Set-Service

Change the start mode/properties/status of a service.

Syntax
      Set-Service [-name] string[] [ -displayName string ]
         [-description string] [-startupType { Automatic | Manual | Disabled }]
              [-Status string] [-ComputerName string[]] [-PassThru]
                 [-whatIf] [-confirm] [CommonParameters]

      Set-Service [-InputObject ServiceController] [ -displayName string ]
         [-description string] [-startupType { Automatic | Manual | Disabled }]
              [-Status string] [-ComputerName string[]] [-PassThru]
                 [-whatIf] [-confirm] [CommonParameters]
key
   -Name
       Service name(s) to change. Wildcards are not permitted. 
       The service name may be piped.

   -DisplayName string
       A new display name for the Service. 

   -Description string
       A new description for the service.

   -ComputerName string[]
       Specify one or more computers. The default is the local computer. 
       Type the NetBIOS name, an IP address, or a fully qualified domain name
       of a remote computer.
       To specify the local computer, type the computer name, a dot (.), or "localhost".

       This parameter does not rely on PowerShell remoting.

   -InputObject ServiceController
       A ServiceController object that represents the service to be changed.
       Enter a variable that contains the object, or type a command or
       expression that gets the object, such as a Get-Service command.
       May be piped.

   -StartupType ServiceStartMode
       Change the starting mode of the service: Automatic or Manual or Disabled.

   -Status string
      Start, stop, or suspend (pause) the service.  Valid values are:
         Running  Start the service.
         Stopped  Stop the service.
         Paused   Suspend the service.

   -PassThru
       Return objects that represent the services changed.

   -WhatIf
       Describe what would happen if you executed the command without
       actually executing the command.

   -Confirm
       Prompt for confirmation before executing the command.

Examples

Set the start type of the sysmonlog service to automatic:

PS C:\> Set-Service sysmonlog -startuptype automatic

Display the start type of all services on the computer:

PS C:\> Get-CimInstance win32_service | Format-Table Name, StartMode -autosize

Display the start type of the telnet service on the computer:

PS C:\> Get-CimInstance win32_service | where {$_.Name -eq "tlntsvr"}

Change the display name of the lanmanworkstation service to "LanMan Workstation". (The default is "Workstation".):

PS C:\> Set-Service -name lanmanworkstation -DisplayName "LanMan Workstation"

Change the description of the Task Scheduler service on the machine Server64:

PS C:\> Set-Service -name Schedule -computername Server64 -description "Configures and schedules tasks."
PS C:\> Get-CimInstance win32_service -computername Server64 | where-object {$_.Name -eq "Schedule"} | Format-List Name, Description

Set multiple services to a manual startup:

$services = @(
   "XblAuthManager"
   "XblGameSave"
)
ForEach ($service in $services) {
      # -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue in case the service doesn’t exist
      Get-Service -Name $service -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
      Set-Service -StartupType Manual
}

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Related PowerShell Cmdlets

Get-Service - Get a list of services.
New-Service - Create a new service.
Restart-Service - Restart a stopped service.
Resume-Service - Resume a suspended service.
Start-Service - Start a stopped service.
Stop-Service - Stop a running service.
Suspend-Service - Suspend a running service.
Equivalent Windows commands: NET START / SC - Start/Stop Service.