How to Delete a Service in Windows 10

To delete a service in Windows 10, open Services, double-click the service, and note its Service name. Then open Command Prompt as administrator and run sc delete followed by that name, like sc delete ContosoUpdater. Restart the PC to finish.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Learn on September 28, 2026.

Before you start

• Most services should never be deleted. Deleting a Windows service can stop Windows from working. Only delete a service left behind by a program you’ve already removed.
• Try uninstalling the program first. That removes its services the right way. See how to uninstall programs on Windows 10.
• Disabling is safer than deleting. You can turn a disabled service back on later.
• Make a restore point first. See how to create a restore point in Windows 10.

Find the service name (and disable it)

1. Press Windows logo key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Double-click the service.
3. Note the Service name. It’s often different from the display name.
4. To stop it without deleting it, set Startup type to Disabled, select Stop, then OK.

Delete the service

1. Select Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type sc delete, a space, and the service name, then press Enter. If the name has spaces, put it in quotes.
3. Look for [SC] DeleteService SUCCESS, then restart the PC.

Delete a service with PowerShell

Windows PowerShell, which comes with Windows 10, doesn’t have a delete command for services. In it, type sc.exe delete followed by the name. Typing just sc runs a different PowerShell command, so include .exe.

If you’ve installed PowerShell 7, you can use Remove-Service -Name followed by the service name instead.

Back up the service first

Each service has a registry key you can save. In Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services, right-click the key with the service name, and select Export. If you delete the wrong service, double-click the saved .reg file and restart to put it back.

If sc delete doesn’t work

• “The specified service does not exist as an installed service.” You used the display name instead of the Service name, or there’s a typo. Run sc query state= all to list exact names.
• “Access is denied.” Command Prompt isn’t running as administrator. Close it and open it again with Run as administrator.
• The service comes back. The program it belongs to is still installed and puts it back. Uninstall the program in Settings > Apps.
• The service won’t stop. Set its Startup type to Disabled, restart the PC, and then delete it.

Frequently asked questions

It says the service is “marked for deletion”. What now?

Close the Services window and restart the PC. The service is removed during the restart.

How do I find which services start with Windows?

A clean boot turns off non-Microsoft services for testing. See how to perform a clean boot in Windows 10.

What if I don’t recognize a service?

Search for its name before you change it. If you think it’s harmful, run a scan. See how to scan for and remove malware in Windows 10.

Is it better to disable or delete a service?

Disable it in most cases. A disabled service stays on the PC but doesn’t run, and you can turn it back on any time. Delete only services left behind by programs you’ve already uninstalled.

Can deleting a service speed up my PC?

Rarely. Most services use very little memory while idle. If your PC is slow, check startup apps and Task Manager first.

How do I check that a service is gone?

Run sc query followed by the service name. If Windows says the service doesn’t exist, it’s deleted. It also disappears from the Services window after you refresh it.

Does this work in Windows 11?

Yes. The Services window, sc delete, and the registry backup work the same way in Windows 11.

What does the Startup type setting do?

Automatic starts the service with Windows, Manual starts it only when something needs it, and Disabled stops it from starting at all. Automatic (Delayed Start) waits a little after sign-in.

Microsoft’s reference is sc delete. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.