Remove-ItemProperty

Deletes the property and its value from an item.

Syntax

Remove-ItemProperty
      [-Path] <String[]>
      [-Name] <String[]>
      [-Force]
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-InformationAction <ActionPreference>]
      [-InformationVariable <String>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-ItemProperty
      -LiteralPath <String[]>
      [-Name] <String[]>
      [-Force]
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Remove-ItemProperty cmdlet deletes a property and its value from an item. You can use it to delete registry values and the data that they store.

Examples

Example 1: Delete a registry value

This command deletes the "SmpProperty" registry value, and its data, from the "SmpApplication" subkey of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software registry key.

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\SmpApplication" -Name "SmpProperty"

Because the command is issued from a file system drive (PS C:\>), it includes the fully qualified path of the "SmpApplication" subkey, including the drive, HKLM:, and the "Software" key.

Example 2: Delete a registry value from the HKCU location

These commands delete the "Options" registry value, and its data, from the "MyApp" subkey of "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MyCompany".

PS C:\> Set-Location HKCU:\Software\MyCompany\MyApp
PS HKCU:\Software\MyCompany\MyApp> Remove-ItemProperty -Path . -Name "Options" -Confirm

The first command uses the Set-Location cmdlet to change the current location to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER drive (HKCU:) and the Software\MyCompany\MyApp subkey.

The second command uses Remove-ItemProperty to remove the "Options" registry value, and its data, from the "MyApp" subkey. Because Path is required, the command uses a dot (.) to indicate the current location. The Confirm parameter requests a user prompt before deleting the value.

Example 3: Remove a registry value by using the pipeline

This command deletes the "NoOfEmployees" registry value, and its data, from the HKLM\Software\MyCompany registry key.

Get-Item -Path HKLM:\Software\MyCompany | Remove-ItemProperty -Name NoOfEmployees

The command uses the Get-Item cmdlet to get an item that represents the registry key. It uses a pipeline operator (|) to send the object to Remove-ItemProperty. Then, it uses the Name parameter of Remove-ItemProperty to specify the name of the registry value.

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:Current user
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Filter

Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Force

Forces the cmdlet to remove a property of an object that cannot otherwise be accessed by the user. Implementation varies from provider to provider. For more information, see about_Providers.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as "*.txt". Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-LiteralPath

Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Name

Specifies the names of the properties to remove. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSProperty
Position:1
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Path

Specifies the path of the item whose properties are being removed. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String

You can pipe a string that contains a path, but not a literal path, to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

This cmdlet returns no output.

Notes

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Remove-ItemProperty:

  • All platforms:

    • rp
  • In the PowerShell Registry provider, registry values are considered to be properties of a registry key or subkey. You can use the ItemProperty cmdlets to manage these values.

  • Remove-ItemProperty is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PSProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.