Suspend-Service

Suspends (pauses) one or more running services.

Syntax

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

Description

The Suspend-Service cmdlet sends a suspend message to the Windows Service Controller for each of the specified services. While suspended, the service is still running, but its action is stopped until resumed, such as by using the Resume-Service cmdlet. You can specify the services by their service names or display names, or you can use the InputObject parameter to pass a service object that represents the services that you want to suspend.

Examples

Example 1: Suspend a service

PS C:\> Suspend-Service -DisplayName "Telnet"

This command suspends the Telnet service (Tlntsvr) service on the local computer.

Example 2: Display what would happen if you suspend services

PS C:\> Suspend-Service -Name lanman* -WhatIf

This command tells what would happen if you suspended the services that have a service name that starts with lanman. To suspend the services, rerun the command without the WhatIf parameter.

Example 3: Get and suspend a service

PS C:\> Get-Service schedule | Suspend-Service

This command uses the Get-Service cmdlet to get an object that represents the Task Scheduler (Schedule) service on the computer. The pipeline operator (|) passes the result to Suspend-Service, which suspends the service.

Example 4: Suspend all services that can be suspended

PS C:\> Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.CanPauseAndContinue -eq "True"} | Suspend-Service -Confirm

This command suspends all of the services on the computer that can be suspended. It uses Get-Service to get objects that represent the services on the computer. The pipeline operator passes the results to the Where-Object cmdlet, which selects only the services that have a value of $True for the CanPauseAndContinue property. Another pipeline operator passes the results to Suspend-Service. The Confirm parameter prompts you for confirmation before suspending each of the services.

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 be suspended. Wildcard characters are permitted.

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

-Exclude

Specifies services to omit from the specified services. 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

-Include

Specifies services to suspend. 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 suspend. 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 suspend. Wildcard characters are permitted.

The parameter name is optional. You can use Name or its alias, ServiceName, or you can omit the parameter name.

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

-PassThru

Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. 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 service.

Notes

  • Suspend-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.
  • Suspend-Service can suspend only services that support being suspended and resumed. To determine whether a particular service can be suspended, use the Get-Service cmdlet together with the CanPauseAndContinue property. For example, Get-Service wmi | Format-List Name, CanPauseAndContinue. To find all services on the computer that can be suspended, type Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.CanPauseAndContinue -eq $true}.
  • 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.