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Restart-Service

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Stops and then starts one or more services.

Syntax

Restart-Service
       [-Force]
       [-InputObject] <ServiceController[]>
       [-PassThru]
       [-Include <String[]>]
       [-Exclude <String[]>]
       [-WhatIf]
       [-Confirm]
       [<CommonParameters>]
Restart-Service
       [-Force]
       [-Name] <String[]>
       [-PassThru]
       [-Include <String[]>]
       [-Exclude <String[]>]
       [-WhatIf]
       [-Confirm]
       [<CommonParameters>]
Restart-Service
       [-Force]
       [-PassThru]
       -DisplayName <String[]>
       [-Include <String[]>]
       [-Exclude <String[]>]
       [-WhatIf]
       [-Confirm]
       [<CommonParameters>]

Description

This cmdlet is only available on the Windows platform.

The Restart-Service cmdlet sends a stop message and then a start message to the Windows Service Controller for a specified service. If a service was already stopped, it is started without notifying you of an error. You can specify the services by their service names or display names, or you can use the InputObject parameter to pass an object that represents each service that you want to restart.

Examples

Example 1: Restart a service on the local computer

PS C:\> Restart-Service -Name winmgmt

This command restarts the Windows Management Instrumentation service (WinMgmt) on the local computer.

Example 2: Exclude a service

PS C:\> Restart-Service -DisplayName "net*" -Exclude "net logon"

This command restarts the services that have a display name that starts with Net, except for the Net Logon service.

Example 3: Start all stopped network services

PS C:\> Get-Service -Name "net*" | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq "Stopped"} | Restart-Service

This command starts all of the stopped network services on the computer.

This command uses the Get-Service cmdlet to get objects that represent the services whose service name starts with net. The pipeline operator (|) sends the services object to the Where-Object cmdlet, which selects only the services that have a status of stopped. Another pipeline operator sends the selected services to Restart-Service.

In practice, you would use the WhatIf parameter to determine the effect of the command before you run it.

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

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

-DisplayName

Specifies the display names of the services to restarted. Wildcard characters are permitted.

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

-Exclude

Specifies services that this cmdlet omits. The value of this parameter qualifies the Name parameter. Enter a name element or pattern, such as s*. Wildcard characters are permitted.

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

-Force

Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation.

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

-Include

Specifies services that this cmdlet restarts. The value of this parameter qualifies the Name parameter. Enter a name element or pattern, such as s*. Wildcard characters are permitted.

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

-InputObject

Specifies ServiceController objects that represent the services to restart. Enter a variable that contains the objects, or type a command or expression that gets the objects.

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

-Name

Specifies the service names of the services to restart.

Type:String[]
Aliases:ServiceName
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-PassThru

Returns an object that represents the service. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

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

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not 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 representing the restarted service.

Notes

This cmdlet is only available on Windows platforms.

  • Restart-Service can control services only when the current user has permission to do this. If a command does not work correctly, you might not have the required permissions.
  • To find the service names and display names of the services on your system, type Get-Service". The service names appear in the Name column, and the display names appear in the DisplayName column.