To enable PowerShell logging, turn on Script Block Logging, which records the code of every script and command that runs. For Windows PowerShell 5.1, set this registry value as administrator: PowerShell 7 uses its own key and log. Below I check what’s already on, explain the three kinds of logging and show how to enable … Read more
To print a variable in PowerShell, type its name on a line by itself. PowerShell sends the value to the output, which is the same as calling Write-Output. Write-Host prints it too: Output: All three lines look the same on screen, but they don’t behave the same inside functions and scripts. That difference is the … Read more
To replace text in a string in PowerShell, use the .Replace() method or the -replace operator. Both return a new string with the changes: Output: They look interchangeable, but they aren’t. .Replace() matches exact text and cares about case. -replace uses regular expressions and ignores case. I ran every example in PowerShell 7.6 and Windows … Read more
To find a character in a string with PowerShell, use Contains() to check whether it’s there, or IndexOf() to get its position. IndexOf counts from 0 and returns -1 when the character isn’t found: Output: Below I cover the operator versions, case sensitivity, the second or nth occurrence, every position and counting matches. Every example … Read more
To send PowerShell output to a file and the console at the same time, pipe it to Tee-Object -FilePath. It writes the output to the file and passes the same output on to the screen: Output: The file gets the text exactly as it looks on screen, table layout included. I ran every example here … Read more
A PowerShell function returns every value it outputs, not just what follows the return keyword. Any expression you don’t assign or discard goes back to the caller: Output: return only ends the function early. Below I show the most common surprise with extra output, and the clean ways to return one value, several values or … Read more
PowerShell Out-File sends command output to a text file, formatted exactly as it would appear in the console. Pipe any command to it and give it a path: This guide covers every parameter you’ll actually use, with tests in PowerShell 7 and 5.1. If you’re still choosing between Out-File, Set-Content and Export-Csv, start with saving … Read more
A PowerShell global variable is one you create with the $global: prefix. It’s visible everywhere in your session, and it stays there after the script that created it ends: That’s the script set-config.ps1. Here’s what’s left after running it: Output: The normal variable disappeared with the script, and the global one stayed. That’s both the … Read more
To open a file in PowerShell with its default app, run Invoke-Item with the file’s path. It works like double-clicking the file in File Explorer: Below I show how to preview what will open, open a file in a specific app, and read files right in the console. I tested each command in PowerShell 7.6 … Read more
To get a list of installed programs using PowerShell, read the Uninstall keys in the registry with Get-ItemProperty. That’s the same data Windows shows in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, and it works without admin rights. Here’s the short version. It checks the 64-bit, 32-bit and per-user locations and prints each program’s name, version … Read more