Forum Discussion
Wifi not working after deleting capability access manager db
We deleted the CapabilityAccessManager db-wal file in Safe Mode, as recommended by other forums. After that, the system could not detect any Wi-Fi networks. We attempted multiple fixes, including uninstalling the NIC and drivers, running the Windows troubleshooter, and resetting the network adapter.
We also saw that the Settings app would crash when navigating to Settings > System > Power, though it was unclear if this was related.
To resolve the issue, we used Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update. After installing the repair version of 25H2, both Wi-Fi and the Settings app were functioning normally again.
Hello everyone:
I did the same procedure (you might be referring to a post in learn.microsoft.com on this subject
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5815087/capabilityaccessmanager-is-devouring-my-hard-drive
My experience suggested me that in order for the process to restart and rebuild the files, the permissions and ownership that step 4 of the post redefined with ICACLS
icacls "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\CapabilityAccessManager" /grant administrators:F /t
had to be restored to their previous status, which I accomplished by resetting the permisions to default
icacls "C:\Path\To\Folder" /reset /T /C
Once I accomplished this, I opened the services with Win+R and typed "services.msc", made sure that the CapabilityAccessManager service was up and running (or made sure to start it by right clicking on it and starting).
ONLY IF the service started successfully I would restart the computer normally and complete the solution.
If you see in services.msc that CapabilityAccessManager is down and won't start, and you performed a file delete procedure such as the one in the link, it's very possible that by restoring the original permissions to the folder you'll get the service back and you'll see your wi-fi networks after a reset.
Hello! I'm having the same problem. The Internet guided me to delete the .db-wal file and I successfully did it. Now can you please give me step by step instructions to complete getting my wifi back? I don't understand how to do the icacls you have listed. Can you help?
THANK YOU, THIS WORKED IN MAY 2026
Noticed my hard drive was full despite being...well, fairly empty. Had to download WinDirStat to find out I had an 85 GIGABYTE COMPATABILITY ACCESS MANAGER .wal file. Did some research, couldn't delete it. Had to follow the guide you linked to change permissions and delete the .wal file.
Well, when I restarted this meant my computer wasn't locating any wifi networks. Ran a network reset, uninstalled and reinstalled the network card, nothing worked.
Turned out your solution did.
My understanding is that in order to delete the SUPER BLOATED compatibility access manager file, I needed to switch permissions for the file from my system to my user. Once it was deleted, permission needed to be changed back to the system so the compatibility access manager could resume doing what it needed to for the wifi to function, which is what your fix did. THANK YOU! Thought I deleted some integral system file and permanently disabled my wifi by accident!This is the only real fix on here
This worked for me
icacls "C:\Path\To\Folder" /reset /T /C
Thanks
