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Today, in this article we will show you how to Fix “An Attempt Was Made to Reference a Token” Error in Windows. Windows includes numerous pre-installed applications and tools, such as File Explorer, Device Manager, and Microsoft Management Console, that are frequently utilized by users. Nevertheless, some users have reported that they are unable to access pre-installed apps or others due to an error that reads “an attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist.” This error occurs when some users attempt to launch Explorer or other native applications. File Explorer is one of the most important Windows applications, as it provides access to all your files and folders in a single location.
Occasionally, File Explorer is unresponsive and causes problems. Users have recently reported being unable to launch File Explorer and receiving the error message “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist.” According to the users, these problems began immediately following a Windows update. Does the same error message appear when you attempt to use Explorer, Device Manager, or another Windows application? If so, try these possible solutions to Fix “An Attempt Was Made to Reference a Token” Error in Windows. If you want to know more information about this visit official Microsoft Website.
Causes of “An Attempt Was Made to Reference a Token” Error in Windows
- User Account Control (UAC): This error can be triggered when there is an issue with the User Account Control settings, which manage the permissions and privileges of user accounts.
- Corrupted System Files: If essential system files are corrupted or damaged, it can lead to the “An Attempt Was Made to Reference a Token” error.
- Malware or Virus Infections: Malicious software or viruses can interfere with system processes and result in this error.
- Incompatible or Outdated Drivers: Outdated or incompatible device drivers can cause conflicts and trigger the error.
- Third-Party Software: Certain third-party applications or software may conflict with system processes, leading to the error.
- Registry Issues: Problems with the Windows registry, such as invalid or corrupt entries, can contribute to the occurrence of this error.
Reverting To The Earlier Variant Of Windows
Ensure that the problem was not caused by the most recent Windows update you installed if Method 1 did not resolve the issue. Some users utilize the Advanced Recovery Options menu to resolve an issue or revert to an earlier version of Windows. Numerous users reapplied the update. Here is a brief article on reverting to an earlier version of Windows:

- Holding down the Shift key,
- press the Start button
- and then tap the Power icon
- while the Start button is depressed.
- Then, while continuing to hold Shift,
- tap Restart.
- This will instruct your computer to display the Advanced Recovery Options menu
- on the subsequent startup.
- If you wish to guarantee the method’s success,
- you must take the following steps.
- Then, attempt to maintain Shift
- until the menu appears on the screen.
- If the Advanced Recovery Options menu is displayed.
- Then, simply release Shift
- and select Troubleshoot.
- Then, navigate to Advanced options
- and select Revert to the previous Windows version.
- Wait for the other startup to finish
- before determining whether the error has been resolved.
- If it was, you can choose whether to reapply the update or not.
Performing a repair install
If the issue is caused by a corrupted system file. The issue can then be resolved by performing a clean installation. Consider performing a repair install if you’re searching for an alternative that won’t result in the loss of sensitive data such as personal files and applications. A repair install will only replace Windows dependencies or files, leaving your data and applications untouched.
Resolving Corrupted Files Through Command Prompt
Some users utilize the Command Prompt to fix Registry file corruption. Ensure that this method will only be effective if the error message is caused by a corrupted file. Using an elevated Command prompt to fix the “attempt to reference a token that does not exist” error is described below.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box. Enter “cmd” followed by Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt window. Select Yes when prompted by the UAC (User account control).
- If you’re unsure if you’re in the correct location, type the following command and press Enter:
cd%WINDIR%\System32 - Enter or paste the following command and press Enter to re-register several necessary DLL files that may have become corrupted during the update process:
for /f%s in (‘dir /b *.dll’) execute the command regsvr32 /s%s - Then, close the elevated Command Prompt and restart the computer. After the next startup, open the same utility program that was previously generating the error message to determine whether the issue has been resolved.
Questions and Answers
‘Token not Found’ indicates that the Licence Key you were provided does not match a licence key in the Office Activation database.
This Token is presented when subsequent payments are required. Inputting an invalid or expired token number when attempting to make a recurring payment is an extremely common cause of transaction failure. Your payment provider will display a message similar to “invalid token supplied” when this occurs.
To refresh your access token and ID token, you send a token request with the refresh_token grant_type. When attempting to refresh an ID token, you must include the openid scope. If the refresh token is valid, a new access token and the refresh token are returned.
If you receive the “Invalid Token Format” error when submitting a form, it is likely caused by a third-party plugin that utilizes the Google API, such as the WP Gmail SMTP plugin. This error is not caused by WS Form, and we recommend contacting the plugin’s support team for assistance.