Windows service - get current directory

Question

I have a Windows service that should look for a configuration file in its current directory.

So I use directory.getcurrentdirectiry() but instead of the service directory I get back

c:\windows\system32

Any idea why and how should I get the service directory?

Jed · Answer 1 · 2014-06-03T22:26:12.390

173

You can set the current directory to the directory that your service is running from by including this line in your code:

System.IO.Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory);

The important part of this is:

System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory

That returns the path to the directory your service is running from.

edited Jun 03 '14 at 22:26

answered Apr 30 '12 at 14:43

Jed

11

`System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory` worked for me, it gives the directory. `System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location` returns the directory plus the name of the executable – j00hi Jun 03 '14 at 18:00
1

This answer works better for different scenarios. I use NCrunch, and the accepted answer wouldn't help there. – Reydel Leon Aug 04 '16 at 19:11
1

This also works in a broader set of environments (asp.net, winform, and windows services) as compared to other solutions like Assembly.Location and etc. – Brian Gideon Sep 20 '16 at 15:48
2

System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory worked for me. Also I made a test using it both as Windows Service and Console Application (inside Linux Container) and works fine in both scenarios! Thanks! :D – gatsby Dec 11 '18 at 12:10

score 33 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 29 '12 at 21:43

33

Try this:

System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location

answered Apr 29 '12 at 21:43

coder

This line give me the directory that the serviec is running BUT also the Assembly itself... sonthig like - c:\serviceDir\app.exe I would like only the directory – MoShe Apr 30 '12 at 22:08
7

Path.GetDirectoryName(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location) – VhsPiceros Dec 30 '15 at 20:19

score 20 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 31 '20 at 00:48

20

Getting directory from full path:

var location = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location;
var directoryPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(location);

Quite a silly problem when comparing to writing a Windows service :)

edited Aug 31 '20 at 00:48

Pang

answered Jul 19 '13 at 11:00

Michael Brennt

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 14 '16 at 18:23

15

Don't use Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(). I had the same exact problem with C:\Windows\System32 being returned. Use this instead:

Path.GetDirectoryName(Application.ExecutablePath);

answered Apr 14 '16 at 18:23

puffgroovy

6

Apparently you need to add System.Windows.Forms.dll in order for this to work. – Amadeus Sanchez Feb 14 '17 at 18:57
1

I get "the name application does not exist in the current context" – red888 Oct 03 '17 at 19:40

Kai Thoma · Answer 5 · 2021-06-22T05:26:31.653

2

In case you're targeting .NET Core or .NET Standard you could use AppContext.BaseDirectory as well.

edited Jun 22 '21 at 05:26

answered Jun 21 '21 at 11:28

Kai Thoma

5 Answers5