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Tools - Applications•Updated: November 23, 2024

net start

See all running services or start a network service.

net start

Command: net start

Category: Applications

Type: CMD

Purpose

Lists all currently running Windows services or starts a specific service. This command provides a quick way to check service status and manage service operations from the command line.

Quick Summary

A simple command-line tool for viewing and starting Windows services. When used without parameters, it displays all active services. When followed by a service name, it starts that specific service. Perfect for quick service management without opening the Services console.

How to Use

To list all running services:

  1. Open Command Prompt.
  2. Type net start and press Enter.
  3. View the list of currently running services.

To start a specific service:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type net start "Service Name" (use quotes if the name contains spaces).
  3. Press Enter.

Tips and Best Practices

  • Use net start alone to quickly check which services are running.
  • Service names are case-insensitive.
  • Use quotes around service names that contain spaces.
  • To stop a service, use net stop "Service Name" instead.
  • Some services may have dependencies that must be started first.

Common Use Cases

  • Quick service check: Verify that critical services are running.
  • Service management: Start services from scripts or batch files.
  • Troubleshooting: Restart services that have stopped unexpectedly.
  • System maintenance: Manage services during maintenance tasks.

Prerequisites

  • Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell
  • Administrator rights required to start or stop services
  • No special permissions needed to view running services

Troubleshooting

  • "Access is denied" - Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
  • "The service name is invalid" - Check the exact service name using services.msc or sc query.
  • Service fails to start - Check Event Viewer for specific error messages or verify service dependencies.
  • services.msc - GUI for comprehensive service management
  • sc query - More detailed service information
  • net stop - Command to stop services