These 30 PowerShell commands cover discovery, files, processes, services, system checks, data, and sessions. Each entry includes a starter example; commands that can remove files, stop processes, or change services are clearly marked. Examples target common PowerShell use on Windows, and some commands or options vary by operating system and PowerShell version.
PowerShell commands pass objects through a pipeline, rather than merely passing formatted text. Microsoft’s language specification defines a pipeline as commands separated by the pipe operator (|). To find what is available in your session, use Get-Command; to learn its syntax and options, use Get-Help.
Help and command discovery
1. Get-Command
Find commands available in the current session, including cmdlets, functions, scripts, aliases, and applications.
Get-Command *Process*Use a wildcard to search names. Availability depends on installed modules and the current environment.
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2. Get-Help
Read a command’s description, syntax, parameter details, and examples.
Get-Help Get-Process -Examples-Examples displays examples when help content is available. For syntax notation, see Microsoft’s about_Command_Syntax.
3. Update-Help
Download or update help files for modules that support updateable help.
Update-HelpThis may require an elevated session or internet access, depending on the module and environment. It does not install PowerShell modules.
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4. Get-Location
Show the current working location.
Get-Location5. Set-Location
Change the current working folder.
Set-Location -Path 'C:UsersPublic'The -Path parameter accepts the destination path. Use a path that exists.
6. Get-ChildItem
List items in a folder; it can also list registry keys and other provider locations.
Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:Temp'Use -Recurse to include subfolders, but expect a larger result on broad paths.
7. New-Item
Create a file or directory.
New-Item -Path 'C:Tempnotes.txt' -ItemType FileSet -ItemType Directory to create a folder instead. Check the path before creating items.
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8. Copy-Item
Copy files or folders.
Copy-Item -Path 'C:Tempnotes.txt' -Destination 'C:Tempnotes-copy.txt'For folder trees, -Recurse includes child items.
9. Move-Item
Move an item to another location, or rename it by changing the destination name.
Move-Item -Path 'C:Tempnotes-copy.txt' -Destination 'C:Temparchivenotes.txt'Confirm that the destination is correct before running; moving changes the item’s location.
10. Remove-Item
Destructive: delete files or folders.
Remove-Item -Path 'C:Tempold-notes.txt'Verify the exact path before execution. Recursive deletion can remove many items; do not add -Recurse unless that is intended.
11. Get-Content
Read a text file.
Get-Content -Path 'C:Tempnotes.txt'Use -Tail 20 to read only the last 20 lines, where supported by the target version.
12. Set-Content
Write content to a file, replacing its existing content.
Set-Content -Path 'C:Tempstatus.txt' -Value 'Ready'Warning: this overwrites the file’s contents. Check the destination before running.
13. Add-Content
Append content to a file without replacing its existing text.
Add-Content -Path 'C:Tempstatus.txt' -Value 'Checked'Processes and services
14. Get-Process
Inspect processes running on the local computer.
Get-ProcessUse -Name to narrow the result, for example Get-Process -Name notepad.
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15. Stop-Process
State-changing: stop a process by name or ID.
Stop-Process -Name notepad -WhatIf-WhatIf previews the action where supported. Remove it only after checking that the target process is the one you intend to stop; permissions may be required.
16. Get-Service
View service status on Windows.
Get-ServiceFilter by name with -Name, such as Get-Service -Name Spooler. Service availability and permissions vary.
17. Start-Service
State-changing: start a Windows service.
Start-Service -Name SpoolerStarting a service may require an elevated session and can affect system behavior.
18. Stop-Service
State-changing: stop a Windows service.
Stop-Service -Name Spooler -WhatIfPreview the action first; stopping a service can interrupt dependent software or Windows functions. Administrative permissions may be required.
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System and network checks
19. Get-Date
Display the current date and time.
Get-DateUse -Format to request a formatted string, for example Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd'.
20. Get-ComputerInfo
On Windows, retrieve operating-system and computer details.
Get-ComputerInfoThe output can be extensive. Select specific properties to narrow it; available properties depend on the operating system and PowerShell version.
21. Test-Connection
Test network reachability using ICMP echo requests.
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Test-Connection -ComputerName example.com -Count 2A failed response does not by itself prove a host is offline: firewalls or network policies may block ICMP.
22. Resolve-DnsName
Query DNS records for a name on Windows environments where this command is available.
Resolve-DnsName -Name example.comCommand availability can differ by operating system and installed components. If it is missing, use Get-Command Resolve-DnsName to check the current session.
Filtering, shaping, and saving data
23. Where-Object
Filter objects by a property value. Microsoft documents this command in its Where-Object reference.
Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 10 }Here, $_ refers to the current pipeline object. This example keeps processes whose reported CPU value exceeds 10; it is a filter, not a measurement of current CPU percentage.
24. Select-Object
Choose properties to display or select a subset of objects. See Microsoft’s Select-Object reference.
Get-Process | Select-Object -Property ProcessName, Id, CPUUse -First 5 to select the first five objects in the pipeline.
25. Sort-Object
Sort objects by one or more properties.
Get-Process | Sort-Object -Property CPU -DescendingSorting large result sets can take time; sort by a property that is meaningful for your task.
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26. Measure-Object
Calculate simple statistics for pipeline input, such as a count or numeric sum.
Get-ChildItem -File | Measure-ObjectFor numeric properties, specify one with -Property; supported measures include -Sum and -Average.
27. ForEach-Object
Run an operation once for each object received through the pipeline.
Get-ChildItem -File | ForEach-Object { $_.Name }This example emits each file’s name. The script block operates on one pipeline object at a time.
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Inspect the properties and methods exposed by objects in a pipeline.
Get-Process | Get-MemberUse it when you need to discover which properties can be filtered or selected, rather than guessing from formatted output.
29. Export-Csv
Save objects as a comma-separated values file for use in spreadsheets or other tools.
Get-Process | Select-Object ProcessName, Id, CPU | Export-Csv -Path '.processes.csv' -NoTypeInformationThe path is relative to the current location in this example. Check the output path before writing, especially if a file already exists.
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Convert objects to JSON text.
Get-Process | Select-Object ProcessName, Id | ConvertTo-JsonUse -Depth when nested objects need deeper serialization; the appropriate value depends on the data structure and version.
Put the commands together
A practical learning loop is to discover a command, inspect its examples, run it, and then filter or shape its objects. This combines the distinct roles of command discovery and help with PowerShell’s object pipeline:
Get-Command *Process*
Get-Help Get-Process -Examples
Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 10 } | Select-Object -Property ProcessName, Id, CPUThe last line filters process objects and selects three properties for display. To check syntax, parameters, and behavior for your own release, consult that command’s help and the relevant Microsoft Learn reference; Windows PowerShell 5.1 and newer PowerShell releases do not necessarily have identical command availability or behavior.
Quick Recap
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