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What is Event ID 16 & How to Quickly Fix it
Reconfiguring the network settings usually does the trick!
6 min. read
Updated onApril 2, 2024
updated onApril 2, 2024
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Key notes
If you were tocheck the error logs in Windows, there are plenty of these. Most of them are irrelevant, requiring no attention. However, some are critical and need to be addressed right away. One such is Event ID 16, which has been bothering users for a long time.
The error is usually generated on computers that are part of a domain. However, some apps create the Event ID 16 in Windows. Abobe Reader was one. Then, severalVirtual Machines, including VMWare, also lead to the error.
If you encounter an error in any of these cases, keep reading to find out how to get things up and running.
What causes Event ID 16?
Here are a few reasons users find the error in Event Viewer on Windows:
How do I fix Event ID 16 in Windows?
Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, here are a few quick ones to try:
If none work, move to the fixes listed next.
1. Run the app as an administrator
Often a quick solution to Event ID 16 is torun the program with administrative privileges. This provides it with the relevant permissions to perform the critical actions.
2. Repair the corrupt system files
Of the many issues,corrupt system filesare one that is often difficult to troubleshoot. But with theDISM tooland SFC scan, you can easily replace the corrupt files with the cached copy.
As an alternative, it’s more effective to use a tailoredPC repair solutionfor Windows issues involving corrupted files or other performance troubles.
3. Change the DNS server
If it’s a network problem to blame for Event ID 16, your primary approach should be changing the DNS server. We usedGoogle’s Public DNS, but you could use any other, given it’s reliable and error-free.
4. Update the drivers
A few users reported Event ID 16 being generated when connecting a device to the computer via Bluetooth. It could be with other adapters as well. And a quick solution is toupdate the Bluetooth drivers.
Besides, if Windows can’t find one automatically, you can alwaysmanually install the driverfrom the manufacturer’s website.
5. Run the Windows Management Instrumentation service
6. Reset the network settings
In case changing the DNS didn’t work, and you are certain it’s the network to blame,resetting the network settingsshould do the trick when you find several instances of Event ID 16.
7. Perform an in-place upgrade
An in-place upgrade generally takes a few hours but is an effective fix against various errors, including Event ID 16. And you don’t lose any apps, files, or configure settings. Once the computer restarts, you shouldn’t find any new instances of the error in Event Viewer.
If none of the solutions worked, we recommend getting the PC inspected by a professional since it could be a hardware issue to blame for Event ID 16.
Before you leave, check somereliable PC repair toolsand download one today to automatically eliminate such errors.
If you come acrossEvent ID 158, the highlighted guide will help you go through it quickly. This isn’t the only error, and many reportedEvent 4502 WinREAgent on Windows 11, but we covered that in a separate guide.
This isn’t the only event you can encounter, and in a recent guide we coveredEvent ID 7034, so don’t miss it.
For any queries or to share the solution that worked for you, drop a comment below.
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
