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Starting Windows PowerShell

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Windows PowerShell is a scripting engine embedded into multiple hosts. The most common hosts are the interactive command-line powershell.exe and the Interactive Scripting Environment powershell_ise.exe.

PowerShell binary name

PowerShell version 6 and higher uses .NET (Core). Supported versions are available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Beginning in PowerShell 6, the PowerShell binary named pwsh.exe for Windows and pwsh for macOS and Linux. You can start PowerShell preview versions using pwsh-preview. For more information, see About pwsh.

To find cmdlet reference and installation documentation for PowerShell 7, use the following links:

Document Link
Cmdlet reference PowerShell Module Browser
Windows installation Installing PowerShell on Windows
macOS installation Installing PowerShell on macOS
Linux installation Installing PowerShell on Linux

To view content for other PowerShell versions, see How to use the PowerShell documentation.

Run from the Start Menu

  • Open the Start menu, type Windows PowerShell, select Windows PowerShell, then select Open.

Run from the Command Prompt

In Windows Command shell, Windows PowerShell, or Windows PowerShell ISE, to start Windows PowerShell, type: PowerShell.

You can also use the parameters of the powershell.exe program to customize the session. For more information, see about_PowerShell_exe.

Run with administrative privileges

Open the Start menu, type Windows PowerShell, select Windows PowerShell, and then select Run as administrator.

How to Start Windows PowerShell ISE on Earlier Releases of Windows

Use any of the following methods to start Windows PowerShell ISE.

Run from the Start Menu

  • Open the Start menu, type ISE, select Windows PowerShell ISE, then select Open.

At the Command Prompt

In Windows Command shell, Windows PowerShell, or Windows PowerShell ISE, to start Windows PowerShell, type: PowerShell_ISE. In Windows PowerShell, you can use the alias ise.

Run with administrative privileges

Select Start, type ISE, right-click Windows PowerShell ISE, and then click Run as administrator.

Starting the 32-Bit Version of Windows PowerShell

64-bit versions of Windows include a 32-bit version of Windows PowerShell, Windows PowerShell (x86), in addition to the 64-bit version. The 64-bit version runs by default.

However, you might occasionally need to run Windows PowerShell (x86), such as when you're using a module that requires the 32-bit version or when you're connecting remotely to a 32-bit computer.

To start a 32-bit version of Windows PowerShell, use any of the following procedures.

  • Select Start, type Windows PowerShell, select Windows PowerShell (x86), then select Open.