How to open Services in Windows 11

There are multiple ways to open Services in Windows 11. Most of them are reviewed in this article. Usually, regular Windows 11 users do not need open Services and mess around with different running processes. Still, sometimes you might want to start or disable services in Windows 11. For example, to troubleshoot a bug or prevent an app from running on boot.

Services is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that allows you to start, stop, and configure service options. With Services, you can perform a variety of tasks on installed services, including the built-in Windows services and services installed by third-party apps.

This article will show you how to open Services in Windows 11.

Open Services in Windows 11

You can access the Services tool using a variety of methods. You can launch it from the Run dialog, search, and File Explorer. You will also find its shortcut in the Windows Tools folder, and in Computer management. Finally, you can create a custom shortcut for the app and use it on demand.

Open Services in Windows 11 using Run

The simplest and probably easiest way to open Services in Windows 11 is to use the Run dialog box. It is available from anywhere and takes just a few key presses.

To open Services in Windows 11 from the Run dialog, press Win + R and enter services.msc, then press Enter.

You can also use the services.msc command to open Services from Task Manager and Windows Terminal.

• Open Task Manager in Windows 11, then click File > Run new task.
• Open Windows Terminal, then enter the services.msc command.

Using the Windows Tools folder

In Windows 10, the Services app shortcut "lives" inside the Windows Administrative Tools folder. In Windows 11, Microsoft decided to unify system utilities in a single Windows Tools folder.

1. Press the Start button, then click All Apps.
2. In the list of apps, find the Windows Tools folder and open it. You can locate it faster with the alphabet navigation.
3. In a new window, scroll down and click Services.

Start the Services tool in Windows 11 using Search

You can launch the Services snap-in  in Windows 11 as any other app using Windows Search. You can press Win + S and start typing Services.

As an option, open the Start menu and click the search field.

Using Computer Management

1. Right-click the Start menu button and select Computer Management from the Win + X menu.
2. In a new window, click Services and Applications.
3. Now, select Services.

Launch Services from File Explorer

Services is a default Windows 11 app that keeps its executable file inside the Windows folder on drive C. Of course, navigating to the Windows and system32 folders is not the best way to open Services in Windows 11, but, for completeness, here is how to open Services from File Explorer.

All that is need is to open C:\Windows\system32. Find the services.msc file and open it.

Note: There is another services file called services.exe. That is not what you are looking for. Launching that file will do nothing.

Tip: It might be difficult to spot the right file if you disabled file extensions in Windows 11. What you need is a services file with two cogs on the icon. As an option, you can enable file extensions in Windows 11 and then launch the services.msc file.

How to create a shortcut for Services in Windows 11

1. Go to the Desktop and right-click on empty space. Select New > Shortcut.
2. In a new window, enter services.msc in the file location field. Click Next.
3. Give your shortcut a name, then save it.
4. Next, right-click the shortcut you have just made and select Properties to change the icon.

Services keyboard shortcut in Windows 11

Windows has no default shortcut to launch Services, but you can create one.

1. Begin with creating a shortcut for Services in Windows 11 using the previous section of this article.
2. Right-click the newly made shortcut and select Properties.
3. On the Shortcut tab, click the Shortcut Key and enter any key combination, for example, Ctrl + Alt + 0.
4. Click OK to save changes.
5. Open File Explorer (Win + E) and paste the following path to the address bar: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs.
6. Move the shortcut to the Programs folder. After that, the assigned keyboard shortcut will be available in ANY running app.

Now you can open Services in Windows 11 using keys. Just remember to keep the shortcut around; otherwise, the key combination will stop working. Check out this post for more details.

That is it. Now you know how to launch Services in Windows 11.

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