How to Update PowerShell on Windows (All Methods)

If you use Windows frequently, you may be familiar with PowerShell. Essentially, Microsoft created PowerShell as a command-line tool for use with the Windows operating system.

PowerShell can assist you in automating a number of system functions. Even while PowerShell and CMD share a lot of features, PowerShell is more sophisticated and capable of handling challenging jobs.

So, it's best to keep PowerShell updated if you use it frequently and are a Windows user. There could be issues if the PowerShell version that is installed on your device is outdated.

How to Update PowerShell on Windows (All Methods)

It could take some time for PowerShell to execute your instructions or provide an error message. Occasionally, PowerShell on your Windows computer could also not open. Therefore, it's necessary to upgrade PowerShell to the most recent version if you believe it to be outdated on your device.

Verifying your PowerShell version is crucial before executing the upgrade. We've provided a couple easy & functional ways to update PowerShell in Windows below. Now let's get going.

1) Use Winget to install or update PowerShell

Using the Winget Command is the simplest method to install or update PowerShell on Windows. Installing programs on your Windows computer is essentially possible with Windows Package Manager (Winget), a command-line utility. Therefore, you can use it to install or upgrade the PowerShell version that is currently installed on your system. This is what you should do.

1. Open Windows 11 Search and type in Command Prompt. Use the Command Prompt's right-click menu to choose Run as administrator.

2. Type this command into the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

winget search PowerShell

3. Now note down the ID associated with the PowerShell app.

4. Once copied, execute this command by replacing AppID with the actual app ID you’ve just copied.

winget install AppID

That’s it! Now Winget will automatically download & install the latest version of PowerShell on your computer. Once the process completes, restart your Windows PC.

2) Install or Update PowerShell from the GitHub

If you don’t want to use a command line tool to update the PowerShell utility, you have the option to download & install the latest version of PowerShell from Github. Follow some of the simple steps we have shared below to install/update PowerShell from Github.

1. Open your favorite web browser and visit this GitHub page.

2. When the page opens, you will find three different options to download the .msi files (LTS, Stable, Preview).

3. You should pick the Stable version for download. Once the MSI file has been downloaded, double-click on it to begin the installation.

4. Go with the default selections on the Optional Actions and click on Next.

5. Now wait until the installation completes.

That’s it! This will download & install the latest version of PowerShell on your Windows PC.

3) Update PowerShell from the Microsoft Store

If you are using Windows 11, you can use the Microsoft Store app to install or update the PowerShell utility. Follow some of the simple steps we have shared below.

1. Type in Microsoft Store on the Windows 11 Search. Next, open the Microsoft Store app from the list of best match results.

2. When the Microsoft Store opens, search for PowerShell.

3. If any update is available, you will see the Update button. Click on the Update button to update the PowerShell app.

4. If PowerShell is not installed on your device, you will have to click on the Install button to get it.

And that's it! This is how to use the Microsoft Store to install or update the PowerShell application on a Windows 11 computer.

Utilize PowerShell 7 as well as PowerShell 5

You should have both PowerShell 5 and 7 on your device if you installed PowerShell using these instructions.

Both PowerShell versions are still up to date, however PowerShell 7.x is installed on your device in a different location. There is an additional PowerShell profile if you are a Terminal user.

That being said, this tutorial explains how to install or upgrade PowerShell on Windows. Please let us know if you require any additional assistance with PowerShell on Windows 11.