diff --git a/resources/windows_service/locales/en-us.toml b/resources/windows_service/locales/en-us.toml
index 01484a926..8d02eca4e 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/locales/en-us.toml
+++ b/resources/windows_service/locales/en-us.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 _version = 1
 
 [main]
-missingOperation = "Missing operation. Usage: windows_service get --input <json> | set --input <json> | export [--input <json>]"
+missingOperation = "Missing operation. Usage: windows_service get --input <json> | set [-w] --input <json> | export [--input <json>]"
 unknownOperation = "Unknown operation: '%{operation}'. Expected: get, set, or export"
 missingInput = "Missing --input argument"
 missingInputValue = "Missing value for --input argument"
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ queryConfigFailed = "Failed to query service configuration: %{error}"
 queryStatusFailed = "Failed to query service status: %{error}"
 openServiceFailed = "Failed to open service: %{error}"
 getKeyNameFailed = "Failed to resolve service name from display name: %{error}"
-displayNameMismatch = "Service display name mismatch: expected '%{expected}', got '%{actual}'"
 
 [export]
 enumServicesFailed = "Failed to enumerate services: %{error}"
@@ -35,3 +34,14 @@ unsupportedTransition = "Unsupported status transition from '%{current}' to '%{d
 unsupportedLogonAccount = "Unsupported logon account '%{account}'; only built-in service accounts are supported (LocalSystem, NT AUTHORITY\\LocalService, NT AUTHORITY\\NetworkService)"
 unsupportedStatus = "Cannot set service to status '%{status}'; only Running, Stopped, and Paused are supported"
 statusTimeout = "Timed out waiting for service to reach status '%{expected}'; current status is '%{actual}'"
+whatIfServiceNotFound = "Service '%{name}' does not exist; cannot set"
+whatIfChangeDisplayName = "Would change displayName from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeDescription = "Would change description from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeStartType = "Would change startType from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeExecutablePath = "Would change executablePath from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeLogonAccount = "Would change logonAccount from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeErrorControl = "Would change errorControl from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeDependencies = "Would set dependencies to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfChangeStatus = "Would change status from '%{current}' to '%{desired}'"
+whatIfDeleteService = "Would delete service '%{name}'"
+whatIfDeleteServiceNotFound = "Service '%{name}' does not exist; no delete needed"
diff --git a/resources/windows_service/src/main.rs b/resources/windows_service/src/main.rs
index 0273ac11d..c5f3c9968 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/src/main.rs
+++ b/resources/windows_service/src/main.rs
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     let operation = args[1].as_str();
     let input_json = parse_input_arg(&args);
+    let what_if = parse_what_if_flag(&args);
 
     match operation {
         "get" => {
@@ -88,7 +89,22 @@ fn main() {
         "set" => {
             let input = require_input(input_json);
 
-            match service::set_service(&input) {
+            // In what-if, if the desired state is _exist: false, route to delete
+            // so the projected state and metadata describe a delete operation.
+            if what_if && matches!(input.exist, Some(false)) {
+                match service::what_if_delete_service(&input) {
+                    Ok(result) => {
+                        print_json(&result);
+                        exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+                    }
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        write_error(&e.to_string());
+                        exit(EXIT_SERVICE_ERROR);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            match service::set_service(&input, what_if) {
                 Ok(result) => {
                     print_json(&result);
                     exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
@@ -146,3 +162,8 @@ fn parse_input_arg(args: &[String]) -> Option<String> {
     }
     None
 }
+
+/// Parse the `--what-if` / `-w` flag from the command-line args.
+fn parse_what_if_flag(args: &[String]) -> bool {
+    args.iter().skip(2).any(|a| a == "--what-if" || a == "-w")
+}
diff --git a/resources/windows_service/src/service.rs b/resources/windows_service/src/service.rs
index c54d5e979..75cbeaaad 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/src/service.rs
+++ b/resources/windows_service/src/service.rs
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ unsafe fn read_service_state(
         logon_account,
         error_control,
         dependencies,
+        metadata: None,
     })
 }
 
@@ -220,18 +221,6 @@ pub fn get_service(input: &WindowsService) -> Result<WindowsService, ServiceErro
 
     let svc = unsafe { read_service_state(service_handle.0, &service_key_name) }?;
 
-    // If both name and display_name were provided, verify they match
-    if input.name.is_some() && let Some(expected_dn) = input.display_name.as_ref() {
-        // let expected_dn = input.display_name.as_ref().unwrap();
-        let actual_dn = svc.display_name.as_deref().unwrap_or("");
-        if !actual_dn.eq_ignore_ascii_case(expected_dn) {
-            return Err(
-                t!("get.displayNameMismatch", expected = expected_dn, actual = actual_dn)
-                    .to_string()
-                    .into(),
-            );
-        }
-    }
 
     Ok(svc)
 }
@@ -603,7 +592,7 @@ fn is_builtin_service_account(account: &str) -> bool {
     )
 }
 
-pub fn set_service(input: &WindowsService) -> Result<WindowsService, ServiceError> {
+pub fn set_service(input: &WindowsService, what_if: bool) -> Result<WindowsService, ServiceError> {
     let name = input.name.as_deref()
         .ok_or_else(|| t!("set.nameRequired").to_string())?;
 
@@ -613,6 +602,10 @@ pub fn set_service(input: &WindowsService) -> Result<WindowsService, ServiceErro
         ));
     }
 
+    if what_if {
+        return what_if_set(input, name);
+    }
+
     unsafe {
         let scm = OpenSCManagerW(None, None, SC_MANAGER_CONNECT)
             .map_err(|e| t!("set.openScmFailed", error = e.to_string()).to_string())?;
@@ -955,3 +948,177 @@ fn matches_filter(service: &WindowsService, filter: &WindowsService) -> bool {
 
     true
 }
+
+/// Compute the projected state of a service after applying `input`, without
+/// making any changes. Populates `_metadata.whatIf` with one entry per change
+/// that would be applied. If the service does not exist, returns the desired
+/// state with a single `whatIf` entry describing the failure to open it.
+fn what_if_set(input: &WindowsService, name: &str) -> Result<WindowsService, ServiceError> {
+    // Look up the current state using only the service key name; we want the
+    // live values to compare against, not a re-validation of the desired ones.
+    let lookup = WindowsService {
+        name: Some(name.to_string()),
+        ..Default::default()
+    };
+    let current = match get_service(&lookup) {
+        Ok(svc) => svc,
+        Err(e) => {
+            // Surface the error via metadata so what-if never errors out.
+            return Ok(WindowsService {
+                name: Some(name.to_string()),
+                exist: Some(false),
+                metadata: Some(Metadata {
+                    what_if: Some(vec![e.to_string()]),
+                }),
+                ..Default::default()
+            });
+        }
+    };
+
+    let mut messages: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    let exists = current.exist.unwrap_or(true);
+
+    if !exists {
+        messages.push(
+            t!("set.whatIfServiceNotFound", name = name).to_string(),
+        );
+        return Ok(WindowsService {
+            name: Some(name.to_string()),
+            display_name: input.display_name.clone(),
+            description: input.description.clone(),
+            status: input.status.clone(),
+            start_type: input.start_type.clone(),
+            executable_path: input.executable_path.clone(),
+            logon_account: input.logon_account.clone(),
+            error_control: input.error_control.clone(),
+            dependencies: input.dependencies.clone(),
+            exist: Some(false),
+            metadata: Some(Metadata { what_if: Some(messages) }),
+        });
+    }
+
+    // Compare each desired field to the current state and emit messages only
+    // when the value would actually change.
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.display_name
+        && current.display_name.as_deref() != Some(desired.as_str()) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeDisplayName",
+            current = current.display_name.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
+            desired = desired
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.description
+        && current.description.as_deref() != Some(desired.as_str()) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeDescription",
+            current = current.description.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
+            desired = desired
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.start_type
+        && current.start_type.as_ref() != Some(desired) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeStartType",
+            current = current.start_type.as_ref().map_or_else(String::new, ToString::to_string),
+            desired = desired.to_string()
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.executable_path
+        && current.executable_path.as_deref() != Some(desired.as_str()) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeExecutablePath",
+            current = current.executable_path.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
+            desired = desired
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.logon_account
+        && current.logon_account.as_deref().is_none_or(|c| !c.eq_ignore_ascii_case(desired)) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeLogonAccount",
+            current = current.logon_account.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
+            desired = desired
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.error_control
+        && current.error_control.as_ref() != Some(desired) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeErrorControl",
+            current = current.error_control.as_ref().map_or_else(String::new, ToString::to_string),
+            desired = desired.to_string()
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.dependencies
+        && current.dependencies.as_deref() != Some(desired.as_slice()) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeDependencies",
+            desired = desired.join(", ")
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+    if let Some(ref desired) = input.status
+        && current.status.as_ref() != Some(desired) {
+        messages.push(t!("set.whatIfChangeStatus",
+            current = current.status.as_ref().map_or_else(String::new, ToString::to_string),
+            desired = desired.to_string()
+        ).to_string());
+    }
+
+    // Project the desired state — fields explicitly provided in input override
+    // the corresponding values from the current state.
+    let projected = WindowsService {
+        name: Some(name.to_string()),
+        display_name: input.display_name.clone().or(current.display_name),
+        description: input.description.clone().or(current.description),
+        exist: Some(true),
+        status: input.status.clone().or(current.status),
+        start_type: input.start_type.clone().or(current.start_type),
+        executable_path: input.executable_path.clone().or(current.executable_path),
+        logon_account: input.logon_account.clone().or(current.logon_account),
+        error_control: input.error_control.clone().or(current.error_control),
+        dependencies: input.dependencies.clone().or(current.dependencies),
+        metadata: if messages.is_empty() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(Metadata { what_if: Some(messages) })
+        },
+    };
+
+    Ok(projected)
+}
+
+/// Project the state for a service deletion without making any changes.
+pub fn what_if_delete_service(input: &WindowsService) -> Result<WindowsService, ServiceError> {
+    let name = input.name.as_deref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| t!("set.nameRequired").to_string())?;
+
+    unsafe {
+        let scm = OpenSCManagerW(None, None, SC_MANAGER_CONNECT)
+            .map_err(|e| t!("set.openScmFailed", error = e.to_string()).to_string())?;
+        let scm = ScHandle(scm);
+
+        let name_wide = to_wide(name);
+        let service_handle = match OpenServiceW(
+            scm.0,
+            PCWSTR(name_wide.as_ptr()),
+            SERVICE_QUERY_CONFIG | SERVICE_QUERY_STATUS,
+        ) {
+            Ok(h) => ScHandle(h),
+            Err(e) if e.code() == ERROR_SERVICE_DOES_NOT_EXIST.to_hresult() => {
+                return Ok(WindowsService {
+                    name: Some(name.to_string()),
+                    exist: Some(false),
+                    metadata: Some(Metadata {
+                        what_if: Some(vec![
+                            t!("set.whatIfDeleteServiceNotFound", name = name).to_string(),
+                        ]),
+                    }),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                });
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                return Err(t!("set.openServiceFailed", error = e.to_string()).to_string().into());
+            }
+        };
+
+        let mut current = read_service_state(service_handle.0, name)?;
+        current.exist = Some(false);
+        current.metadata = Some(Metadata {
+            what_if: Some(vec![
+                t!("set.whatIfDeleteService", name = name).to_string(),
+            ]),
+        });
+        Ok(current)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/resources/windows_service/src/types.rs b/resources/windows_service/src/types.rs
index 69241c58a..167a31f91 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/src/types.rs
+++ b/resources/windows_service/src/types.rs
@@ -87,6 +87,20 @@ pub struct WindowsService {
     /// A list of service names that this service depends on.
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub dependencies: Option<Vec<String>>,
+
+    /// Metadata returned by what-if operations describing the changes that
+    /// would be applied if the operation ran for real.
+    #[serde(rename = "_metadata", skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub metadata: Option<Metadata>,
+}
+
+/// Metadata returned by what-if operations.
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct Metadata {
+    /// Human-readable descriptions of the changes that would be applied.
+    #[serde(rename = "whatIf", skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub what_if: Option<Vec<String>>,
 }
 
 impl WindowsService {
@@ -104,6 +118,7 @@ impl WindowsService {
             logon_account: None,
             error_control: None,
             dependencies: None,
+            metadata: None,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_get.tests.ps1 b/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_get.tests.ps1
index 69fe7a1c2..19442feff 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_get.tests.ps1
+++ b/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_get.tests.ps1
@@ -73,10 +73,14 @@ Describe 'Windows Service get tests' -Skip:(!$IsWindows) {
             $result._exist | Should -BeTrue
         }
 
-        It 'Returns error when name and displayName do not match' {
+        It 'Returns the live displayName when the desired displayName differs (name is authoritative)' {
             $json = @{ name = $knownServiceName; displayName = 'Wrong Display Name' } | ConvertTo-Json -Compress
-            $out = $json | dsc resource get -r $resourceType -f - 2>&1
-            $LASTEXITCODE | Should -Not -Be 0
+            $out = $json | dsc resource get -r $resourceType -f - 2>$testdrive/error.log
+            $LASTEXITCODE | Should -Be 0 -Because (Get-Content -Raw $testdrive/error.log)
+            $result = ($out | ConvertFrom-Json).actualState
+            $result.name | Should -BeExactly $knownServiceName
+            $result.displayName | Should -BeExactly $knownDisplayName
+            $result._exist | Should -BeTrue
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_set.tests.ps1 b/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_set.tests.ps1
index 5ed285119..2c7b9a416 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_set.tests.ps1
+++ b/resources/windows_service/tests/windows_service_set.tests.ps1
@@ -268,4 +268,65 @@ Describe 'Windows Service set tests' -Skip:(!$IsWindows) {
             $result._exist | Should -BeTrue
         }
     }
+
+    Context 'What-if set' -Skip:(!$isAdmin) {
+        It 'Projects a startType change without modifying the service' {
+            $before = Get-ServiceState -Name $testServiceName
+            $desiredStartType = if ($before.startType -eq 'Disabled') { 'Manual' } else { 'Disabled' }
+            $json = @{ name = $testServiceName; startType = $desiredStartType } | ConvertTo-Json -Compress
+
+            $out = $json | dsc resource set --what-if -r $resourceType -f - 2>$testdrive/error.log
+            $LASTEXITCODE | Should -Be 0 -Because (Get-Content -Raw $testdrive/error.log)
+            $result = $out | ConvertFrom-Json
+            $after = $result.afterState
+
+            $after.name | Should -BeExactly $testServiceName
+            $after.startType | Should -BeExactly $desiredStartType
+            $after._exist | Should -BeTrue
+            $after._metadata.whatIf | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+            $after._metadata.whatIf | Should -Contain "Would change startType from '$($before.startType)' to '$desiredStartType'"
+
+            $current = Get-ServiceState -Name $testServiceName
+            $current.startType | Should -BeExactly $before.startType
+        }
+
+        It 'Projects a displayName change without modifying the service' {
+            $before = Get-ServiceState -Name $testServiceName
+            $desiredDisplayName = "$($before.displayName) (whatif)"
+            $json = @{ name = $testServiceName; displayName = $desiredDisplayName } | ConvertTo-Json -Compress
+
+            $out = $json | dsc resource set --what-if -r $resourceType -f - 2>$testdrive/error.log
+            $LASTEXITCODE | Should -Be 0 -Because (Get-Content -Raw $testdrive/error.log)
+            $result = $out | ConvertFrom-Json
+            $after = $result.afterState
+
+            $after.name | Should -BeExactly $testServiceName
+            $after.displayName | Should -BeExactly $desiredDisplayName
+            $after._exist | Should -BeTrue
+            $after._metadata.whatIf | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+            $after._metadata.whatIf | Should -Contain "Would change displayName from '$($before.displayName)' to '$desiredDisplayName'"
+
+            $current = Get-ServiceState -Name $testServiceName
+            $current.displayName | Should -BeExactly $before.displayName
+        }
+
+        It 'Projects deletion when _exist is false without modifying the service' {
+            $before = Get-ServiceState -Name $testServiceName
+            $json = @{ name = $testServiceName; _exist = $false } | ConvertTo-Json -Compress
+
+            $out = $json | dsc resource set --what-if -r $resourceType -f - 2>$testdrive/error.log
+            $LASTEXITCODE | Should -Be 0 -Because (Get-Content -Raw $testdrive/error.log)
+            $result = $out | ConvertFrom-Json
+            $after = $result.afterState
+
+            $after.name | Should -BeExactly $testServiceName
+            $after._exist | Should -BeFalse
+            $after._metadata.whatIf | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+            $after._metadata.whatIf | Should -Contain "Would delete service '$testServiceName'"
+
+            $current = Get-ServiceState -Name $testServiceName
+            $current._exist | Should -BeTrue
+            $current.startType | Should -BeExactly $before.startType
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/resources/windows_service/windows_service.dsc.resource.json b/resources/windows_service/windows_service.dsc.resource.json
index f37083a82..d70058e7f 100644
--- a/resources/windows_service/windows_service.dsc.resource.json
+++ b/resources/windows_service/windows_service.dsc.resource.json
@@ -23,11 +23,15 @@
             {
                 "jsonInputArg": "--input",
                 "mandatory": true
+            },
+            {
+                "whatIfArg": "-w"
             }
         ],
         "implementsPretest": false,
         "return": "state",
-        "requireSecurityContext": "elevated"
+        "requireSecurityContext": "elevated",
+        "whatIfReturns": "state"
     },
     "export": {
         "executable": "windows_service",
@@ -108,6 +112,18 @@
                     "items": {
                         "type": "string"
                     }
+                },
+                "_metadata": {
+                    "type": "object",
+                    "title": "Metadata",
+                    "description": "Metadata returned by what-if operations describing the changes that would be applied.",
+                    "readOnly": true,
+                    "properties": {
+                        "whatIf": {
+                            "type": "array",
+                            "items": { "type": "string" }
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
             },
             "additionalProperties": false