PowerShell commands

Updated: 03/10/2024 by Computer Hope

A listing of the more widely-used PowerShell commands and a brief explanation about each command is provided below. Some commands can be referenced by an alias or cmdlet name, while other commands can only be referenced by a cmdlet name.

PowerShell commands by alias and cmdlet

Command alias	Cmdlet name	Description
ac	Add-Content	Add content, like text, to a file.
cat	Get-Content	Get the contents of a file.
cd	Set-Location	Set a specific directory, or location, as the working directory.
chdir	Set-Location	Set a specific directory, or location, as the working directory.
clc	Clear-Content	Delete, or clears, the contents of a specified object, like a file, but leaves the object itself.
clear	Clear-Host	Clear the screen, or display, of the host application.
cli	Clear-Item	Delete, or clear, the contents of a specified object, like a file, but leaves the object itself.
clp	Clear-ItemProperty	Delete the contents, or value, of a property, but leaves the property itself.
cls	Clear-Host	Clear the screen, or display, of the host application.
clv	Clear-Variable	Delete the contents, or value, of a variable.
cnsn	Connect-PSSession	Reconnect to a disconnected PowerShell session.
compare	Compare-Object	Compare the contents of two objects.
copy	Copy-Item	Copy an object, like a file, from one directory, or location, to another directory.
cp	Copy-Item	Copy an object, like a file, from one directory, or location, to another directory.
cpi	Copy-Item	Copy an object, like a file, from one directory, or location, to another directory.
curl	Invoke-WebRequest	Retrieve content, like images and text, from a web page.
dbp	Disable-PSBreakpoint	Disable breakpoints in the PowerShell console.
del	Remove-Item	Delete an object, like a file or folder.
diff	Compare-Object	Compare the contents of two objects.
dir	Get-ChildItem	Display a list of objects in a specific directory or drive.
dnsn	Disconnect-PSSession	Disconnect from a PowerShell session.
ebp	Enable-PSBreakpoint	Enable breakpoints in the PowerShell console.
echo	Write-Output	Sends the output of a command to the next command for execution. Or displays the output to the screen if it's the last command to be executed.
epcsv	Export-Csv	Convert data into comma-separated value strings, then save the strings to a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file.
erase	Remove-Item	Delete an object, like a file or folder.
etsn	Enter-PSSession	Start a remote connection to another computer.
exsn	Exit-PSSession	End a remote connection to another computer.
foreach	ForEach-Object	Loop through a set of objects, executing commands against each object.
ft	Format-Table	Formats the output of a command into a table.
gal	Get-Alias	Get the aliases for the current PowerShell session.
gc	Get-Content	Get the contents of a file.
gci	Get-ChildItem	Display a list of objects in a specific directory or drive.
gcm	Get-Command	Get all PowerShell commands.
ghy	Get-History	Get a list of all PowerShell commands used during the current PowerShell session.
gjb	Get-Job	Display, or get, a list of all background jobs running in the current PowerShell session.
gl	Get-Location	Get information about the current directory or another specified directory.
gm	Get-Member	Get the properties and methods associated with a specific object.
gp	Get-ItemProperty	Get the properties of a specific object.
gps	Get-Process	Get a list of processes that are running on a computer.
gsnp	Get-PSSnapIn	Get a list of PowerShell snap-ins that are installed on a computer.
gsv	Get-Service	Get a list of services that are running on a computer.
gu	Get-Unique	Get a list of unique values from a sorted list of values.
h	Get-History	Get a list of all PowerShell commands used during the current PowerShell session.
history	Get-History	Get a list of all PowerShell commands used during the current PowerShell session.
icm	Invoke-Command	Execute a command on a local or remote computer.
iex	Invoke-Expression	Execute a command or expression on a local computer.
ihy	Invoke-History	Execute a command previously run during the current PowerShell session.
ipal	Import-Alias	Import aliases from a file.
ipmo	Import-Module	Import a module into the current PowerShell session.
irm	Invoke-RestMethod	Execute REST (Representational State Transfer) web service call, from an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS request.
iwr	Invoke-WebRequest	Retrieve content, like images and text, from a web page.
kill	Stop-Process	Stop a running process on a computer.
lp	Out-Printer	Send data to a printer for printing.
ls	Get-ChildItem	Display a list of objects in a specific directory or drive.
man	help	Display information about available PowerShell commands.
md	mkdir	Create a new directory in the current or specified directory.
measure	Measure-Object	Counts the number of characters, words, and lines in a file or string of text.
mi	Move-Item	Move an object from one directory to another directory.
mount	New-PSDrive	Create a mapped drive using network storage.
move	Move-Item	Move an object from one directory to another directory.
mv	Move-Item	Move an object from one directory to another directory.
nal	New-Alias	Create a new alias.
ndr	New-PSDrive	Create a mapped drive using network storage.
ni	New-Item	Create a new object based on its location, like a file or folder in a file system, or a registry key in the system registry.
nsn	New-PSSession	Create a new, persistent connection to a computer.
nv	New-Variable	Create a new variable for the current PowerShell session.
oh	Out-Host	Send data output to the host computer's command line.
ps	Get-Process	Get a list of processes that are running on a computer.
pwd	Get-Location	Get information about the current directory or another specified directory.
rbp	Remove-PSBreakpoint	Delete a breakpoint in the PowerShell console.
rcsn	Receive-PSSession	Get the results from a command run in a disconnected PowerShell session.
rd	Remove-Item	Delete an object, like a file or folder.
rdr	Remove-PSDrive	Delete drive or disconnect mounted network drive from current PowerShell session.
ren	Rename-Item	Rename an object in the current PowerShell session.
ri	Remove-Item	Delete an object, like a file or folder.
rjb	Remove-Job	Delete a job in the PowerShell background.
rm	Remove-Item	Delete an object, like a file or folder.
rmdir	Remove-Item	Delete an object, like a file or folder.
rni	Rename-Item	Rename an object in the current PowerShell session.
rsn	Remove-PSSession	Close a PowerShell session.
rv	Remove-Variable	Delete a variable and the value stored in the variable.
sajb	Start-Job	Start a job in the PowerShell background.
saps	Start-Process	Start a process on the local computer.
sasv	Start-Service	Start a service that is currently stopped on a computer.
sbp	Set-PSBreakpoint	Create a breakpoint at a specific command, line, or variable in the PowerShell console.
sc	Set-Content	Replace a file's contents with the specified content.
select	Select-Object	Select an object in the PowerShell session.
set	Set-Variable	Set a value to an existing variable, or create a new variable with a specified value if the variable does not exist.
spsv	Stop-Service	Stop a service that is currently running on a computer.

PowerShell commands by cmdlet only

Cmdlet name	Description
#	Comment a line of code, to not execute it.
&	Execute a PowerShell command, function, or script.
Break	Immediately exit a for, foreach, do, or other program loops.
Debug-Process	Add debugging to a host process.
Enable-PSRemoting	Execute a PowerShell command on a remote computer.
Export-Console	Export the configuration of the console to a file.
For	Loop through a set of items that meet specific conditions.
ForEach	Loops through all items in a set of items.
Get-Culture	Get regional information about the local computer, including language.
Get-Date	Get the current date and time on the local computer.
Get-Event	Get all events from the event queue of the PowerShell session.
Get-Host	Get PowerShell version and region information from the host computer.
Invoke-Command	Execute a command on a local or remote computer.
New-Event	Create a new event in the PowerShell session.
New-Object	Create a .NET object.
Out-File	Send output of a command to a specific file.
Pause	Pause commands or entire program. Display message "Press Enter to continue."
PowerShell	Start a PowerShell session or run a PowerShell script.
Register-ScheduledJob	Create a scheduled job on a computer.
Restart-Service	Stop, then start a service.
Remove-Event	Delete an event from the event queue of the PowerShell session.
Send-MailMessage	Send an e-mail message.
Set-Date	Set the date and time on the local computer.
Test-Path	Test if a specific path exists. Returns "true" if path exists or "false" if path does not exist.
Try - Catch	Try executing code and handle any error that occurs.
Unregister-ScheduledJob	Delete a scheduled job on a computer.
While	Loop through a set of items while a condition is met.
Write-Host	Send custom output to the host computer or display.
Write-Progress	Display a progress bar on the screen.
Zipfile	Compress files into a Zip file or extract files from a Zip file.