10 Easy PowerShell Commands Every User Should Know

By | 2024-02-21

PowerShell stands out as a powerful tool for managing and automating various tasks. Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or an everyday Windows user, understanding PowerShell commands can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 easy PowerShell commands that every Windows user should know, regardless of their level of expertise.

Get-Process

The Get-Process command allows you to retrieve a list of currently running processes on your system. This is particularly useful for monitoring system performance and identifying resource-intensive applications.

Get-Process

Get-Service

With Get-Service, you can view the status of services running on your system. This command is handy for troubleshooting issues related to specific services or for managing service configurations.

Get-Service

Get-Help

The Get-Help command is your go-to resource for learning about other PowerShell commands. It provides detailed information and examples on how to use various cmdlets, making it an invaluable tool for PowerShell beginners.

Get-Help

Set-ExecutionPolicy

Set-ExecutionPolicy allows you to control the level of security for running scripts in PowerShell. This command helps prevent unauthorized scripts from running on your system, enhancing overall security.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Get-ChildItem

Similar to the dir command in Command Prompt, Get-ChildItem retrieves a list of files and directories in the specified location. It’s an essential command for navigating and managing the file system in PowerShell.

Get-ChildItem C:\Path\To\Directory

Start-Process

Need to launch an application from PowerShell? Start-Process is the command for you. It allows you to start a new process (application) from within PowerShell.

Start-Process "C:\Path\To\Application.exe"

Stop-Process

If you need to terminate a running process, Stop-Process comes to the rescue. Be cautious when using this command, as it forcefully ends a process without giving it a chance to save data.

Stop-Process -Name "ProcessName"

Get-NetConnectionProfile

Want to know the network connection details of your system? Get-NetConnectionProfile retrieves information about the network profiles currently configured on your system.

Get-NetConnectionProfile

Get-WmiObject

Get-WmiObject allows you to access Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) objects, which provide information about various system components and settings. This command is incredibly versatile and can be used for a wide range of tasks, from retrieving hardware information to querying system settings.

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_ComputerSystem

Clear-Host

Last but not least, Clear-Host clears the contents of the PowerShell console, providing a clean slate for your next set of commands.

Clear-Host

These 10 easy PowerShell commands serve as a solid foundation for Windows users looking to harness the power of PowerShell for increased productivity and efficiency. Whether you’re managing processes, services, files, or network connections, PowerShell provides a comprehensive set of tools to help you streamline your workflow and tackle everyday tasks with ease. So why not give these commands a try and unlock the full potential of PowerShell on your Windows system?

Author: dwirch

Derek Wirch is a seasoned IT professional with an impressive career dating back to 1986. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience that is invaluable to those embarking on their journey in the tech industry.

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