PowerShell Genie

Stop-ScheduledTask

Use Stop-ScheduledTask to terminate a running instance of a scheduled task.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — PowerShell module reference

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated

Syntax

1PS> Stop-ScheduledTask [-TaskName] <String> [-TaskPath <String>] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [<CommonParameters>]
See the command anatomy

Read the command and its supplied arguments. This example requires real PowerShell or its module; this diagram does not execute it.

Stop-ScheduledTask [-TaskName] <String> [-TaskPath <String>] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [<CommonParameters>]
  1. Stage 1Stop-ScheduledTask-TaskName -TaskPath -CimSession

    Try it

    Windows PowerShell

    PowerShell example · browser support is limited.

    Execution scope: The full example below requires PowerShell outside this browser. You can edit this runner to use the supported practice commands; unsupported syntax returns an explanation.

    Interactive simulation · fictional data

    Examples

    Stop-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup

    1PS> Stop-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    TaskPath TaskName State
-------- -------- -----
\        Backup   Ready

    Filter by State

    1PS> Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object State -eq Running | Stop-ScheduledTask
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    TaskPath             TaskName     State     LastTaskResult
-------------------  -----------  --------  --------------
\                    Backup       Ready     0
\Microsoft\Windows\  Maintenance  Disabled  0

    Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup

    1PS> Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup # stops it coming back
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    TaskPath TaskName State
-------- -------- -----
\        Backup   Ready

    Parameters

    Parameter definitions:

    • -TaskName
    • -TaskPath
    • -CimSession

    PowerShell module reference on Microsoft Learn

    Practical use and troubleshooting

    Practical scenario: Use Stop-ScheduledTask when you need to terminate a running instance of a scheduled task. Review syntax and sample output, then try an example in the browser lab. Start with one identified target and inspect the returned values before extending the operation to a list. Keep the identity in your report so you can trace each result back to the object or path that produced it.

    Common error and fix: A task may finish before the stop request is processed. Re-query its state and inspect runtime history before treating an already-finished task as a failed stop. In an unattended script, capture this failure with its original error record and record which target failed. An empty result and an unsuccessful query must remain distinguishable in the final report.

    See also: Start-ScheduledTask. Start-ScheduledTask requests a registered task start; Stop-ScheduledTask requests it stop. Starting a task does not wait for the action to finish or verify its exit code. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

    Stop-ScheduledTask reference on Microsoft Learn

    Recap

    Stop-ScheduledTask Use Stop-ScheduledTask to terminate a running instance of a scheduled task.

    Next: Register-ScheduledTask
    Genie guideStop-ScheduledTask

    Use Stop-ScheduledTask to terminate a running instance of a scheduled task. The console below is pre-loaded — run it, then change a value and run it again.

    Explore PowerShell Genie

    Related