How to know your powershell version 【step by step】

System administrators allow to maximize all the advantages offered by computers, which is why Windows has incorporated an alternative to accelerate and automate the processes that is called Powershell.

Powershell works as an interrelation between the user and the computer, in this case it is the way to order or guide the actions that are undertaken and executed on the computer through text input.

Index of contents

Find out which version of Powershell is on the computer

Since Powershell has been incorporated into Windows systems by designers and developers, it is important to know which version is incorporated in the equipment.

This process to know the version is quite simple and will be explained below:

• First you must enter the Windows search area and type Powershell. Then a window will open with the name of the program " Windows Powershell" you must right-click there and select "Run as administrator". Immediately the command screen which is blue, there you must write the following: get-host and press the "Enter" key A series of information regarding the version is automatically displayed on the screen.

If what you want is to obtain much more detailed information, it is recommended to use the command: $ PSVersionTable when pressing "Enter" the following is displayed:

• PSversion: The exact version of Windows Powershell that is installed is shown here. WSManStackVersion: This link reflects the stack version of Web Services Management. SerializationVersion: Here you can know the exact version that corresponds to the serialization method. BuildVersion: You will be able to know the build version that corresponds to the Windows Powershell that is currently used. PSCompatibleVersion: This section indicates all those versions of Windows Powershell that are supported by the current version that is in use.

It is worth noting that if you try to know which is the version of Powershell incorporated and it is not possible to visualize, it is because it is type 1.0, this is because it is from version 2.0 where the blue screen with all the content referring to this administrator.

The get-host command can also be used , but from the PowerGui Script Editor option, doing so can obtain much more detailed information on the characteristics of the Powershell found on the computer.

Importance of knowing the Powershell version

Since Powershell is a tool that was designed to be run exclusively with commands and the keyboard, it offers an important number of more specific functions than those that can be obtained when using another type of administrator.

It is important that the version is known, as this will allow the functions to be managed in it to be identified.

It should be remembered that each version becomes a command line interpreter, with which you can open console applications and solve problems on your computer.

The larger the version that is being used, the more amounts of basic data on network activities will be known and managed.

For example, in a version greater than or equal to 2.0, you can work with Powershell as an open source framework.

In other words, it will become the central administration solution and as a regulatory and automated entity for Windows.

If the version is less than 2.0, the use of Powershell will be much more limited, it will not even be able to be used as a scripting environment, that is, it will not be possible to simplify tasks through the combination of commands.

Meanwhile, the steps to be executed will have to be performed individually, unlike the more advanced versions with which scripts can be performed.

Allowing to manage the information, register it and even configure it, not leaving aside the repair of eventualities that are generated in the program.

What is my version and compatibility

• Powershell 1.0 comes built-in with Windows server 2003 SP1, Windows Xp SP2 and Windows Vista. Powershell 2.0, this version works with Windows server 2003 SP2, Windows server 2008 SP1 and Windows Xp SP3. Powershell 3.0, adapted to Windows server 2008 SP2, Windows server 2008 R2, SP1, Windows 7 SP1.Powershell 4.0, Joins Windows 7 SP1, Windows server 2008 R2, SP1, Windows server 20012. Powershell 5.0: Works with Windows server 2012 R2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1.Powershell 5.1: coupled to Windows server R8 SP1, Windows server 20012, Windows server 2012 R2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1. Powershell

Starting with Powershell Core 6.0, a multiplatform was established for its operations, that is, it was allowed to be used in the MacOS operating system, as well as that of the famous Linux.

This version is integrated in Net Core, instead of Net FrameWork, this new version is smaller and lighter but unfortunately supports fewer commands.

So it does not allow to carry out the large number of activities that were carried out, which does have a greater capacity for speed in the response.

It was also configured to be open source, this so that it could be installed directly from the web.

Among the changes that were incorporated to make its use compatible with other platforms, are:

• The possibility of using characters with binary commands or native commands, this allows to increase the functionality of the tool. Added the man page powershel. There is an escape option that leads directly to the final backslash, this is the one used when performing tasks with native command arguments. The ExecutionPolicy modifier alternative has been removed, so that powershel can be freely run on platforms other than Windows.

How to install Powershell 6.0

This new version of Powershell does not offer the alternative of being updated like the previous versions, that is, from those that go from 1.0 to 5.0.

In order to make use of 6.0, it is required to disable the version that is currently installed, for this the uninstallation process will be explained below:

The following command will be used, which must be written on the blue screen: Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature-Online-FeatureNameMicrosoftWindowsPowershellV (put the number of the version you have here) Root and press the "Enter" key

Now there will no longer be any version of Powershell installed on the computer, from this moment we will proceed to install the new version 6.0.

• As an initial step, you must enter the following address through the web: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell. A menu will be displayed that says "Close or download", press it and go to "Download ZIP". A window will drop, you wait for the download to complete, you go to "Downloads" and when you find the downloaded file, right-click on it. Then a small rectangle will open where you will click "Extract here" Now you just have to open the installer file and execute the steps indicated by the system.

Once this procedure is completed, it will be necessary to go to the Windows start button and enter the Powershell command manager where you must type the following path: $ psVersionTable and press "Enter"

Now you must wait for all the information regarding the newly installed version 6.0 to be displayed on the screen.

• If you want to know or check the number of commands included in version 6.0, you will use the command:

Get-Command | measure-Object

• Then you must press "Enter" this should indicate that there are 432 PowerShell commands to execute the same number of activities on the computer.

We recommend reading the following tutorials:

With this we finish our tutorials on how to know the version of your Shell. Did you find it useful? Surely you are interested in taking a look at our tutorials section. See you in the next one!