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Windows PowerShell

ApplicationMicrosoft Corporation

Dem still dey call am powershell, windows powershell 5.1, pwsh

Microsoft CorporationSystem

The Windows PowerShell 5.1 host wey dey follow Windows come. The process na powershell.exe. PowerShell 7 na pwsh.exe and separate install.

Wetin you need know

Windows PowerShell na powershell.exe. PowerShell 7 na different install wey dem name pwsh.exe.

Windows still dey follow PowerShell 5.1 come. Microsoft dey document PowerShell 7 as the current cross-platform shell. The two fit dey. cmd.exe na third interpreter.

Wetin e be?
The in-box PowerShell 5.1 host
pwsh be the same thing?
No. That one na PowerShell 7
E safe?
The host na im. Scripts dey different
Feex tok say
If script say make you install PowerShell 7 and na only powershell.exe you get, you dey on top 5.1. I no go delete the in-box host to "upgrade".

Wetin be Windows PowerShell?

Windows PowerShell 5.1 na the in-box automation host. The executable na powershell.exe under WindowsPowerShell\v1.0. PowerShell 7 dey install pwsh.exe beside am.

If you never use am before

If Start show "Windows PowerShell", that na the in-box 5.1 host. You get am already. Blue window wey dey collect commands no mean say e be malware at all. PowerShell 7 na separate download wey dem name pwsh.exe. cmd.exe na third, older interpreter. No delete 5.1 make you for "upgrade".

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Admin scripts

Installers and IT scripts still dey call powershell.exe because 5.1 dey everywhere.

One-off commands

Get-Process, file work, and quick checks. The console host na powershell.exe plus conhost.exe.

Scheduled tasks

PowerShell wey hide wen you logon na task normal-normal. Di product itself no need Startup Apps.

Na who e dey for?

  • Admins wey still get modules wey dey run only for 5.1
  • Users wey open "Windows PowerShell" from Start
  • People wey suppose read command line before dem panic

Current status

Dem dey support 5.1 in-box and for maintenance. PowerShell 7 na di current feature train. Dis article cover di in-box host and direct you go pwsh for 7.

How old e be?

PowerShell 1.0 roll out for 2006. Windows PowerShell 5.1 na di in-box host on current Windows 10 and 11. PowerShell 7 na di cross-platform train wey start as PowerShell Core. Monad na di pre-release name. Dat name no be wetin you dey launch today.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

Windows PowerShell 5.1
PowerShell 7 (pwsh)

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Dey ship with supported Windows 10 and Windows 11

Resource profile

CPU demand
E dey follow the script
RAM demand
Large object pipelines

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
powershell.exe Windows PowerShell 5.1
pwsh.exe PowerShell 7, if e dey installed
conhost.exe Console window

Startup components

PowerShell wey hide wen you logon na task or shortcut. Di product itself no need Startup Apps.

File locations

Common Windows PowerShell locations
5.1 host C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

File formats

PS1PSM1

Common wahala dem

EncodedCommand surprises

Read di parent process. Office wey dey launch PowerShell na macro story.

Module dey work only for 5.1

Na why Microsoft leave di in-box host. To install 7 no dey delete 5.1.

How to get unstuck

Read di parent process before you panic

Office or browser wey dey launch encoded PowerShell na script story. Di host file for System32 na still Microsoft.

Install PowerShell 7 from Microsoft Learn if dem tell you make you use pwsh

winget install Microsoft.PowerShell or di docs page. Dat one go add pwsh.exe. E no dey replace 5.1.

Execution policy na policy, no be virus setting

Get-ExecutionPolicy. Restricted dey common on top new PC. Dat one no mean say di install spoil.

Alternatives

cmd.exe for batch. pwsh for current modules. Pick dem based on di script wey you get, no be fashion ranking.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Overview (5.1 vs 7) learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview Which host you get
Install PowerShell 7 learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows pwsh on Windows
5.1 reference learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/windows-powershell/overview In-box Windows PowerShell
GitHub PowerShell github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell PowerShell 7 source and releases

Related hardware

Any supported Windows PC. Remote sessions dey carry di work go di target.

Technical details

Technical details

Per-version file hashes and volume-license paths no dey verified inside dis preview.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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