Set-Service

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>]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutBuffer, -OutVariable, -PipelineVariable, -ProgressAction, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

You can pipe a service object to this cmdlet.

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

By default, this cmdlet returns no output.

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

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.