Start the command prompt as a Windows Service

How to Start the Command Prompt as a Windows Service on your Desktop

Launch the command prompt visibly on your desktop as an interactive Windows Service, to troubleshoot your applications running in service accounts


Last Updated on September 14, 2026
  1. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

  2. Start AlwaysUp.

  3. Select Application > Advisor to launch the Application Advisor:

    Start Application Advisor

  4. Click Next to move past the welcome page:

    Application Advisor: Welcome

  5. Choose Command Prompt (for troubleshooting) from the list of applications:

    Application Advisor: Choose Command Prompt

    Click Next to proceed.

  6. AlwaysUp will take a few seconds to review your Windows setup. Afterwards, enter the password of your Windows account where you want to run the command prompt.

    Enter the Windows Credentials for the command prompt

    Click Next to move on.

  7. As the screen says, the Advisor has composed the best settings to run the command prompt as a Windows Service. Click Next to open the Add Application window with all the particulars:

    Ready to add the command prompt

  8. At this point, the Add Application window contains all the recommended settings. If you like, cycle through the tabs and review the options that have been chosen.

    When you're ready, click Save to record your new Windows Service:

    Save your Command Prompt service

  9. In a couple of seconds, an entry named Command prompt will show up in the AlwaysUp window:

    Command Prompt Windows Service: Created

  10. To start the Command Prompt visibly on your desktop, choose Application > Start "Command prompt" in this session.

    The command prompt will soon pop up on your screen:

    Command prompt running as a Windows Service on the desktop

  11. At this point, you can run whatever command you like, to see how it works in the context of a Windows Service.

    Best of luck with your troubleshooting!


Command Prompt not working properly as a Windows Service?

  • Consult the AlwaysUp Troubleshooter — our online tool that can help you resolve the most common problems encountered when running an application as a Windows Service.

  • From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today to bring up an HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and the command prompt. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains what each message means.

  • Browse the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.

  • Contact us and we will be happy to help!

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