Restart a Windows service from the command line

Question

Is there a way to restart a Windows service from the command prompt?

Answer 1

You can use net stop [service name] to stop it and net start [service name] to start it up again basically restarting the service.

To combine them just do this - net stop [service name] && net start [service name].

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There is also a command built specifically for messing with services: sc

DESCRIPTION:
        SC is a command line program used for communicating with the
        Service Control Manager and services.
USAGE:
        sc  [command] [service name]  ...


        The option  has the form "\\ServerName"
        Further help on commands can be obtained by typing: "sc [command]"
        Commands:
          query-----------Queries the status for a service, or
                          enumerates the status for types of services.
          queryex---------Queries the extended status for a service, or
                          enumerates the status for types of services.
          start-----------Starts a service.
          pause-----------Sends a PAUSE control request to a service.
          interrogate-----Sends an INTERROGATE control request to a service.
          continue--------Sends a CONTINUE control request to a service.
          stop------------Sends a STOP request to a service.
          config----------Changes the configuration of a service (persistent).
          description-----Changes the description of a service.
          failure---------Changes the actions taken by a service upon failure.
          failureflag-----Changes the failure actions flag of a service.
          sidtype---------Changes the service SID type of a service.
          privs-----------Changes the required privileges of a service.
          managedaccount--Changes the service to mark the service account
                          password as managed by LSA.
          qc--------------Queries the configuration information for a service.
          qdescription----Queries the description for a service.
          qfailure--------Queries the actions taken by a service upon failure.
          qfailureflag----Queries the failure actions flag of a service.
          qsidtype--------Queries the service SID type of a service.
          qprivs----------Queries the required privileges of a service.
          qtriggerinfo----Queries the trigger parameters of a service.
          qpreferrednode--Queries the preferred NUMA node of a service.
          qrunlevel-------Queries the run level of a service.
          qmanagedaccount-Queries whether a services uses an account with a
                          password managed by LSA.
          qprotection-----Queries the process protection level of a service.
          delete----------Deletes a service (from the registry).
          create----------Creates a service. (adds it to the registry).
          control---------Sends a control to a service.
          sdshow----------Displays a service's security descriptor.
          sdset-----------Sets a service's security descriptor.
          showsid---------Displays the service SID string corresponding to an arbitrary name.
          triggerinfo-----Configures the trigger parameters of a service.
          preferrednode---Sets the preferred NUMA node of a service.
          runlevel--------Sets the run level of a service.
          GetDisplayName--Gets the DisplayName for a service.
          GetKeyName------Gets the ServiceKeyName for a service.
          EnumDepend------Enumerates Service Dependencies.

        The following commands don't require a service name:
        sc   
          boot------------(ok | bad) Indicates whether the last boot should
                          be saved as the last-known-good boot configuration
          Lock------------Locks the Service Database
          QueryLock-------Queries the LockStatus for the SCManager Database
EXAMPLE:
        sc start MyService

QUERY and QUERYEX OPTIONS:
        If the query command is followed by a service name, the status
        for that service is returned.  Further options do not apply in
        this case.  If the query command is followed by nothing or one of
        the options listed below, the services are enumerated.
    type=    Type of services to enumerate (driver, service, all)
             (default = service)
    state=   State of services to enumerate (inactive, all)
             (default = active)
    bufsize= The size (in bytes) of the enumeration buffer
             (default = 4096)
    ri=      The resume index number at which to begin the enumeration
             (default = 0)
    group=   Service group to enumerate
             (default = all groups)

SYNTAX EXAMPLES
sc query                - Enumerates status for active services & drivers
sc query eventlog       - Displays status for the eventlog service
sc queryex eventlog     - Displays extended status for the eventlog service
sc query type= driver   - Enumerates only active drivers
sc query type= service  - Enumerates only Win32 services
sc query state= all     - Enumerates all services & drivers
sc query bufsize= 50    - Enumerates with a 50 byte buffer
sc query ri= 14         - Enumerates with resume index = 14
sc queryex group= ""    - Enumerates active services not in a group
sc query type= interact - Enumerates all interactive services
sc query type= driver group= NDIS     - Enumerates all NDIS drivers

Answer 2

Please, note that if there are other services that depends on this service - usual net stop & net start will not restart them. net stop /y will stop all dependencies

Most common example - SQL Server & SQL Agent.

I do recommend PowerShell cmdlet to solve this:

powershell -command "Restart-Service MSSQLSERVER -Force"

After MSSQLSERVER starts - cmdlet starts all previously stopped dependancies.

PS: Make sure you are running command as admin

Answer 3

You could also use PowerShell:

stop-Service

Answer 4

To restart a Windows service from the command prompt or scheduled tasks, use this:

cmd /c "net stop "Service Name" & sc start "Service Name""

Answer 5

To solve the annoying Wacom Intuous Driver not running Error I get on every reboot.

Windows key + R, paste, Bam!

sc stop WTabletServicePro && sc start WTabletServicePro

Answer 6

The PsService utility from PsTools provides a restart command for services, with additional parameters to run it on another machine.

psservice [-accepteula] [\\Computer [-u Username [-p Password]]] restart <service-name>

The -accepteula flag saves you the EULA window just in case it's the first time you use this utility with the current user.

Answer 7

In case you know the service's executable location path you could use

"[service name.exe] console"

On the command line.

That will actually help you debug the issue if the service should fail to start.