Stop-Service

Use Stop-Service to stop a running Windows service; -Force also stops services that depend on it.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — Stop-Service

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated 02 October 2026

Syntax

1PS> Stop-Service [-Name] <String[]> [-Force] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<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-Service [-Name] <String[]> [-Force] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

Stage 1Stop-Service-Name -Force -PassThru -WhatIf -Confirm

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.

Command

Interactive simulation · fictional data

Examples

Stop-Service -WhatIf

1PS> Stop-Service Spooler -WhatIf

Show reference output

Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

What if: Performing the operation "Stop-Service" on target "Spooler".

Stop-Service -Force

1PS> Stop-Service Spooler -Force

Show reference output

Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

Name    Status  StartType
----    ------  ---------
Spooler Stopped Automatic

Parameters

Parameter definitions:

-Name
-Force
-PassThru
-WhatIf
-Confirm

Stop-Service on Microsoft Learn

Practical use and troubleshooting

Practical scenario: Use Stop-Service when you need to stop a running Windows service; -Force also stops services that depend on it. 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: Access denied or dependent-service errors require checking elevation and dependencies. Inspect the services that depend on the target before stopping it and re-query its final Status. 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-Service. Start-Service requests that a service start; Stop-Service requests that it stop. The request is separate from the service actually reaching its final state. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

Stop-Service reference on Microsoft Learn

Recap

Stop-Service Use Stop-Service to stop a running Windows service; -Force also stops services that depend on it.

Next: Get-Service