Beginning in vCenter Server 6.0, it is recommended to use the vSphere Web Client or Service Control command-line tool to stop, start, or restart vCenter Server and/or Platform Services Controller services. This process is different from previous versions of vCenter Server with the Microsoft Windows Services snap-in.
For more information see,

• Stopping, starting, or restarting VMware vCenter Server 6.0 services (2109881)
• Stopping, Starting or Restarting VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.x services (2109887) ​​​​​​​

Stopping vCenter Server services

To stop a vCenter Server service:

1. Log in as an administrator to the server that is running vCenter Server.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type services.msc.
4. Press Enter.
5. From the list of services, right-click on the service you wish to stop. For example, VMware VirtualCenter Server, or VMware vCenter Server depending on the version you are using.
6. Click Stop and wait for the service to complete stopping.

Note: When you stop the VMware vCenter Server service, all connected users are disconnected from their session.

Starting vCenter Server services

To start a vCenter Server service if it has stopped:

1. Log in as an administrator to the server that is running vCenter Server.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type services.msc.
4. Press Enter.
5. From the list of services, right-click on the service you wish to start. For example, VMware VirtualCenter Server, or VMware vCenter Server depending on the version you are using.
6. Click Start and wait for the service startup to complete.

Note: If the VMware VirtualCenter Server service does not start, verify that it is able to get exclusive access to vCenter Server repository. For more information, see Unable to get an exclusive access to the vCenter Server repository (1006369).

Restarting vCenter Server services

To restart a vCenter Server service:

1. Log in as an administrator to the server that is running vCenter Server.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type services.msc.
4. Press Enter.
5. From the list of services, right-click on the service you wish to restart. For example, VMware VirtualCenter Server, or VMware vCenter Server depending on the version you are using.
6. Click Restart and wait for the service to complete restarting.

Note: When you restart the VMware VirtualCenter Server service, all connected users are disconnected from their vSphere/Virtual Infrastructure Client sessions. If the vCenter Server service does not start after it has been stopped, see Troubleshooting the VMware VirtualCenter Server service when it does not start or fails on vCenter Server (1003926).