If you are still launching the blue icon named “Windows PowerShell”, you are using technology from 2016.

pwsh (PowerShell 7+) is the modern, open-source, and cross-platform evolution of PowerShell. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and it’s the future of PowerShell.

This guide explains why you should be using modern PowerShell and provides a complete, step-by-step tutorial for installing it on both Windows and Linux.

Why Switch to Modern PowerShell?

  • Windows PowerShell (v5.1): Built on the legacy .NET Framework. It is included with Windows but is now in maintenance mode, receiving only security fixes.
  • PowerShell (v7+): Built on modern .NET. It’s open source, receives active feature updates, and is optimized for cloud and cross-platform automation.

PowerShell 7 runs side-by-side with the older Windows PowerShell, so you can safely install it without breaking legacy scripts. Key features include:

  • True Cross-Platform Capability: Write one script and run it on Azure Linux VMs and Windows Desktops.
  • Massive Performance Gains: ForEach-Object -Parallel allows for multi-threaded loops.
  • Modern Operators: Ternary (? :), Null coalescing (??), and pipeline chain (&&, ||) operators simplify your code.
  • Native SSH Remoting: Manage Linux and Windows nodes securely over SSH.

Part 1: Installing PowerShell on Windows

Here are the best methods for installing pwsh on Windows 10 and 11.

The Windows Package Manager (winget) is the fastest and most reliable way to install and update PowerShell.

Step 1: Install winget (If You Don’t Have It)

On modern versions of Windows, winget is already included. Check by opening a terminal and running winget --version. If the command is not found, the easiest way to get it is from the Microsoft Store.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
  2. Search for and install “App Installer”. This package contains winget.
  3. Close and reopen your terminal. winget --version should now work.

For offline or restricted environments, you can also download the latest .msixbundle from the winget-cli GitHub releases page and install it with Add-AppxPackage.

Step 2: Install PowerShell with winget

Once winget is available, installing PowerShell is a single command: 

# Search for the package to see available versions
winget search Microsoft.PowerShell

# Install the latest stable version
winget install --id Microsoft.PowerShell --source winget

Alternative Methods for Windows

  • Microsoft Store: Search for “PowerShell” in the Store and click Install. This is great for automatic background updates.
  • Manual MSI Installer: For offline installations or to install a specific version, download the PowerShell-X.X.X-win-x64.msi file from the PowerShell GitHub Releases page and run the installer.

Part 2: Installing PowerShell on Linux

PowerShell is a first-class citizen on Linux. The best way to install it is through your distribution’s native package manager.

On Debian and Ubuntu

  1. Add the Microsoft GPG Signing Key: This verifies the packages are from Microsoft. 
    # Using Ubuntu 22.04 as an example
wget -q "https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/22.04/packages-microsoft-prod.deb"
sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb
rm packages-microsoft-prod.deb
  2. Update and Install: 
    sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y powershell

On RHEL, CentOS, and Fedora

  1. Register the Microsoft RPM Repository: 
    # Using RHEL 8 as an example
sudo rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
sudo dnf install -y https://packages.microsoft.com/config/rhel/8/packages-microsoft-prod.rpm
  2. Install: 
    sudo dnf install -y powershell

Universal Method: Installing with Snap

For a distribution-agnostic approach, Snap is an excellent alternative. 

# The --classic flag is required for proper system access
sudo snap install powershell --classic

Part 3: Post-Installation Verification

After installation on any OS, open a new terminal and type pwsh. The prompt should change to PS>.

To verify your installation and see version details, run: 

$PSVersionTable
You should see a PSVersion with a Major version of 7 or higher. To exit the PowerShell session and return to your standard shell, type exit.

Conclusion

Installing modern PowerShell is the first step to unlocking a new world of automation capabilities.

  • On Windows, using winget is the recommended method for its simplicity and ease of updates.
  • On Linux, using your native package manager (apt, dnf) is the most robust solution, with Snap as a great universal alternative.

With pwsh installed, you now have a consistent, powerful scripting language across your entire infrastructure. Happy scripting!