How to Run Any App as a Windows Service Using Servy (Step-by-Step Guide)

Running a regular application continuously on Windows can be frustrating. Apps close after reboots, crash silently, or require manual restarts. Windows services solve this problem, but converting an app into a service is not always simple. Servy fixes this by allowing you to run almost any application as a native Windows service with full control and monitoring.

What Is Servy?

Servy is a Windows tool that lets you run any executable, script, or app as a native Windows service. It works without modifying your app or rewriting it as a service.

Servy supports:

• Desktop apps
• Command-line tools
• Background scripts
• Web servers
• Long-running processes

It provides a graphical interface, a command-line tool, and PowerShell support to manage services easily.

Why Use Servy Instead of Built-In Windows Tools?

Windows includes tools like sc.exe, but they lack flexibility and ease of use. Servy removes those limitations.

Servy allows you to:

• Set a custom working directory
• Control startup behavior and priority
• Define environment variables
• Monitor CPU, memory, and logs
• Restart apps automatically if they crash or hang

This makes Servy ideal for running non-service apps reliably in the background.

See also: How to Install OpenClaw on Windows Using WSL2 (Official Local Setup Guide)

When Should You Use Servy?

Servy is useful when:

• Your app must start automatically on system boot
• You want the app to run even before login
• The app must restart after crashes
• You need logs and health monitoring
• You want service behavior without rewriting code

Typical use cases include Node.js servers, Python scripts, .NET apps, Java services, and background workers.

How to Install Servy on Windows

Servy supports multiple installation methods. Choose the one that fits your workflow.

Option 1: Install Using WinGet

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator and run:

winget install servy

Option 2: Install Using Chocolatey

choco install -y servy

Option 3: Install Using Scoop

scoop bucket add extras
scoop update innounp
scoop install servy

After installation, Servy Manager and the Servy CLI become available on your system.

How to Run Any App as a Windows Service Using Servy

Follow these steps to create a Windows service using Servy.

Step 1: Open Servy Manager

Launch Servy Manager from the Start Menu. This interface lets you create and manage services visually.

Step 2: Create a New Service

Click Add Service and provide:

• Service name
• Display name
• Description

Choose a clear name that reflects what the app does.

Step 3: Select the Application

Browse and select the executable or script you want to run. Servy supports EXE files, scripts, and command-line apps.

Set the working directory carefully. This ensures the app behaves exactly as it does when launched manually.

Step 4: Configure Startup and Account

Choose how the service starts:

• Automatic
• Manual
• Delayed start

Select the account to run the service under, such as Local System or a specific user account.

Step 5: Configure Logs and Monitoring

Enable stdout and stderr logging to capture app output. Configure log rotation to prevent large log files.

Servy automatically monitors the app and restarts it if it crashes or stops responding.

Step 6: Save and Start the Service

Save the configuration and start the service. Windows now treats your app as a native service.

How Servy Keeps Apps Running Reliably

Servy continuously watches the service process. If the app crashes, freezes, or exits unexpectedly, Servy restarts it automatically.

It also:

• Prevents orphaned processes
• Cleans up child processes
• Handles graceful shutdowns
• Supports forced termination if needed

This behavior makes Servy reliable for long-running production workloads.

Running Services Using Servy CLI or PowerShell

Servy also provides a CLI and PowerShell module. These tools help automate service creation in scripts or CI/CD pipelines.

You can:

• Create services from scripts
• Export and import service configurations
• Manage services without using the GUI

This is useful for server environments and automated deployments.

Servy vs Traditional Service Wrappers

Compared to older tools, Servy provides:

• Better lifecycle management
• Built-in monitoring
• Cleaner UI
• Scriptable automation
• Improved reliability

It works well for modern workloads that require stability and control.

FAQs

How do I run an app as a Windows service?

You can run an app as a Windows service by using Servy, which allows normal executables and scripts to run in the background as native services that start automatically with Windows and restart if they fail.

What is the easiest way to run an app as a Windows service?

Servy provides the easiest way to run an app as a Windows service because it offers a graphical interface, automatic restarts, logging, and full service control without modifying the app.

Can Servy run any app as a Windows service?

Servy can run most applications as Windows services, including EXE files, Node.js apps, Python scripts, .NET programs, and other long-running background processes.

Why should I run an app as a Windows service?

Running an app as a Windows service ensures it starts at boot, runs without user login, stays active in the background, and automatically recovers from crashes.

Is Servy better than NSSM for running Windows services?

Servy offers better monitoring, cleaner shutdown handling, built-in logging, and a modern interface, making it a stronger alternative to NSSM for running apps as Windows services.

Does Servy automatically restart crashed apps?

Yes, Servy continuously monitors the service process and automatically restarts the app if it crashes, hangs, or stops unexpectedly.

Is Servy safe and free to use?

Servy is free, open-source, and digitally signed, which makes it safe to use for running apps as Windows services on both personal and production systems.

Servy simplifies one of the most common Windows problems: keeping apps running reliably in the background. It removes the complexity of native Windows service creation while adding powerful monitoring and recovery features.

If you need a clean and dependable way to run apps as services on Windows, Servy is a strong solution worth using. Download | Installation Guide