How to List Running Services in PowerShell

Are you trying to identify which services are running on your Windows systems? You can use PowerShell for this. In this tutorial, I will explain how to list running services in PowerShell.

Table of Contents

Method 1: List All Running Services on Your Local Machine using Get-Service

The most direct way to list running services in PowerShell is with the Get-Service cmdlet. This command is built into Windows and gives you detailed information about every service.

The Get-Service cmdlet retrieves the status of all services. By default, it shows all services, but you can filter to see only those that are running.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'}

This command fetches all services, then filters for those with a status of ‘Running’. It’s a quick way to see exactly what’s active on your system. You can sort or further filter the output as needed.

You can check the exact output in the screenshot below:

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Method 2: Display Running Services with Specific Properties

Sometimes you only need a few details, like the service name and display name. You can use Select-Object to customize your output.

By piping the results to Select-Object, you can choose which service properties to display, making your list cleaner and more relevant.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'} | Select-Object Name, DisplayName

This approach keeps your output concise and focused, which is ideal for quick checks or when sharing information with colleagues.

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Method 3: Export Running Services to a CSV File

In many organizations, you may need to document running services for compliance or troubleshooting. PowerShell makes exporting easy.

You can pipe your filtered list to Export-Csv to create a spreadsheet-friendly file for audits or reports.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'} | Select-Object Name, DisplayName, Status | Export-Csv -Path "C:\IT\RunningServices.csv" -NoTypeInformation

This command creates a CSV file listing all running services, which you can open in Excel or share with your team.

For more visually appealing reports, you can also create an HTML report.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq "Running"} | 
ConvertTo-Html -Property DisplayName, Name, Status -Title "Running Services Report" | 
Out-File "C:\Reports\RunningServices.html"

This generates an HTML report that can be easily shared with team members or stakeholders. The HTML format makes it easier for non-technical staff to interpret the results.

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Method 4: List Running Services on a Remote Computer

Managing multiple systems? PowerShell lets you check services on remote machines, provided you have the right permissions.

The -ComputerName parameter allows you to specify one or more remote computers by hostname or IP address.

Get-Service -ComputerName "nyc-srv-01" | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'}

This method is perfect for system administrators managing fleets of computers across offices.

Method 5: Format Output for Readability

For large environments, formatting your output makes it easier to spot issues or trends.

Use Format-Table to display results in a well-organized table, or Out-GridView for an interactive window.

Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'} | Format-Table -Property Name, DisplayName, Status

Tables make it easy to scan for service names and statuses, which is helpful during incident response or routine checks.

Here is the exact output in the screenshot below:

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Method 6: Advanced Filtering (By Service Name or Pattern)

If you’re troubleshooting a specific service, you can filter by name or use wildcards.

Filtering by service name helps you quickly zero in on what matters, such as all services related to SQL Server.

Get-Service -Name "*SQL*" | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'}

This command is invaluable in large organizations with dozens of services, letting you focus on critical applications or business processes.

I hope you now understand how to list running services in PowerShell using different methods.

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Bijay Kumar

Bijay Kumar is an esteemed author and the mind behind PowerShellFAQs.com, where he shares his extensive knowledge and expertise in PowerShell, with a particular focus on SharePoint projects. Recognized for his contributions to the tech community, Bijay has been honored with the prestigious Microsoft MVP award. With over 15 years of experience in the software industry, he has a rich professional background, having worked with industry giants such as HP and TCS. His insights and guidance have made him a respected figure in the world of software development and administration. Read more.