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Set-Service

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Starts, stops, and suspends a service, and changes its properties.

Syntax

Set-Service
   [-Name] <String>
   [-DisplayName <String>]
   [-Credential <PSCredential>]
   [-Description <String>]
   [-StartupType <ServiceStartupType>]
   [-Status <String>]
   [-SecurityDescriptorSddl <String>]
   [-Force]
   [-PassThru]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [<CommonParameters>]
Set-Service
   [-InputObject] <ServiceController>
   [-DisplayName <String>]
   [-Credential <PSCredential>]
   [-Description <String>]
   [-StartupType <ServiceStartupType>]
   [-SecurityDescriptorSddl <String>]
   [-Status <String>]
   [-Force]
   [-PassThru]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

This cmdlet is only available on the Windows platform.

The Set-Service cmdlet changes the properties of a service such as the Status, Description, DisplayName, and StartupType. Set-Service can start, stop, suspend, or pause a service. To identify a service, enter its service name or submit a service object. Or, send a service name or service object down the pipeline to Set-Service.

Examples

Example 1: Change a display name

In this example, a service's display name is changed. To view the original display name, use Get-Service.

Set-Service -Name LanmanWorkstation -DisplayName "LanMan Workstation"

Set-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the service's name, LanmanWorkstation. The DisplayName parameter specifies the new display name, LanMan Workstation.

Example 2: Change the startup type of services

This example shows how to change a service's startup type.

Set-Service -Name BITS -StartupType Automatic
Get-Service BITS | Select-Object -Property Name, StartType, Status

Name  StartType   Status
----  ---------   ------
BITS  Automatic  Running

Set-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the service's name, BITS. The StartupType parameter sets the service to Automatic.

Get-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the BITS service and sends the object down the pipeline. Select-Object uses the Property parameter to display the BITS service's status.

Example 3: Change the description of a service

This example changes the BITS service's description and displays the result.

The Get-CimInstance cmdlet is used because it returns a Win32_Service object that includes the service's Description.

Get-CimInstance Win32_Service -Filter 'Name = "BITS"'  | Format-List  Name, Description

Name        : BITS
Description : Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. If the service is
              disabled, then any applications that depend on BITS, such as Windows Update or MSN
              Explorer, will be unable to automatically download programs and other information.

Set-Service -Name BITS -Description "Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth."
Get-CimInstance Win32_Service -Filter 'Name = "BITS"' | Format-List  Name, Description

Name        : BITS
Description : Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth.

Get-CimInstance sends the object down the pipeline to Format-List and displays the service's name and description. For comparison purposes, the command is run before and after the description is updated.

Set-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the BITS service. The Description parameter specifies the updated text for the services' description.

Example 4: Start a service

In this example, a service is started.

Set-Service -Name WinRM -Status Running -PassThru

Status   Name               DisplayName
------   ----               -----------
Running  WinRM              Windows Remote Management (WS-Manag...

Set-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the service, WinRM. The Status parameter uses the value Running to start the service. The PassThru parameter outputs a ServiceController object that displays the results.

Example 5: Suspend a service

This example uses the pipeline to pause to service.

Get-Service -Name Schedule | Set-Service -Status Paused

Get-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the Schedule service, and sends the object down the pipeline. Set-Service uses the Status parameter to set the service to Paused.

Example 6: Stop a service

This example uses a variable to stop a service.

$S = Get-Service -Name Schedule
Set-Service -InputObject $S -Status Stopped

Get-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the service, Schedule. The object is stored in the variable, $S. Set-Service uses the InputObject parameter and specifies the object stored $S. The Status parameter sets the service to Stopped.

Example 7: Stop a service on a remote system

This example stops a service on a remote computer. For more information, see Invoke-Command.

$Cred = Get-Credential
$S = Get-Service -Name Schedule
Invoke-Command -ComputerName server01.contoso.com -Credential $Cred -ScriptBlock {
  Set-Service -InputObject $S -Status Stopped
}

Get-Credential prompts for a username and password, and stores the credentials in the $Cred variable. Get-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the Schedule service. The object is stored in the variable, $S.

Invoke-Command uses the ComputerName parameter to specify a remote computer. The Credential parameter uses the $Cred variable to sign on to the computer. The ScriptBlock calls Set-Service. The InputObject parameter specifies the service object stored $S. The Status parameter sets the service to Stopped.

Example 8: Change credential of a service

This example changes the credentials that are used to manage a service.

$credential = Get-Credential
Set-Service -Name Schedule -Credential $credential

Get-Credential prompts for a username and password, and stores the credentials in the $credential variable. Set-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the Schedule service. The Credential parameter uses the $credential variable and updates the Schedule service.

Example 9: Change the SecurityDescriptor of a service

This example changes a service's SecurityDescriptor.

$SDDL = "D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;SU)"
Set-Service -Name "BITS" -SecurityDescriptorSddl $SDDL

The SecurityDescriptor is stored in the $SDDL variable. Set-Service uses the Name parameter to specify the BITS service. The SecurityDescriptorSddl parameter uses $SDDL to change the SecurityDescriptor for the BITS service.

Example 10: Set the startup type for multiple services

The Set-Service cmdlet only accepts one service name at a time. However, you can pipe multiple services to Set-Service to change the configuration of multiple services.

Get-Service SQLWriter,spooler |
    Set-Service -StartupType Automatic -PassThru |
    Select-Object Name, StartType

Name      StartType
----      ---------
spooler   Automatic
SQLWriter Automatic

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running Set-Service.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Specifies the account used by the service as the Service Logon Account.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01, or enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by the Get-Credential cmdlet. If you type a user name, this cmdlet prompts you for a password.

Credentials are stored in a PSCredential object and the password is stored as a SecureString.

Note

For more information about SecureString data protection, see How secure is SecureString?.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 6.0.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Description

Specifies a new description for the service.

The service description appears in Computer Management, Services. The Description isn't a property of the Get-Service ServiceController object. To see the service description, use Get-CimInstance that returns a Win32_Service object that represents the service.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-DisplayName

Specifies a new display name for the service.

Note

Typically, Set-Service only operates on Windows services and not drivers. However, if you specify the name of a driver, Set-Service can target the driver.

Type:String
Aliases:DN
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Force

Specifies the Stop mode of the service. This parameter only works when -Status Stopped is used. If enabled, Set-Service stops the dependent services before the target service is stopped. By default, exceptions are raised when other running services depend on the target service.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-InputObject

Specifies a ServiceController object that represents the service to change. Enter a variable that contains the object, or type a command or expression that gets the object, such as a Get-Service command. You can use the pipeline to send a service object to Set-Service.

Type:ServiceController
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Name

Specifies the service name of the service to be changed. Wildcard characters aren't permitted. You can use the pipeline to send a service name to Set-Service.

Note

Typically, Set-Service only operates on Windows services and not drivers. However, if you specify the name of a driver, Set-Service can target the driver.

Type:String
Aliases:ServiceName, SN
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Returns a ServiceController object that represents the services that were changed. By default, Set-Service doesn't generate any output.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-SecurityDescriptorSddl

Specifies the SecurityDescriptor for the service in Sddl format. The account calling Set-Service with this parameter must have the WRITE_DAC and WRITE_OWNER permissions. For more information, see Service security and access rights.

Type:String
Aliases:sd
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-StartupType

Specifies the start mode of the service.

The acceptable values for this parameter are as follows:

  • Automatic - The service is started or was started by the operating system, at system start-up. If an automatically started service depends on a manually started service, the manually started service is also started automatically at system startup.
  • AutomaticDelayedStart - Starts shortly after the system boots.
  • Disabled - The service is disabled and cannot be started by a user or application.
  • InvalidValue - Has no effect. The cmdlet does not return an error but the StartupType of the service is not changed.
  • Manual - The service is started only manually, by a user, using the Service Control Manager, or by an application.
Type:ServiceStartupType
Aliases:StartMode, SM, ST, StartType
Accepted values:Automatic, AutomaticDelayedStart, Disabled, InvalidValue, Manual
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Status

Specifies the status for the service.

The acceptable values for this parameter are as follows:

  • Paused. Suspends the service.
  • Running. Starts the service.
  • Stopped. Stops the service.
Type:String
Accepted values:Paused, Running, Stopped
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if Set-Service runs. The cmdlet isn't run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

ServiceController

You can pipe a service object to this cmdlet.

String

You can pipe a string that contains a service name to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

By default, this cmdlet returns no output.

ServiceController

When you use the PassThru parameter, this cmdlet returns a ServiceController object.

Notes

This cmdlet is only available on Windows platforms.

Set-Service requires elevated permissions. Use the Run as administrator option.

Set-Service can only control services when the current user has permissions to manage services. If a command doesn't work correctly, you might not have the required permissions.

To find a service's service name or display name, use Get-Service. The service names are in the Name column and the display names are in the DisplayName column.