How to List Services on Ubuntu Linux
Listing services on Ubuntu Linux uses the systemctl list-units --type=service command in the terminal to show background programs running on your computer. Services are background tasks that handle core functions like network connections and updates on versions including Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
Running this command lets you see at a glance which programs are active, stopped, or failing so you can spot and fix problems fast.
You list services on Ubuntu Linux using the `systemctl list-units –all –type=service` command. This command displays all active and inactive services managed by systemd. For older Ubuntu versions, use the `service –status-all` command.
About systemctl command:
The systemctl command is the main tool you use to manage system services on Ubuntu. It lets you check if background tasks are running, stopped, or set to start automatically when your computer turns on. Older versions of Ubuntu also use the older service command for similar tasks.
Using both systemctl and service commands, you can list all services running, stopped, or disabled.
Syntax:
The syntax is the rule and format of how the systemctl command can be used. These syntax options can be reordered, but a straight format must be followed.
Below is an example syntax of how to use the systemctl command.
systemctl [OPTIONS.] {COMMAND} .Options:
The command line options are switches or flags that determine how the commands are executed or controlled. They modify the behavior of the commands. They are separated by spaces and followed after the commands.
Below are some options for the systemctl command:
| COMMAND. | Replace COMMAND.. with the name of the command service names. |
| -t --type=TYPE, --state=STATE | Use the -t or --type or --state=STATE to list units of a particular type of service state: Active, Inactive |
| -a --all | Use the -a or --all to show all properties/all units currently in memory, including dead/empty ones. To list all units installed on the system, use the 'list-unit-files' command instead. |
| -r --recursive | Use the -r or --recursive to show a unit list of host and local containers |
| --help | Display a help message and exit. |
Examples:
Below are some examples of how to run and use the systemctl on Ubuntu Linux.
Simply run the systemctl command to invoke it.
Starting and Stopping Services
To start or stop services using the systemctl command, run the commands below:
sudo systemctl start application.service
To stop:
sudo systemctl stop application.service
Example:
sudo systemctl start application
Restarting and Reloading
Restarting and reloading services on Ubuntu helps you apply new settings or fix broken background tasks without rebooting the whole computer. A restart stops the service completely before starting it again, while a reload updates the configuration while the service keeps running.
sudo systemctl restart application.service
Or reload:
sudo systemctl reload application.service
Reloading a service only reloads configuration changes to a running service and won't entirely restart the service. To fully restart a running service, you use the restart option.
Enabling and Disabling Services
Enabling and disabling services on Ubuntu gives you control over what starts up automatically when you turn on your computer. Enabling a service makes it launch on boot, while disabling it keeps the service turned off until you start it manually.
sudo systemctl enable application.service
Or disable:
sudo systemctl disable application.service
Check service status
To check the status of a service, you use the status option.
sudo systemctl status application.service
Listing all services:
Listing all services on Ubuntu gives you a complete view of every background task, showing you clearly which ones are running, stopped, or disabled. You can run a simple command in your terminal to check the status of every service installed on your system at once.
systemctl list-units --all --type=service --no-pager
That should list all services and output a similar screen as below:
UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPTION accounts-daemon.service loaded active running Accounts Service acpid.service loaded active running ACPI event daemon alsa-restore.service loaded active exited Save/Restore Sound Card State alsa-state.service loaded inactive dead Manage Sound Card State (restore and store) anacron.service loaded inactive dead ..
To list all inactive services, you run the commands below:
sudo systemctl list-units --all --state=inactiveFor only active services:
sudo systemctl list-units --all --state=inactiveWhen you run systemctl with the --help option, you'll see the help text below:
systemctl [OPTIONS.] {COMMAND} .
Query or send control commands to the systemd manager.
-h --help Show this help
--version Show package version
--system Connect to system manager
--user Connect to user service manager
-H --host=[USER@]HOST
units installed on
.
Previous versions of Ubuntu using the service can use the commands below:
sudo service --status-all
That's it!
Congratulations! You've learned how to use the systemctl to manage and list services on Ubuntu.
You may also like the commands below:
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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