Device Association Service detected an endpoint discovery failure

The device association service might detect an endpoint discovery failure if there is something wrong with the Bluetooth or attached hardware. This issue occurs when the Device Association Facility fails to detect or communicate with a device during the discovery process. This article will help you in resolving this issue.

Device Association Service detected an endpoint discovery failure.

Source: OneCore-DeviceAssociationService

Event ID: 3503

What is Device Association Service?

The Device Association Service is a Windows feature that enables the pairing between the system and external devices such as USB or Bluetooth. It ensures that connected devices can communicate with the system effectively by managing the connection and association process.

Device Association Service detected an endpoint discovery failure

If the Device Association service detected an endpoint discovery failure with Event ID 3503 in Windows systems, execute the solutions mentioned below, and follow the solutions mentioned below.

1. Restart the Device Association Service
2. Re-register the Windows component
3. Clear Device pairing data
4. Remove corrupted Registry Entries
5. Perform a clean boot
6. Check USB/ Bluetooth Power Management
7. Use system restore

Let’s get started with the troubleshooting guide.

1] Restart the Device Association Service

The first thing we are going to do is restart the Device Association Service, the service responsible for managing device associations and ensuring that the connected devices are communicating effectively. To do the same, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Click Win + I to open the Run dialog box, type in services.msc, and hit OK.
2. Scroll down, look for Device Association Service, and double-click on it.
3. In the Startup Type scroll down the menu, select the Manual option, and select the Stop.
4. Once it is stopped, click on the Start option.
5. Apply the changes, click OK, and restart the PC.

Finally, check if the issue is resolved.

2] Re-register the Windows component

Endpoint discovery failures often happen due to registry issues, outdated configurations, or broken dependencies. Re-registering the Windows component resets the associated system configurations and eliminates potential corruption. To do the same, run PowerShell with admin rights, and run the following command:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"}

Restart the PC to ensure that all changes are applied correctly and that any ongoing updates or configurations are completed.

3] Clear Device pairing data

In this solution, we are going to clear Device pairing data to ensure a fresh start for the pairing process. These steps also force the devices to rediscover and establish a new clean connection with the endpoint. Here’s how to do the same:

1. Click Win + I to open Settings, and click on Bluetooth and devices.
2. Navigate to the Devices section, find and click on the Bluetooth device.
3. Select the Remove device option, confirm the removal when prompted, and restart the devices to ensure the changes are applied.

After the PC boots up, navigate to Settings, and repair the device again.

4] Remove corrupted Registry Entries

Corrupted entries can lead to misconfiguration or prevent the Device Association Service from correctly discovering and establishing connections with endpoints. We are going to remove these corrupted entries to help restore proper system functionality. Follow the steps mentioned below to remove corrupted Registry entries.

1. Create a backup of the Registry that can be restored if things don’t go as planned.
2. Launch the Run dialog box, type regedit to open the Registry Editor, and hit the OK button.
3. Navigate to the key mentioned below:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DeviceAssociationService

4. Look for any suspicious or broken entry, right-click on it, and select the Delete button.

Once done reboot the device, and check whether the issue is resolved.

5] Perform a clean boot

If the Registry Entry was not corrupted, ensure that the problem is not due to third-party background services by performing a clean boot state.

1. Click Win + R to open the Run dialog box, type MSConfig, and hit the OK button to open the System Configuration Utility.
2. Go to the General tab, click the Selective Startup option, and uncheck the Loak Startup Items checkbox while ticking the Load System Services and Use Original boot configuration boxes.
3. Now, navigate to the services tab, tick the Hide All Microsoft services checkbox, and click Disable All.
4. In the Startup tab, click on Open Task Manager, disable all the startup unnecessary apps, and close the Task Manager.
5. Click the Apply and OK button to apply the changes and reboot the PC.

Check whether the issue is persisting in the Clean Boot state. If it does, you need to find out the problematic third-party service.

6] Check USB/ Bluetooth Power Management

There is a chance that Power Management will automatically disable USB ports or Bluetooth devices to save energy. This leads to the disrupted ability to connect or communicate effectively. Here’s how to ensure that the power-saving feature is disabled:

1. Click Win + X, select Device Manager, and locate the USB or Bluetooth device.
2. Click on the Properties option, and navigate to the Power Management tab.
3. Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save the power box and hit the OK button.

Verify if the issue is resolved. If not, see the next solution.

Read: Windows deployment services encountered an error 0xc0000023

7] Use system restore

Last but not least, if none of the solutions worked, we are going to revert the computer’s settings and drivers to a previous state when the device association was working correctly.

1. Click Win + R to open the Run dialog box, type in rstrui to open System Resource, and hit OK.
2. When the System Restore wizard opens, hit the Next button, choose a restore point created before the issue starts, and click the Scan for affected programs option to see what drivers or software will be changed or removed.
3. Select the Next and Finish buttons to start the restoration process.

The computer will restart and the restoration process will begin. Once done, the device will automatically reboot, and a confirmation message indicating whether the restoration was successful will flash on the screen. Hopefully, this will resolve the issue.

Read: What is Windows Error Reporting Service?

How do I stop Device Association Service?

To stop the Device Association Service, click Win + R to open the Run dialog box, type services.msc, and hit the OK button. Navigate to Device Association Service, double-click on it to open, and then navigate to the Startup Type drop-down menu. Here, select Disabled, and click the Apply and OK buttons.

Also Read: Error 1061, The service cannot accept control messages at this time.