How to Install PowerShell Core on Windows


Over the years, there have been many releases of PowerShell. Initially, Windows PowerShell was built on the .NET Framework and only worked on Windows systems.

With the current release, PowerShell Core uses .NET Core 2.x as its runtime. PowerShell Core is a cross-platform (Windows, Linux, and macOS) automation and configuration tool/framework that works well with your existing tools and is optimized for dealing with structured data (e.g. JSON, CSV, XML, etc.), REST APIs, and object models. It includes a command-line shell, an associated scripting language and a framework for processing cmdlets. PowerShell Core is an Open Source project on GitHub.

PowerShell Core is a separate version of PowerShell that does not replace or upgrade the Windows PowerShell included in Windows by default. PowerShell Core can run side-by-side with Windows PowerShell.

For more details about PowerShell Core, see:

This tutorial will show you how to install the latest release of PowerShell Core in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to install PowerShell Core.


EXAMPLE: PowerShell Core in Windows
Install PowerShell Core on Windows-powershell_core_6_in_start_menu.jpg Install PowerShell Core on Windows-powershell_core_6.2.0-preview_4.png



Here's How:

1. Go to GitHub (click on link), and download the latest PowerShell Core .msi file (ex: "PowerShell-6.2.0-preview.4-win-x64.msi") for your 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows. (see screenshot below)

Install PowerShell Core on Windows-download_powershell_core_at_github.jpg

2. Double click/tap on the downloaded .msi file (ex: "PowerShell-6.2.0-preview.4-win-x64.msi")

3. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

Install PowerShell Core on Windows-install_powershell_core-1.png

4. Check the I accept the terms in the License Agreement box, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

Install PowerShell Core on Windows-install_powershell_core-2.png

5. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

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6. Check or uncheck the optional actions you want, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

Install PowerShell Core on Windows-install_powershell_core-4.png

7. Click/tap on Install. (see screenshot below)

Install PowerShell Core on Windows-install_powershell_core-5.png

8. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

9. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

If you like, you can check the Launch PowerShell box first to open PowerShell Core now.

Install PowerShell Core on Windows-install_powershell_core-6.png


That's it,
Shawn