This tutorial will show you how to start, stop, or restart services in Windows 11.
Services are an application type that runs in the system background without a user interface. Services provide core operating system features (such as printing, networking, remote access, File Explorer, Windows Search, updates, etc.) and apps to operate as intended.
Usually, Windows does a great job of automatically managing services, but sometimes you may need to manually start, stop, or restart a service on demand.
You must be signed in as an administrator to start, stop, or restart services.
You will not be able to start a disabled service until you enable the service.
- Option One: Start, Stop, or Restart Services in Services Console
- Option Two: Start, Stop, or Restart Services in Task Manager
- Option Three: Start or Stop Services using net command
- Option Four: Start or Stop Services in Command Prompt
- Option Five: Start, Stop, or Restart Services in PowerShell
1 Open Services (services.msc).
2 Right click or press and hold on the service (ex: "Windows Update"), and click/tap on Start, Stop, or Restart. (see screenshot below)
Start will only be available if the service status is currently not running.
Stop and Restart will only be available if the service status is currently running.
3 You can now close the Services console if you like.
1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) in more details view.
2 Click/tap on the Services tab. (see screenshot below)
3 Right click or press and hold on the service (ex: "Windows Update"), and click/tap on Start, Stop, or Restart. (see screenshot below)
Start will only be available if the service status is currently stopped.
Stop and Restart will only be available if the service status is currently running.
4 You can now close Task Manager if you like.
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Do step 3 (start) or step 4 (stop) below for what you want.
net start service namenet start "display name"Substitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to start.
Substitute display name in the command above with the display name (ex: "Windows Update") of the service you want to start.
net stop service namenet stop "display name"Substitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to stop.
Substitute display name in the command above with the display name (ex: "Windows Update") of the service you want to stop.
5 You can now close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Command Prompt.
2 Do step 3 (check state), step 4 (start), or step 5 (stop) below for what you want.
For more Sc queryex command usage details, see: Sc queryex | Microsoft Docs
sc queryex state=all type=serviceFor more Sc start command usage details, see: Sc start | Microsoft Docs
sc start service nameSubstitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to start.
For more Sc stop command usage details, see: Sc stop | Microsoft Docs
sc stop service nameSubstitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to stop.
6 You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.
2 Do step 3 (check status), step 4 (start), step 5 (stop), or step 6 (restart) below for what you want.
For more Get-Service command usage details, see: Get-Service | Microsoft Docs
Get-Service | Format-Table -AutoFor more Start-Service command usage details, see: Start-Service | Microsoft Docs
Start-Service -Name "service name"Start-Service -DisplayName "display name"Substitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to start.
Substitute display name in the command above with the display name (ex: "Windows Update") of the service you want to start.
For more Stop-Service command usage details, see: Stop-Service | Microsoft Docs
Stop-Service -Name "service name"Stop-Service -DisplayName "display name"Substitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to stop.
Substitute display name in the command above with the display name (ex: "Windows Update") of the service you want to stop.
For more Restart-Service command usage details, see: Restart-Service | Microsoft Docs
Restart-Service -Force -Name "service name"Restart-Service -Force -DisplayName "display name"Substitute service name in the command above with the service name (ex: "wuauserv") of the service you want to restart.
Substitute display name in the command above with the display name (ex: "Windows Update") of the service you want to restart.
7 You can now close the elevated PowerShell if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
