# Windows PowerShell

Application: Microsoft Corporation

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

Microsoft Corporation, System

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

| 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.

| 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

| 5.1 host | C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\\ |
| -------- | -------------------------------------------- |

## File formats

PS1, PSM1

## 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.

| Overview (5.1 vs 7)  | [learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview ](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview)Which host you get                                                              |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Install PowerShell 7 | [learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows ](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows)pwsh on Windows |
| 5.1 reference        | [learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/windows-powershell/overview ](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/windows-powershell/overview)In-box Windows PowerShell                 |
| GitHub PowerShell    | [github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell ](https://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.

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[powershell.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/powershell.exe/)[cmd.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/cmd.exe/)[Visual Studio Code: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/visual-studio-code/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [Microsoft Learn: PowerShell ](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview)· 5.1 versus 7
- [Microsoft Learn: installing PowerShell ](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows)· pwsh install
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Developer**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Category**: Command shell

  **Process**: [powershell.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/powershell.exe/)

  **Sibling**: pwsh.exe (PowerShell 7)

  **First released**: 2006 (PowerShell 1.0). 5.1 dey ship in-box today

  **Official site**: [learn.microsoft.com/powershell](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview)

  **Feex map am**: Dem see am on top Windows PCs for Foxhole

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/windows-powershell/)

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