How to query, stop and delete a service in Windows

Services in the Windows OS are background processes that usually require no user interaction and is similar to a UNIX daemon process. Services provide core operating system features, such as Web serving, event logging, file serving, printing, cryptography, and error reporting. In this article, we will discuss how to query or stop and delete a service in Windows. Please see How to find disabled Active Directory User accounts, and How to stop Windows from applying updates.

Oftentimes, you may need to delete a service. An example is when a program is uninstalled and does not uninstall correctly. 

This leaves its service in the Services list. First I will be looking at ways to stop a service.

Query a Service

Let’s assume you do not know the service name and you need to find the short service name of a service and the “services.msc” console is cannot open. Follow the procedure below.

The following command generates a text file containing a list of services and their statuses.

SC QUERY state= all >"C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Service-list.txt"

For a more concise list, execute the following command below

SC QUERY state= all | FIND "_NAME"

To Stop a Service

There are various ways to open the services console. See the following guide on how to manage Windows task Manager for more information.

Via the Command Prompt (CLI)

To stop the service via the CLI or Services Console. Run the command below

SC STOP shortservicename

Via Windows Services

Launch services.msc from the Run dialog box or the Windows search box. This will open up the services console.

Please pay proper attention to all the red arrows as they indicate ways in which you can stop the service.

Deleting a Service

All services are listed in the Windows Registry. If a service’s Registry key is removed, it will be deleted from the system.

Via The Command Prompt

With the name of the service you wish to delete, fire up Windows Command Prompt with elevated rights with the following commands as shown below.

Note: If the service you’re deleting has any spaces in the name, you will have to enclose the name in quotes when you type the command.

SC DELETE servicename

Via the Registry

All services are listed in the Windows Registry. If a service's Registry key is removed. It will be deleted from the system.

For more information on Windows Registry, and for how to search through the registry

Launched the registry key via “regedit“, then select “OK“.
– Navigate to the following location in the registry:
– HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
– System
– CurrentControlSet
– Services

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services"

Look for the service that you want delete and delete it. Right-click on the service as shown below and delete it.

Via Third-Party Tool (SysInternal)

The following third-party tools can be used to delete Windows Service.

AutoRuns

This method is probably the easiest from them all. Navigate to the services tab and perform the deletion of the specific service from there.

On o download and use Windows SysInternals tools locally. Also, see how to use Sysinternals Live Tools.

Service Manager by Sergeg Vaulin

Note: This is not a secure site!!! Use at your own risk 

If you have found other ways to do this or found this article on how to query or stop and delete a service in Windows useful. kindly leave a comment below.