fixes like yours.. :( Thank you and kind regards.
        1. By the Way... Really love your website. It is awesome.
        2. Hey, can it be that ProgramData folder is hidden, because mine was and I made them "unhidden" so that I could find the folder. I was then able to find the NSManagedTasks.xml file and delete it. :) Hope I helped :)
          1. The easiest way to get to Program Data folder is: Start > Run > %programdata%
  4. Interesting idea hope it works! The problem im having is that ive managed to find and delete the NSmanagedTasks.xml file but when I open up task manager and go to processes I can't find the NVNetworkService.exe anywhere I tried just closing and reopening Geforce Experience to see if it would work anyway but to no avail Just wondering if you had any ideas?
    1. Nick - are you sure you clicked 'show processes for all users'? If it's still not there then I guess it's not running and you should be able to go straight to the services and start it.
  6. Thanks a lot for sharing the fix, it worked like a charm... may God bless you lots.
  11. There's a related issue that can happen if you've been using the Windows Encrypted File system. If you have put your user's TEMP directory under EFS, then subsequent installers may sometimes encrypt files that get installed. In my case, the NVIDIA Network Service files in the C:Program Files (x86)NVIDIA CorporationNetService directory had gotten encrypted, so the network service could never start. Once I decrypted those files, the service would run just fine and the updates started happening properly...
  12. you, sir, deserve a medal. MUCH appreciated, GFE was driving me mad these last weeks...
  13. Didn't work for me... I searched for the NSManagedTasks.xml and there was no such file on my PC. There wasn't even a NetService folder under the NVIDIA Corporation in the Program Files (only inside the x86 one). After I kill the process, I told him to start the service. It took a long time and in the end, it says he couldn't start the service because he didn't respond in able time... Any ideas?
    1. You should read the instructions more carefully. It's under ProgramData, not Program Files.
      1. Sorry! That's what I meant. My Windows 7 is in Portuguese, so there are these two folders: 'Arquivos de Programas' (ProgramData) and 'Arquivos de Programas x86' (Program Files x86). There are NVIDIA Corporation folders inside both, but I can only find the NetService folder under the x86 subfolder. There also isn't a NSManagedTasks.xml file to be found anywhere in my PC.
        1. Nevermind, just found it... The language confused me when looking for folder names. Worked perfectly after doing it right. Sorry for the mixup and thanks a lot for the fix
  14. Guys just copy the folder's rute and go like a website. open any folder and copy/paste the "C:ProgramDataNVIDIA CorporationNetService" bless.
  16. This worked perfectly, you are a god lol. the only comment i really have is that it was a bit difficult to find the "program data" folder. it was my first time looking for that folder so for others who have never used it, it might be harder to find
  18. IT REALLY WORKED!!! wait... is this permanent?? i mean, if whenever we restarted our PC or Laptop, will it be the same??
  20. Wow 2 minutes googleing in english and found a solution :D nice one!
  21. Awesome And Thanks Muchly, worked perfectly just as described!! Was tiring of the pain in the butt error, Cheers!
  22. Worked an absolute treat. I will say this after reading it a couple of time I realised the folder i Needed was ProgramData NOT files. (Which I normally Hide Program Data anyway) Once I got past that, no issues what so ever.
  23. Thanks a lot! I can´t belive that it worked...
  26. Hey ! Josh McCarty... Thanks a lot ! It works :D
  28. Many many thanks!! Works like a charm! :D
  29. You sir deserve a medal !!! IT WORKED !! Thank you very much :D
  30. Thanks a bunch! Worked for Windows 8.1, I couldn't find the folder but used the suggestion in the comments about copying and pasting "C:ProgramDataNVIDIA CorporationNetService" which got me there just fine
  36. Can't thank you enough for this fix here. Thought it might have been the long list of exceptions in my host file ;D but turns out it wasn't. Sounds like a boo boo from NVidia that they can't actually fix just by pushing out an update. Thanks again.
  38. Hey thanks a lot man. This helped so much. Really appreciate you taking the time to make this guide. Right on
  39. I just want to thank you, man. You have no idea how much stressed I was, regarding this issue. A bundle of humble thanks. :)
  40. It didnt worked for me, i couldnt even find NSMManagedTasks. but i ended the process and did exactly like u said to us but it wont start/it fails to start, any help?
    1. You may need to show hidden folders to find the file. You MUST delete the NSManagedTasks.xml file for this to work.
  42. Good job Josh! That worked perfectly and it took less than 2 minutes to fix it.
  44. I found an easier fix. Goto: Windows > msconfig > services > NVidia network service > Check on. Chances are you probably turned this off as you intended it to be when you were in services messing around with things you shouldn't be.
    1. Why would anyone turn it off? Unlikely to be the cause of the problem. The fix is as stated in the original.
  48. thank you so much for this! it really worked!
  51. You, sir, are a true helper! Thank you very much, worked like a charm.
  53. You Sir are a genius...thanks for this :)
  54. Thanks a lot bro, it worked like a charm.
  55. Took the time to post just to thank you for the easy to follow instructions that worked perfectly! You rock.
  56. YOU ARE THE BEST thx to help us , 2 month i search for this solutions ! my english isn't good but ... oh fuck you rules ! thanks , you are the best
  57. Thanks so much. This has been plaguing me for a long time now!
  58. thanks .. its really worked !!!
  59. Fantastic!!! Great solution. Finally got rid of that annoying exclamation mark.
  60. Thank you! Had issues with this wince V1.8, finally fixed!!
  62. Your fix worked for me (Win 7, Geforce Experience 1.8.2.0). Thank you!
  64. Thanks a lot man, it worked like a charm! You're the best!
  67. You are the BEST what a freaking incredibly specific and circuitous problem that you answered perfectly. I love the internet.
  68. You made my day... really. Since a freeze yesterday my Windows system started really, really slow. I searched here and there for answers but couldn't find any. Got recommendations to reinstall everything, this, that and the other - all very time consuming. Then I checked the event viewer and discovered some entries about problems with Nvidia. Entered that problem in Google and was directed to this site. Even though your solution was related to another problem I thought - why not try it - and guess what - it worked like a charm. You're the man! Thanks a bunch!!
  69. Thanks for posting this up, it solved my problem. An excellent and clear explanation.
  70. Very good explanation Very nice and clear explained, step for step, fantastic! Thabk you very much for this super post!
  71. it's really works! I follow this steps and I restart the pc and work! Thank you! forma CHILE!
  72. Really works!!! Thank you!!! Спасибо большое, очень долго искал как исправить эту проблему. Жалко, что твой сайт нашел не сразу.
  73. Thanks so much, I followed directions because I am not retarded like some people and it worked great! I hope this is a permanent fix!
    1. Well, you didn't follow the instructions properly then.
    2. im using win 8 and in my task manager there is not nvnetworkservice.exe pls help
      1. Did you click on "Show processes from all users"?
  75. Thanks very much - good instructions, and it worked fine first time. Cheers!
  76. Finally !! Got it fixed,Thank u very much! XD
  78. Thank it worked :). What a randoom thing x).
  79. Thanks a lot man.you rock ;)
  80. Wow, Thanks it really works.. :)
  81. In windows 8 you can find the process in Task Manager - Details! Cheers!
  82. Wonderful, It worked perfectly. This issue was kind off annoying. Thanks
  83. This worked! Thank you very much for sharing this!
  84. I did exactly what was said. I went into ProgramData, deleted NSManagedTasks.xml file, ended NVNetworkService.exe in task manager and started the program in Services.msc ...Am I missing something? It still isn't connecting.
  85. You are awesome! This worked beautifully for me. Even on this POS Windows 8 OS. Thank you for posting!

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