Restart MID Server from Related Links fails silently with CreateProcess error=5 (Access is denied)Issue <!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } Selecting the Restart MID link under Related Links on a MID Server record displays the notification "MID Server restarting" in the instance, but the MID Server service does not actually restart on the host machine. Symptoms<!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } The instance UI confirms the restart request with a "MID Server restarting" notification.The MID Server service on the host remains in its previous state — no restart occurs.The MID Server Up Since timestamp on the record does not update.The MID Server wrapper log on the host contains an entry similar to: ERROR (RestartService) [MIDServiceWrapper:222] Cannot run program ".\bin\mid.bat" (in directory "D:\<MID_INSTALL_PATH>\agent"): CreateProcess error=5, Access is denied Facts<!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } The MID Server is installed on a Windows host.The MID Server runs as a Windows service under a specific service account.The Restart MID action from the instance is dispatched to the MID Server wrapper, which then attempts to execute mid.bat from the agent directory.CreateProcess error=5 is a Windows OS-level error meaning Access is denied — it is raised by Windows, not by the MID Server application logic.The issue is reproducible on the affected host and does not occur on hosts where folder ACLs are correctly configured.No code change, instance configuration change, or platform defect is involved. Release<!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } Applicable to all currently supported releases. Cause<!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } The Windows service account running the MID Server does not have sufficient folder-level permissions to execute mid.bat from the MID Server agent directory. When the instance issues a restart command, the MID Server wrapper attempts to relaunch the service by executing mid.bat. If the service account lacks Read & Execute, Modify, or Write rights on the agent directory (or any of its subfolders), Windows blocks the CreateProcess call with error code 5, and the restart fails without notification on the host — even though the instance UI confirms the request was sent. This typically occurs when: The MID Server was reinstalled, upgraded, or moved to a new directory and folder permissions were not re-applied.The service account was changed without updating ACLs on the install directory.The MID Server was installed on a drive or path whose inherited permissions do not include the service account.Permissions diverge between environments (DEV configured correctly; TEST or PROD not aligned). Resolution<!-- /*NS Branding Styles*/ --> .ns-kb-css-body-editor-container { p { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } span { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, #000000); } h2 { font-size: 24pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h3 { font-size: 18pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } h4 { font-size: 14pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--text-primary, black); } a { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718F); } a:hover { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #024F69); } a:target { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #032D42); } a:visited { font-size: 12pt; color: var(--now-color--link-primary, #00718f); } ul { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } li { font-size: 12pt; font-family: Lato; } img { display: ; max-width: ; width: ; height: ; } } Grant the MID Server Windows service account the appropriate permissions on the MID Server agent directory and all of its subfolders, then restart the service. Step 1 — Identify the MID Server service account 1. On the MID Server host, open services.msc.2. Locate the MID Server service (the display name typically begins with snc_mid_ or matches the MID Server name).3. Right-click the service and select Properties.4. On the Log On tab, note the account under This account (for example, DOMAIN\svc_midserver). Step 2 — Update folder permissions 1. Navigate to the MID Server install directory on the host (for example, D:\ServiceNow MID Server\agent).2. Right-click the agent folder and select Properties.3. Open the Security tab and click Edit.4. If the service account from Step 1 is not listed, click Add and add it.5. Grant Full Control (or, at minimum: Read & Execute, List folder contents, Read, Write, and Modify).6. Click Apply, then OK.7. Confirm the changes propagate to all subfolders and files. If they do not propagate automatically, use Advanced → Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object. Step 3 — Restart the MID Server service 1. In services.msc, right-click the MID Server service and select Restart.2. Confirm the service reaches Running state and stays running.3. In agent\logs\wrapper.log, confirm no further CreateProcess error=5 entries appear. Step 4 — Validate from the instance 1. In the instance, navigate to MID Server → Servers and open the affected record.2. Under Related Links, click Restart MID.3. Confirm the MID Server briefly transitions to Down and returns to Up, and that the restart timestamp updates. Prevention - After any MID Server reinstall, upgrade, or relocation, re-verify that the service account retains the required permissions on the agent directory and all subfolders.- Align ACL configuration across DEV, TEST, and PROD MID Server hosts to maintain consistent behavior.- Document the service account and required permissions in your internal MID Server runbook.