Download PowerShell for PC, Windows 11/10 & Mac (Free)

The PowerShell download is free from Microsoft for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac. PowerShell 7 installs next to the Windows PowerShell 5.1 already on your PC, and you start it by typing pwsh .

This guide covers the right package for your machine, the MSI, winget, Store and ZIP routes, the Mac packages, silent deployment, checksums, updates, install fixes and a clean uninstall.

Which PowerShell download do you need?

Microsoft publishes every PowerShell 7 package on the official PowerShell GitHub organization and links them from Microsoft Learn. Match your machine to a row and click its file.

Not sure which Windows you have? Open Settings > System > About and read System type. It says x64-based or ARM-based processor.

Download PowerShell 7 from the official Microsoft links

PowerShell 7.6.6 is the current Long Term Servicing (LTS) release. The release page lists every file for Windows, macOS and Linux, each with its SHA256 hash.

1. PowerShell latest release on GitHub — all packages and SHA256 hashes
2. Install PowerShell 7 on Windows — Microsoft Learn, MSI, ZIP, MSIX and winget
3. Install PowerShell 7 on macOS — Microsoft Learn, .pkg and tar.gz
4. PowerShell in the Microsoft Store — free, published by Microsoft Corporation
5. PowerShell-7.6.6.msixbundle — 335.9 MB · x64, x86 and Arm64 in one file

Skip copies on download portals. Microsoft does not support installs from sources other than these.

How to install PowerShell 7 on Windows 11 and 10 with the MSI

The MSI is the package Microsoft recommends for servers and managed PCs. It installs to C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7 and adds that folder to your PATH.

1. Download PowerShell-7.6.6-win-x64.msi, or the Arm64 file for an Arm PC.
2. Open your Downloads folder and double-click the .msi file.
3. Select Next on the welcome screen.
4. Keep the default destination folder and select Next.
5. Pick the optional features you want, such as adding PowerShell to PATH and the Explorer context menu entries.
6. Keep the Microsoft Update options enabled to get PowerShell updates through Windows Update.
7. Select Install, then Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
8. Select Finish when setup completes.
9. Open Start, search for PowerShell 7 and select it, or type pwsh in any terminal.

The Start menu keeps a separate Windows PowerShell entry. That one is the built-in 5.1 version, so pick the item labeled PowerShell 7.

Install PowerShell with winget or the Microsoft Store

Microsoft recommends winget for Windows client PCs. The package ID is Microsoft.PowerShell . From version 7.6.0, winget installs the MSIX package by default.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal.
2. Run winget search –id Microsoft.PowerShell –exact to see the current version.
3. Run winget install –id Microsoft.PowerShell –source winget to install the MSIX package.
4. Run winget install –id Microsoft.PowerShell –source winget –installer-type wix instead if you want the MSI package.
5. For the Store route, open the PowerShell Store listing and select Get.
6. Select Open when the install finishes.

Store and MSIX installs are per-user and sandboxed. They cannot accept remote sessions, and Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope LocalMachine fails there. Use the MSI when you need either.

How to deploy the PowerShell MSI silently across PCs

The MSI accepts properties that control PATH, context menus, remoting and Microsoft Update. The default folder is $Env:ProgramFiles\PowerShell\7 , and INSTALLFOLDER changes it.

msiexec.exe /package PowerShell-7.6.6-win-x64.msi /quiet ADD_EXPLORER_CONTEXT_MENU_OPENPOWERSHELL=1 ADD_FILE_CONTEXT_MENU_RUNPOWERSHELL=1 ENABLE_PSREMOTING=1 REGISTER_MANIFEST=1 USE_MU=1 ENABLE_MU=1 ADD_PATH=1 Run it next to the x64 MSI (112.0 MB) or swap in the Arm64 MSI (105.8 MB). It installs PowerShell 7 with no prompts, adds it to PATH, adds the Explorer context menu entries, enables remoting and opts the machine into Microsoft Update. Set USE_MU=0 and ENABLE_MU=0 to manage updates through your own tooling, and add DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 to opt out of telemetry.

Test the command on one machine before pushing it to a fleet. Plan ahead: Microsoft ships no MSI from PowerShell 7.7.0 onward, so new versions will come as MSIX only.

How to verify the PowerShell installer before you run it

1. Open the v7.6.6 release page and expand Assets.
2. Copy the SHA256 hash shown next to the file you downloaded.
3. Open Terminal in your Downloads folder.
4. Run Get-FileHash .\PowerShell-7.6.6-win-x64.msi -Algorithm SHA256 .
5. Compare the Hash value with the one from the release page. They must match exactly.
6. Delete the file and download it again if the values differ.

Run PowerShell 7 from a ZIP without installing it

The ZIP package suits side-by-side versions, Windows Server Core and PCs where you cannot run an installer. It skips the prerequisite checks the MSI performs.

1. Download PowerShell-7.6.6-win-x64.zip or PowerShell-7.6.6-win-arm64.zip.
2. Run Unblock-File .\PowerShell-7.6.6-win-x64.zip in Windows PowerShell to clear the download block.
3. Right-click the ZIP, select Extract All and pick a folder, such as a USB drive.
4. Open the extracted folder and double-click pwsh.exe .
5. Add the folder to your PATH if you want to type pwsh from any terminal.
6. Create a Start menu shortcut by hand, since the ZIP does not add one.

Which PowerShell download do you need for your Mac?

Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac. A Chip line naming Apple M-series means Apple silicon; a Processor line naming Intel means an Intel Mac. PowerShell supports macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma.

Double-click the .pkg and follow the macOS Installer prompts. Packages from the May 2026 releases onward are signed and notarized by Microsoft, so Gatekeeper opens them normally.

Open Terminal and type pwsh to start PowerShell. The files live in /usr/local/microsoft/powershell/7/ .

Is PowerShell free?

Yes. PowerShell 7 is free and open source under the MIT license, on Windows, macOS and Linux. Microsoft charges nothing for any PowerShell package, and the Store listing is free too. Without a paid Microsoft support agreement you get community support only. Windows PowerShell 5.1 is also free, because it ships as part of Windows.

Should you install PowerShell 7.6 LTS or 7.5?

PowerShell 7.6 LTS runs on .NET 10 and is supported until 14 November 2028. PowerShell 7.5 and the older 7.4 LTS both reach end of support on 10 November 2026.

Install PowerShell 7.6.6 LTS. Use 7.5.11 only if a module you depend on has not been tested on 7.6 yet. 7.6 is the newest release line and has the longest support window, with security fixes for more than two years. Both 7.5 and 7.4 stop receiving updates in November 2026. The 7.7 preview is for testing only and is not supported in production.

PowerShell 7 never replaces Windows PowerShell 5.1. Both stay installed, and a few older modules still need 5.1.

How to check your PowerShell version and update it

1. Open PowerShell 7 and run $PSVersionTable.PSVersion to see your version.
2. Run $PSHOME to see how it was installed: Program Files\PowerShell\7 means MSI, WindowsApps means MSIX or Store.
3. Run winget list –id Microsoft.PowerShell –upgrade-available to check for a newer build.
4. Run winget upgrade –id Microsoft.PowerShell to install it.
5. For MSI installs, leave Microsoft Update enabled and the update arrives through Settings > Windows Update.
6. On a Mac, download the newer .pkg and install it over the old version.

Update with the same method you first used. A newer PowerShell 7 replaces the older one, while preview builds install side by side.

Check the PowerShell system requirements before you download

Run winver to see your Windows version before you install.

Fix PowerShell 7 not installing or not starting

pwsh is not recognized as a command

The install folder is not on your PATH.

1. Close every terminal and open a new one, since open windows keep the old PATH.
2. Reinstall the MSI and enable the option that adds PowerShell to PATH, or run it silently with ADD_PATH=1 .
3. For a ZIP install, add the extracted folder to PATH under System Properties > Environment Variables.

winget is not recognized on Windows Server

winget is missing on Windows Server 2022 and older, and on Server 2025 Core.

1. Download the x64 MSI from the release page instead.
2. Run the silent msiexec command from the deployment section above.

Remoting or Set-ExecutionPolicy fails in the Store version

The Store and MSIX package is sandboxed and cannot change its own folder.

1. Uninstall the Store version from Start.
2. Install the MSI with winget install –id Microsoft.PowerShell –source winget –installer-type wix .
3. Run your remoting or execution policy command again.

The Mac says the package cannot be opened

Packages released before May 2026 are not notarized, so Gatekeeper blocks them.

1. Select Done to close the warning.
2. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security and scroll to Security.
3. Select Open Anyway, confirm again and enter your Mac password.
4. Download the current package instead to skip this step, as it is signed by Microsoft.

How to uninstall PowerShell 7

Removing PowerShell 7 leaves Windows PowerShell 5.1 in place. Use the method that matches how you installed it.

1. For a winget install, run winget uninstall –id Microsoft.PowerShell .
2. For an MSI install, open Control Panel > Programs and Features, select the PowerShell 7 entry and select Uninstall.
3. For a Store install, open Start, search for PowerShell 7, right-click it and select Uninstall.
4. For a ZIP install, delete the folder you extracted.
5. For a .NET global tool install, run dotnet tool uninstall –global PowerShell .
6. On a Mac, run sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/pwsh /usr/local/microsoft/powershell in Terminal.

Which PowerShell option should you use instead?

Every PC running Windows 10 or 11 already has Windows PowerShell 5.1. PowerShell 7 adds cross-platform support and newer features without removing it.

Install the preview with winget install –id Microsoft.PowerShell.Preview –source winget . It runs side by side with the stable release as PowerShell 7-preview.

Frequently asked questions

Is PowerShell free to download?

Yes. PowerShell 7 is free and open source under the MIT license, from GitHub, Microsoft Learn and the Microsoft Store. Windows PowerShell 5.1 is also free, because it comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Where is the official PowerShell download page?

Microsoft links every package from its Install PowerShell pages on learn.microsoft.com. The files themselves are on the official PowerShell GitHub releases page, and a free Store version is published by Microsoft Corporation.

Does PowerShell 7 work on Windows 11?

Yes. PowerShell 7 runs on Windows 11 on both x64 and Arm64 PCs. It installs alongside the built-in Windows PowerShell 5.1, and you start it from the PowerShell 7 entry in Start or by typing pwsh.

How big is the PowerShell download?

The PowerShell 7.6.6 x64 MSI is 112.0 MB and the Arm64 MSI is 105.8 MB. The ZIP files are 94 to 102 MB, the MSIX bundle is 335.9 MB, and the Mac packages are 67.7 MB and 71.6 MB.

Is there a PowerShell offline installer?

Yes. The MSI, ZIP and MSIX bundle files on the GitHub releases page are full packages that install without an internet connection. The macOS .pkg and tar.gz files are standalone as well.

Can I download PowerShell for Mac?

Yes. Microsoft publishes PowerShell 7 for macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma. Download the arm64 .pkg for Apple silicon Macs or the x64 .pkg for Intel Macs, then run pwsh in Terminal.

Is there a 64-bit or ARM64 version of PowerShell?

Yes. PowerShell 7 comes as x64 and Arm64 MSI and ZIP packages for Windows, plus x86 builds for 32-bit systems. The MSIX bundle covers all three, and the Mac packages come in Apple silicon and Intel versions.

Is PowerShell safe to download?

Yes, when you get it from Microsoft Learn, the PowerShell GitHub releases page or the Microsoft Store. Each release file lists a SHA256 hash, so you can confirm your download with Get-FileHash before running it.

What is the latest version of PowerShell?

PowerShell 7.6.6 is the latest release and the current LTS version, supported until 14 November 2028. PowerShell 7.5.11 is the current non-LTS release, and PowerShell 7.7 is in preview.

Does PowerShell 7 replace Windows PowerShell 5.1?

No. PowerShell 7 installs to its own folder and runs side by side with Windows PowerShell 5.1. Start PowerShell 7 with pwsh and Windows PowerShell with powershell. Some older modules still require 5.1.

Is there a PowerShell MSI download?

Yes, for PowerShell 7.6 and older. The x64, Arm64 and x86 MSI files are on the GitHub releases page. Microsoft ships no MSI from PowerShell 7.7.0 onward, so future versions install as MSIX only.

Why won’t PowerShell 7 install on my PC?

Common causes are a missing winget on Windows Server, a Store version that blocks remoting, or pwsh missing from PATH. Use the MSI from the GitHub releases page, enable the PATH option, and open a new terminal afterwards.