start-stop-or-pause-the-sql-server-agent-service.md

title	Start, Stop, or Pause the SQL Server Agent Service | Microsoft Docs
ms.custom
ms.date	03/06/2017
ms.prod	sql-server-2014
ms.reviewer
ms.technology	ssms
ms.topic	conceptual
helpviewer_keywords	SQL Server Agent, starting SQL Server Agent, pausing SQL Server Agent, stopping
ms.assetid	c95a9759-dd30-4ab6-9ab0-087bb3bfb97c
author	stevestein
ms.author	sstein
manager	craigg

Start, Stop, or Pause the SQL Server Agent Service

This topic describes how to start, stop, or restart the SQL Server Agent Service in [!INCLUDEssCurrent] by using [!INCLUDEssManStudioFull].

You can configure the [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Agent service to start automatically when the operating system starts, or you can start it manually when you need to complete jobs. You can stop or pause the [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Agent service to suspend jobs, operator notifications, and alerts.

In This Topic

• Before you begin:

  Limitations and Restrictions

  Security

• To start, stop, or restart the SQL Server Agent Service using SQL Server Management Studio

Before You Begin

Limitations and Restrictions

• [!INCLUDEmsCoName] [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Agent must be running as a service in order to automate administrative tasks. For more information, see Configure SQL Server Agent.

• Object Explorer only displays the [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Agent node if you have permission to use it.

Security

Permissions

To perform its functions, [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Agent must be configured to use the credentials of an account that is a member of the sysadmin fixed server role in [!INCLUDEssNoVersion]. The account must have the following Windows permissions:

• Log on as a service (SeServiceLogonRight)

• Replace a process-level token (SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege)

• Bypass traverse checking (SeChangeNotifyPrivilege)

• Adjust memory quotas for a process (SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)

For more information about the Windows permissions required for the [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] Agent service account, see Select an Account for the SQL Server Agent Service and Configure Windows Service Accounts and Permissions.

Using SQL Server Management Studio

To start, stop, or restart the SQL Server Agent Service

1. In Object Explorer, click the plus sign to expand the server where you want to manage SQL Server Agent Service.

2. Right-click SQL Server Agent, and then select either Start, Stop, or Restart.

3. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Yes.

4. When prompted if you want to perform the action, click Yes.

For more information, see:

• Start, Stop, Pause, Resume, Restart the Database Engine, SQL Server Agent, or SQL Server Browser Service

• Autostart SQL Server Agent (SQL Server Management Studio)