Windows Service Error 1060, "The specified service does not exist as an installed service"

Error 1060 means Windows has no service with the name you gave. The name is usually misspelled, the service was removed, or the program that installed it is no longer on the PC.

The fix, in order

  1. Check the exact service name. In Services, the name in the list is the display name. The real service name is shown on the General tab, and it is the one commands need. sc query lists real service names.
  2. Run sc query followed by the service name in an admin Command Prompt with the exact name. If it still reports that the service does not exist, the name is wrong or the service is gone.
  3. If the service belongs to a program, reinstall that program. A missing service is usually a missing or partly removed installation.
  4. Check the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services for a key with the service name. If the key is missing, the service is not installed. Do not create registry keys by hand.
  5. If a script or another program calls the service by name, check the name it uses. A renamed service or a typo in the script gives this error.
  6. Run sfc /scannow in an admin Command Prompt if the missing service is a Windows service. A damaged system can lose a service registration.

If it still happens

If the service was removed by an uninstaller and you still need it, the only reliable fix is reinstalling the program that provides it. Copying registry keys or service files from another PC is not reliable and can cause new errors.

Common questions

What is the difference between a service name and a display name? The service name is the short internal name Windows uses, like Spooler. The display name is the friendly label shown in the Services console, like Print Spooler. Commands need the service name.

Can I recreate a deleted service? Not by hand in any reliable way. Reinstalling the program that provides the service recreates it with the correct settings, binary path, and dependencies.

Related errors

Windows Service Error 1075 · Windows Service Error 1062 · Print Spooler service not running

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