Convert Python to Service: Run Scripts as Windows Service

Many people, including myself, enjoy Python for automating tasks and creating APIs for third-party utilities. But unfortunately, dragging in the pywin32 library just to convert Python to Service isn't ideal — especially when pywin32 for some reason conflicts with a project we didn't write ourselves.

There are a couple of good utilities that solve this problem:

NSSM
WinSW.

But when reliability and quick script deployment are needed, they can be difficult to use.
For these reasons, today I'll tell you about EXE to Service, which aims for three-click conversion and reliability.

How to Convert Python to Windows Service

Step 1: Open EXE to Service

After installing EXE to Service, a shortcut will appear on your desktop.

The graphical interface is intended only to simplify service creation.
If you're running Windows Server without a graphical interface, you have two options:

Create the service on a regular PC and then transfer it to the server.
Run EXE to Service directly on the server using the command line.

Step 2: Create a New Service

EXE to Service already includes a ready-made Python to Service example.

Just click the "Create from example" button.

Convert Python to Service

Step 3: Set the Path to Python Scripts

In the window that appears, you must specify the correct paths:

Path to the Python.exe executable file:
By default (user-specific):
C:\Users\<Your_user_name>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python<version>\
Working Directory:
Specify the folder where your script file is located.
Arguments:
C:\Path\To\Your\Script.py

Python to Service Configuration

Step 4: Save and Start the Service

Click "Create Service" to create a Windows service.

If you want the service to start immediately on this computer, click "Start".

After this, Python will:

Start as a Windows service
Start automatically with the system
Be manageable through the Windows Service Manager (services.msc)

In future articles, I'll explain how to create notifications and alerts for critical situations in Python when it has memory and CPU leaks.

Conclusion

Python was originally developed as a high-level language and isn't intended to run in Windows services — but tools like EXE to Service solve this problem cleanly. Wrap your .py script in a shell, and it will run at system boot, persist after logout, and integrate with services.msc — no complicated workarounds required.