Top 50 PowerShell Commands for Daily Use

PowerShell is an essential tool for Windows administrators, developers, and users who want to manage systems efficiently. Whether you’re performing routine maintenance, troubleshooting, or automating tasks, PowerShell commands simplify complex tasks.

In this post, we’ll cover 50 of the top PowerShell commands you can use daily. These commands will save you time, reduce errors, and help you control your environment effectively.

Why PowerShell is Important for Windows Users

PowerShell combines the flexibility of a scripting language with the command-line power of Bash or CMD. It provides access to a wealth of system management tools, from managing processes to handling services, logs, and network configurations.

Here are some reasons why you should be using PowerShell daily:

• Automation: Execute repetitive tasks using scripts.
• Customization: Easily modify commands to suit specific needs.
• Integration: It integrates with cloud services like Azure.

Also Check: 20 Essential PowerShell Commands for Active Directory Management

50 Essential PowerShell Commands for Daily Use

System Information Commands

1. Get-Process: Lists all running processes.
   • Usage: Get-Process
2. Get-Service: Retrieves the status of services.
   • Usage: Get-Service
3. Get-ComputerInfo: Displays detailed information about your system.
   • Usage: Get-ComputerInfo
4. Get-EventLog: Fetches system, application, or security logs.
   • Usage: Get-EventLog -LogName System
5. Get-Help: Provides detailed help on any PowerShell command.
   • Usage: Get-Help Get-Process

File and Folder Management

6. Get-ChildItem: Lists all files and directories within a path.
   • Usage: Get-ChildItem C:\Path
7. New-Item: Creates new files or directories.
   • Usage: New-Item -Path "C:\Path\NewFolder" -ItemType Directory
8. Remove-Item: Deletes files or directories.
   • Usage: Remove-Item -Path "C:\Path\file.txt"
9. Copy-Item: Copies files and directories from one location to another.
   • Usage: Copy-Item -Path "C:\Path\file.txt" -Destination "D:\Backup"
10. Move-Item: Moves files or directories.
    • Usage: Move-Item -Path "C:\Path\file.txt" -Destination "D:\Archive"

Network Management

11. Test-Connection: Tests network connectivity, similar to the ping command.
    • Usage: Test-Connection -ComputerName google.com
12. Get-NetIPAddress: Retrieves IP address configuration on the system.
    • Usage: Get-NetIPAddress
13. Get-NetAdapter: Displays network adapter information.
    • Usage: Get-NetAdapter
14. Get-DnsClientCache: Retrieves the DNS client cache.
    • Usage: Get-DnsClientCache
15. Set-DnsClientServerAddress: Changes the DNS server for a network adapter.
    • Usage: Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -ServerAddresses "8.8.8.8"

Task Automation and Scheduling

16. Start-ScheduledTask: Starts a scheduled task.
    • Usage: Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MyTask"
17. Get-ScheduledTask: Lists all scheduled tasks.
    • Usage: Get-ScheduledTask
18. New-ScheduledTask: Creates a new scheduled task.
    • Usage: New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At 8AM
19. Unregister-ScheduledTask: Deletes a scheduled task.
    • Usage: Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "OldTask"
20. Set-ScheduledTask: Modifies an existing scheduled task.
    • Usage: Set-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MyTask" -Trigger $trigger

User and Permissions Management

21. Get-LocalUser: Retrieves all local users on the system.
    • Usage: Get-LocalUser
22. New-LocalUser: Creates a new local user.
    • Usage: New-LocalUser -Name "JohnDoe" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "P@ssw0rd" -AsPlainText -Force)
23. Remove-LocalUser: Deletes a local user account.
    • Usage: Remove-LocalUser -Name "JohnDoe"
24. Get-LocalGroup: Lists all local groups.
    • Usage: Get-LocalGroup
25. Add-LocalGroupMember: Adds a user to a local group.
    • Usage: Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "JohnDoe"

Software and Package Management

26. Get-WmiObject: Fetches installed software information.
    • Usage: Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product
27. Install-Package: Installs a software package using a package manager like Chocolatey.
    • Usage: Install-Package -Name "GoogleChrome"
28. Uninstall-Package: Uninstalls a software package.
    • Usage: Uninstall-Package -Name "GoogleChrome"
29. Get-Package: Lists installed software packages.
    • Usage: Get-Package
30. Update-Help: Updates the PowerShell help system.
    • Usage: Update-Help

Security and Execution Policy

31. Get-ExecutionPolicy: Shows the current execution policy for scripts.
    • Usage: Get-ExecutionPolicy
32. Set-ExecutionPolicy: Sets the script execution policy.
    • Usage: Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
33. Get-Acl: Retrieves the security descriptor for a file or folder.
    • Usage: Get-Acl -Path "C:\Path"
34. Set-Acl: Sets permissions on a file or folder.
    • Usage: Set-Acl -Path "C:\Path" -AclObject $acl
35. Get-AuthenticodeSignature: Retrieves digital signature information from a file.
    • Usage: Get-AuthenticodeSignature -FilePath "C:\Path\file.exe"

Miscellaneous Commands

36. Clear-Host: Clears the PowerShell screen.
    • Usage: Clear-Host
37. Out-File: Sends output to a file.
    • Usage: Get-Process | Out-File -FilePath "C:\Processes.txt"
38. Measure-Object: Calculates properties of objects, such as file sizes.
    • Usage: Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum
39. Start-Process: Starts a new process.
    • Usage: Start-Process "notepad.exe"
40. Stop-Process: Stops a running process.
    • Usage: Stop-Process -Name "notepad"
41. Get-Date: Retrieves the current system date and time.
    • Usage: Get-Date

42. Restart-Computer: Restarts the local or a remote computer.

• Usage: Restart-Computer -ComputerName "Server01"

43. Stop-Computer: Shuts down the local or a remote computer.

• Usage: Stop-Computer -ComputerName "Server01"

44. Invoke-WebRequest: Retrieves data from a web page or web service.

• Usage: Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com"

45. Export-Csv: Exports objects to a CSV file.

• Usage: Get-Process | Export-Csv -Path "C:\Processes.csv" -NoTypeInformation

46. ConvertTo-Json: Converts an object to JSON format.

• Usage: Get-Process | ConvertTo-Json

47. Select-String: Searches for text patterns in strings or files.

• Usage: Select-String -Path "C:\Logs\log.txt" -Pattern "Error"

48. Get-Command: Lists all available PowerShell cmdlets, functions, workflows, aliases, etc.

• Usage: Get-Command

49. Start-Transcript: Records a session of PowerShell commands and output.

• Usage: Start-Transcript -Path "C:\Logs\transcript.txt"

50. Stop-Transcript: Stops the recording of the session started by Start-Transcript.

• Usage: Stop-Transcript

H2: Conclusion

PowerShell’s versatility makes it indispensable for everyday Windows management. By mastering these 50 commands, you’ll significantly enhance your productivity and effectiveness in handling various administrative tasks.

External Reference

• Microsoft PowerShell Documentation

• About
• Latest Posts

Ravi Chopra

With 19 years of hands-on experience in the IT industry, I’m passionate about sharing the knowledge I’ve gained across a wide range of technologies. Specializing in Active Directory, Azure, VMware, Windows, and Linux, I am dedicated to empowering IT professionals and enthusiasts with practical insights and solutions.

Whether you’re looking for troubleshooting tips, deep dives into systems architecture, or the latest in cloud computing, I’m here to help you navigate the evolving tech landscape. Let’s connect, learn, and grow together!

📧 ravi.chopra1709@gmail.com

Latest posts by Ravi Chopra (see all)

• Entra ID (Azure Active Directory): Migration and Integration Guide - 20 December 2024
• Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS): Implementation Guide - 16 December 2024
• Active Directory Backup and Recovery Strategy: Comprehensive Guide - 11 December 2024