Getting PowerShell Scripts to Work on Windows 11
Running PowerShell scripts on Windows 11 can really streamline your automation tasks, but setting it up isn’t always straightforward. It’s mainly about adjusting some settings in PowerShell to allow scripts to run. First up, you’ll need to launch PowerShell with administrator rights. To do this, right-click the Start menu, press Windows key + X, and select either Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin) with the PowerShell tab open. Skipping this step might mean hitting a wall when trying to change execution policies later. Gotta love security prompts, right?
Preparing to Run Your Scripts
Once PowerShell is open with admin privileges, the first thing to do is check what your current execution policy is. This determines whether scripts are allowed to run. Type Get-ExecutionPolicy and press Enter. If it’s set to anything like “Restricted,” you’ll need to change it.
Open PowerShell with Administrator Rights
Right-click your Windows Start button to bring up the menu and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin).” Alternatively, press Windows key + X and then tap A. This step is essential for making system-wide changes to script permissions. Without admin rights, trying to run Set-ExecutionPolicy will just give you error messages. It can be a bit of a hassle, but that’s the way Windows works.
Check Your Current Execution Policy
Run Get-ExecutionPolicy to see what’s set now. If it says “Restricted,” you’ll need to change it. You can also run Get-ExecutionPolicy -List for a more detailed view of policy levels across your system. This helps you understand what’s currently in place before making adjustments.
Change the Execution Policy
Type Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned and press Enter. This setting allows local scripts to run while still warning you about scripts downloaded from the internet. If you prefer to set it just for your user account, add -Scope CurrentUser at the end. It’s a bit confusing at first, but it’s worth checking to ensure you’re doing it correctly.
Confirm the Change
After you run the command, PowerShell will prompt you to confirm. Type “Y” and press Enter. Confirming is important; if you skip this, the change won’t take effect, and you might wonder why scripts still won’t run. Don’t skip this step.
Verify the New Policy is in Place
Run Get-ExecutionPolicy again to confirm the new setting. If it doesn’t show “RemoteSigned,” something might have gone wrong. It’s a good idea to double-check—this can save you from troubleshooting headaches later if scripts fail to run. Remember, if you’re adjusting policies for all users, you need to run the commands in an elevated PowerShell session.
Just a quick note: enabling script execution can pose security risks. Only run scripts from sources you really trust. Balancing security with automation can be tricky, but with the right setup, you’ll find it’s worth the effort for the productivity boost.
Hopefully, this saves someone a few hours. It’s a tried-and-true method that’s worked on multiple machines.