Disk Management is a popular and helpful tool for Windows users. However, it might show an error that the Disk Management is unable to connect to Virtual Disk Service due to some glitches or corrupted files.

If you are facing the same problem connecting virtual disk service, then there is nothing to worry about because we are going to tell you the tricks to fix this issue in some simple steps. So, without wasting time, let’s read on!

Why Is the Disk Management Unable to Connect to Virtual Disk Service?

Disk Management is a helpful tool on windows PC. It helps to protect and manage data on disk and improve the performance of disks. Because of being a useful and popular tool, Disk Management is used by many users and many of them have faced the same issue that the tool showing an error which is – ‘Unable to connect to Virtual Disk Service’.

There are several reasons behind this and you don’t need to worry about it because we have listed some solutions to this problem according to the user’s recommendation who already has fixed this problem using the solution. So, what you need to do is, just apply the solutions below one by one and check if the problem is solved or not.

How to Fix ‘Connecting to Virtual Disk Service’ – Disk Management Unable to Connect Issue

As there are several reasons for causing the error connecting to virtual disk service, there are many ways to fix it. Here are some best ways to fix this error. Try these solutions and you can surely fix the problem on your PC.

Solution-1: Unplug External Storage Devices

If you found a problem connecting to the virtual disk service with the Disk management tool, then the first thing you should do is check the external storage devices. It could be a pen drive, USB storage, portable hard disk, card reader, or a phone that is connected to your PC. These external devices may not be compatible with the Disk Management tool and this will cause the error.

According to the feedback of many users, the main cause of this error was the external storage device to them and they fixed the error by ejecting the external devices.

So, eject the external storage device if there is any of them are connected to your PC. Then check if the issue is gone or not. Hopefully, there will be no error after removing the USB device and the Disk Management will successfully able to connect to Virtual Disk Service.

Solution-2: Manually Enable Virtual Disk Service

If you find the issue still remains after trying the first solution, then it is probably a problem with the Virtual Disk Service itself. It happens for many users that the Virtual Disk Service is disabled on their PC and thus, they unable to connect to it. This problem can easily be solved by enabling the virtual disk service manually.

You can check if your Virtual Disk Service (VDS) is disabled and follow the instructions to enable it:

• Open the Run box by pressing Windows and R keys simultaneously
• Then, copy and paste this into the search box of ‘Run’ – services.msc
• Find the Virtual Disk Service from the list and open it by double-click
• From the dropdown list of Startup type, select Automatic or Manual then press Apply and OK

Now try to connect to the VDS again and I hope you can easily connect to VDS after enabling it.

Solution-3: Allow Through Windows Firewall

The firewall may block the VDS connection on both the local and remote computers and as a result, you might face the problem of connecting to VDS. For this issue, you need to unblock the VDS from your firewall to continue the Disk Management process. Follow the instructions below to allow it through the Firewall:

• Click Start and go to Settings
• Next, choose Update & Security
• After that, click on Windows Defender and click Open Windows Defender Security Center

• Now, from Firewall & network protection, click on Allow an app through firewall

• It will take you to a new window and there you will find an option named Change settings
• From there, find Remote Volume Management and tick both boxes private and public, then click OK to save the changes.

If the problem was because of Firewall, then this trick will surely solve the problem. Or if the culprit is the Windows Defender, then try the next solution.

Solution-4: Configure Windows Defender

If unblocking the firewall unable to fix your issue, then there is a possibility that the windows defender is blocking the connection between the Disk Management and the Virtual Disk Service. Hence, disabling the Windows Defender can solve the issue. Follow the steps below to configure your windows defender:

• Open Run by pressing the Windows + R keys simultaneously
• Then, go to Local Group Policy Editor by entering gpedit.msc on the run box
• Now, go to Computer Configuration\ Administrative Templates\ Windows Components\Windows Defender Antivirus
• From Windows Defender Antivirus, double-click on Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus

• Here, turn on Enable and click Apply then OK to save the changes

Now reboot your PC and check if the issue still exists or not. Many users have solved the issue with this technique who has that issue because of the Windows Defender.

Solution-5: Use SFC/DISM

You can easily check if your disk and partitions have any errors with the built-in tools of windows named SFC and DISM. If you find any errors there, then you can also fix them using some commands.

Here is the instruction for running the SFC command:

• Open Command prompt as Administrator 
• Inside the command prompt, type sfc/scannow, and press Enter

Now wait until the process finishes and check whether the Disk Management is now able to connect to VDS or not.

Here are the steps for running the DISM command:

• Open Command prompt as Administrator 
• Now, type the following commands and press Enter after each command – 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

After finishing all these processes, restart your PC and your problem with connecting to Virtual Disk Service will be solved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Enable Virtual Disk Services?

Here are the steps to enable Virtual Disk Service (VDS) on your PC:

• Open the Run box as instructed above
• Then, open Windows Service Manage by searching msc on the Run box
• On the list of WSM, find the Virtual Disk Service

Now, follow the instruction of the Solution-2 form above and you will be easily able to enable Virtual Disk Service.

What Is the Virtual Disk Service?

Virtual Disk Service (VDA) is a service provided by Microsoft Windows which takes requests of the end-user, application, or script and executes the configuration operations and queries accordingly.

The VDA provides an Application Programming Interface (API) to the Volume and Disk Management features of Windows. An application program will be able to use these services only if the Virtual Disk Service converts the basic system service into the API.

How Do I Mount a Virtual Drive?

Follow the steps below to attach or mount a Virtual Drive:

• Go to Start and search for Disk Management tool
• Then, click on the Action button
• Next, click Attach VHD from the window
• There, locate the .vhdx or .vhd file to that tool using the Browser button
• Click OK to save the changes

By following this instruction, you will be able to mount a Virtual Drive using the Disk Management tool.

Conclusion

I hope you have tried the methods that are mentioned above and successfully fixed Disk Management’s unable to connect to the Virtual Disk Service issue. Because many users have fixed the same problem using these methods. 

If you already have fixed the problem, then please leave feedback in the comment section about which method helped you to fix it or if you have solved the problem using any other techniques. It can help other users who are facing the same issue and we will be grateful to you.