How to List Linux Services With the systemctl Command

If you manage a Linux server, you need to keep track of which services are running, which are enabled to start at boot, and which have failed. The systemctl command makes it easy to manage and inspect these services. Here’s how you can use it to list and review the services on your system.

What is systemctl?

systemctl is the main command-line tool to interact with systemd, the init system and service manager for many modern Linux distributions (like Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora, and others). With systemctl, you can start, stop, restart, enable, disable, and—crucially—list services.

List All Services

To see every service, whether active, inactive, running, or failed, use:

systemctl list-units --type=service

This command will show you a table with:

• UNIT (the service name),
• LOAD (if the service’s configuration was loaded),
• ACTIVE (the high-level status: active/inactive),
• SUB (more specific status),
• DESCRIPTION (a short explanation).

Example output:

UNIT                            LOAD   ACTIVE SUB     DESCRIPTION
ssh.service                     loaded active running OpenBSD Secure Shell server
cron.service                    loaded active running Regular background program processing daemon
apache2.service                 loaded active running The Apache HTTP Server
...

List Only Active Services

If you want a shorter list with just the services that are currently running:

systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running

List Enabled Services (Start at Boot)

To see which services are configured to start automatically at boot:

systemctl list-unit-files --type=service --state=enabled

This lists all enabled services—regardless of their current status.

List All Installed Service Unit Files

For a full inventory of every service file (enabled, disabled, static, etc.):

systemctl list-unit-files --type=service

This shows you every service recognized by systemd and how each one is set to behave.

Check the Status of a Specific Service

If you want details about just one service (for example, ssh):

systemctl status ssh

This command gives you the status, recent log messages, and whether the service is running or not.

Summary Table

Final Tips

• You need to run these commands as a regular user for viewing. For starting or stopping services, use sudo.
• systemctl is available on most Linux systems that use systemd (check with systemctl --version if unsure).
• Mastering systemctl is essential for any Linux admin or power user.

Have questions or want to see more Linux tips? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!