Windows PowerShell
Also called powershell, windows powershell 5.1, pwsh
The Windows PowerShell 5.1 host that ships with Windows. The process is powershell.exe. PowerShell 7 is pwsh.exe and a separate install.
What you need to know
Windows PowerShell is powershell.exe. PowerShell 7 is a different install named pwsh.exe.
Windows still ships PowerShell 5.1. Microsoft documents PowerShell 7 as the current cross-platform shell. Both can exist. cmd.exe is a third interpreter.
- What is it?
- The in-box PowerShell 5.1 host
- Is pwsh the same?
- No. That is PowerShell 7
- Safe?
- The host is. Scripts vary
What is Windows PowerShell?
Windows PowerShell 5.1 is the in-box automation host. The executable is powershell.exe under WindowsPowerShell\v1.0. PowerShell 7 installs pwsh.exe beside it.
If you have never used it
If Start shows "Windows PowerShell", that is the in-box 5.1 host. You already have it. A blue window that accepts commands is not automatically malware. PowerShell 7 is a separate download named pwsh.exe. cmd.exe is a third, older interpreter. Do not delete 5.1 to "upgrade".
What is it used for?
Installers and IT scripts still call powershell.exe because 5.1 is everywhere.
Get-Process, file work, and quick checks. The console host is powershell.exe plus conhost.exe.
A hidden PowerShell at logon is usually a task. The product itself does not need Startup Apps.
Who is it for?
- Admins who still have 5.1-only modules
- Users who opened "Windows PowerShell" from Start
- People who should read a command line before they panic
Current status
5.1 is supported in-box and in maintenance. PowerShell 7 is the current feature train. This article covers the in-box host and points at pwsh for 7.
How old is it?
PowerShell 1.0 shipped in 2006. Windows PowerShell 5.1 is the in-box host on current Windows 10 and 11. PowerShell 7 is the cross-platform train that started as PowerShell Core. Monad was the pre-release name. That name is not what you launch today.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | Ships with supported Windows 10 and Windows 11 |
|---|
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows the script
- RAM demand
- Large object pipelines
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| powershell.exe | Windows PowerShell 5.1 |
|---|---|
| pwsh.exe | PowerShell 7, if installed |
| conhost.exe | Console window |
Startup components
A hidden PowerShell at logon is a task or a shortcut. The product itself does not need Startup Apps.
File locations
| 5.1 host | C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
EncodedCommand surprises
Read the parent process. Office launching PowerShell is a macro story.
Module works only in 5.1
That is why Microsoft left the in-box host. Installing 7 does not delete 5.1.
Getting unstuck
Read the parent process before you panic
Office or a browser launching encoded PowerShell is a script story. The host file in System32 is still Microsoft.
Install PowerShell 7 from Microsoft Learn if you were told to use pwsh
winget install Microsoft.PowerShell or the docs page. That adds pwsh.exe. It does not replace 5.1.
Execution policy is a policy, not a virus setting
Get-ExecutionPolicy. Restricted is common on a new PC. That is not a broken install.
Alternatives
cmd.exe for batch. pwsh for current modules. Pick them for the script you have, not a fashion ranking.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Overview (5.1 vs 7) | learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/overview Which host you have |
|---|---|
| Install PowerShell 7 | learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows pwsh on Windows |
| 5.1 reference | learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/windows-powershell/overview In-box Windows PowerShell |
| GitHub PowerShell | github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell PowerShell 7 source and releases |
Related hardware
Any supported Windows PC. Remote sessions move the work to the target.
Technical details
Technical details
Per-version file hashes and volume-license paths are not verified in this preview.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Microsoft Learn: PowerShell · 5.1 versus 7
- Microsoft Learn: installing PowerShell · pwsh install
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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