> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Start, Stop & Restart Services in Linux - URL: https://itsfoss.com/start-stop-restart-services-linux/ - Published: 2019-12-19T19:32:43.000Z - Updated: 2023-09-04T13:59:06.000Z - Description: You can easily manage service with systemd and init. Learn to start, stop and restart services in Ubuntu and other Linux Distributions. - Author: Sergiu - Tags: Tutorial Services are essential background processes that are usually run while booting up and shut down with the OS. If you are a sysadmin, you’ll deal with the service regularly. If you are a normal desktop user, you may come across the need to restart a service like [setting up Barrier for sharing mouse and keyboard between computers](https://itsfoss.com/keyboard-mouse-sharing-between-computers/) or when you are [using ufw to setup firewall](https://itsfoss.com/set-up-firewall-gufw/). Today I will show you two different ways you can manage services. You’ll learn to start, stop and restart services in Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution. - Method 1 uses systemd and you manage sevices with `systemctl` command - Method 2 uses init and you manage services with `service` command [Check if You Are Using Systemd or Not in LinuxIs your Linux system using systemd or sysv or some other init system? Here’s how to find out.![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/08/Linux-Handbook-New-Logo.png)Linux HandbookAbhishek Prakash![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2022/09/check-if-systemd-or-init.png)](https://linuxhandbook.com/check-if-systemd/?ref=itsfoss.com) ## Method 1: Managing services in Linux with systemd I am starting with systemd because of the obvious reason of its widespread adoption. ### 1\. List all services In order to manage the services, you first need to know what services are available on your system. You can use the systemd command to list all the services on your Linux system: ``` systemctl list-unit-files --type service -all ``` ![systemctl list-unit-files](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/12/systemctl_list_services.png) systemctl list-unit-files This command will output the state of all services. The value of a service’s state can be enabled, disabled, masked (inactive until mask is unset), static and generated. Combine it with the [grep command](https://linuxhandbook.com/grep-command-examples/?ref=itsfoss.com) and you can **display just the running services**: ``` sudo systemctl | grep running ``` ![Display running services systemctl](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/12/systemctl_grep_running.jpg) Display running services systemctl Now that you know how to reference all different services, you can start actively managing them. **Note:** ***** *in the commands should be replaced by the name of the service you wish to manage (e.g. network-manager, ufw etc.).* ### **2\. Start a** service To start a service in Linux, you just need to use its name like this: ``` systemctl start ``` ### 3\. **Stop** a service To stop a systemd service, you can use the stop option of systemctl command: ``` systemctl stop ``` ### 4\. Re**start** a service To restart a service in Linux with systemd, you can use: ``` systemctl restart ``` ### 5\. Check the status of a service You can confirm that you have successfully executed a certain action by printing the service status: ``` systemctl status ``` This will output information in the following manner: ![systemctl status](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/12/systemctl_status.jpg) systemctl status That was systemd. Let’s switch to init now. [systemd vs init Controversy \[A Layman’s Guide\]Still confused about what is systemd and why it is often at the center of controversy in the Linux world? I try to answer in simpler words.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSBill Dyer![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/07/understanding-systemd.png)](https://itsfoss.com/systemd-init/) ## Method 2: Managing services in Linux with init The commands in init are also as simple as system. 📋 You’ll notice that even though your Ubuntu system uses systemd, it is still able to use the service command (intended to be used with init system). This is because `service` command is actually redirected to systemctl. It’s sort of backward compatibility introduced by systemd because sysadmins were habitual of using the service command. ### 1\. List all services To list all the Linux services, use ``` service --status-all ``` ![service --status-all](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/12/service_status_all.png) service –status-all The services preceded by **\[ – \]** are **disabled** and those with **\[ + \]** are **enabled**. ### **2\. Start** a service To start a service in Ubuntu and other distributions, use this command: ``` service start ``` ### **3\. Stop** a service Stopping a service is equally easy. ``` service stop ``` ### 4\. Re**start** a service If you want to restart a service, the command is: ``` service restart ``` ### 5\. Check the status of a service Furthermore, to check if your intended result was achieved, you can output the servicestatus**:** ``` service status ``` This will output information in the following manner: ![service status](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/12/service_status.jpg) service status This will, most importantly, tell you if a certain service is active **(**running**)** or not. **Wrapping Up** Today I detailed two very simple methods of managing services on Ubuntu or any other Linux system. I hope this article was helpful to you. Which method do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section below!