Fix 0X000009F6: Browser ConfiguredToNotRun Stopped

Quick answer

Set HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\MaintainServerList to Auto (or Yes), then restart the Computer Browser service. If that’s locked by group policy, override it in gpedit.msc under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation > Enable Computer Browser service.

Why this happens

Windows uses a “browser” service (the Computer Browser) to maintain a list of available servers on the network. When a machine has MaintainServerList=No, it refuses to act as a master browser. This error usually pops up in event logs or when you try to browse Network from File Explorer, and the server simply isn’t participating in browser elections. I see this most often after someone disabled the browser service to “harden” the server, or a domain group policy forced MaintainServerList=No on all member servers. The result: no master browser, so NetServerEnum calls fail with 0X000009F6.

How to fix it

1. Check current registry setting
   Open Regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters. Look for MaintainServerList. If it’s missing, you need to create it. If it says No or 0, that’s the culprit.
2. Change the value
   Double-click MaintainServerList and set it to Auto (recommended for most servers) or Yes (forces it to be a master browser). "Auto" lets the server be a master if elected. After you click OK, you should see the change in the registry.
3. Restart the Computer Browser service
   Open Services.msc, find Computer Browser, right-click and choose Restart. If the service won’t start, check its dependency on the Server service (which should be running). After restart, check the Event Viewer for the Browser source — you should see entry 8033 or 8001 confirming the browser role.
4. If group policy locked it
   Run gpedit.msc. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation. Find “Enable Computer Browser service” and set it to Enabled. Then run gpupdate /force from an admin command prompt. Wait a few minutes, then restart the service again.
5. Verify the fix
   Open an admin command prompt and run net config server. Look for “Server is announcing as a browser” — if you see that, you’re good. If not, try restarting the whole server.

Alternative fixes

• If the Browser service is missing entirely (common on Windows 10/11 and Server Core): you actually need to install it via “Turn Windows features on or off” > SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support > SMB 1.0/CIFS Client. Yes, it’s old, but the browser service depends on SMB1. After enabling, reboot and repeat the registry steps.
• If you don’t want a master browser at all (maybe you use a dedicated device): set a single server to Yes and all others to No via registry or GPO. The error will stop because there’s still a master browser on the network.
• Check for duplicate IPs or network segmentation — browser elections fail if two machines think they’re master or if the subnet mask is wrong. Run net statistics workstation and look for “Network errors.” If you see many, fix your network first.

Prevention tip

If you manage multiple servers, decide which one will be the primary master browser and set its MaintainServerList to Yes via registry (or GPO). Set all others to Auto or No. This avoids constant elections and the 0X000009F6 error. Also, keep SMB1 enabled on the designated browser — without it, the browser service won’t start at all.