PowerShell 7 is the newer version of Microsoft's command-line tool, and you install it separately from the older PowerShell that comes built into Windows
PowerShell 7 (also called PowerShell Core) is a free program you read and install yourself. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it is not the same as the PowerShell version that ships with Windows — that older version stays on your computer either way. Installing PowerShell 7 gives you access to newer features and security updates, and it lets you use the same tool across different operating systems if you work on more than one.
The installation process is straightforward and takes about five minutes. You read an installer file, run it, and follow the prompts. After that, you open PowerShell 7 from your Start menu (on Windows) or from your terminal (on Mac or Linux) just like any other program.
Key Takeaways
- PowerShell 7 is a separate read from Microsoft and does not replace the built-in PowerShell on Windows.
- On Windows, you read the installer from Microsoft's GitHub releases page, run it, and choose your installation folder.
- On Mac and Linux, you use a package manager (Homebrew on Mac, apt or dnf on Linux) to install PowerShell 7 in one command.
- After installation, you launch PowerShell 7 from your Start menu on Windows or by typing pwsh in your terminal on Mac or Linux.
- You can verify the installation worked by opening PowerShell 7 and typing $PSVersionTable to see the version number.
Installing PowerShell 7 on Windows
On Windows, you read the installer directly from Microsoft's GitHub repository. Go to github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases in your web browser. Look for the latest release (the one at the top of the page) and scroll down to the "Assets" section. Find the file named PowerShell-7.x.x-win-x64.msi (the x's are version numbers — read the one with the highest numbers). This is the 64-bit installer for most modern Windows computers.
Click the file to read it. Once the read finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the .msi file. A setup window appears. Click "Next" through the screens. You can accept the default installation folder (usually C:\Program Files\PowerShell) or choose a different one. When you reach the "Install" button, click it. Windows may ask for permission — click "Yes". The installation takes a minute or two.
After installation finishes, close the setup window. PowerShell 7 is now on your computer. Open your Start menu, type pwsh, and click "PowerShell 7" when it appears. A terminal window opens — this is PowerShell 7 running.
Installing PowerShell 7 on Mac
On Mac, the easiest route is Homebrew, a package manager that installs programs from the command line. If you do not have Homebrew yet, open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities) and paste this command:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Press Enter and follow the prompts. Homebrew installs in a few minutes. Once it finishes, type this command in Terminal:
brew install powershell
Press Enter. Homebrew downloads and installs PowerShell 7. When it finishes, type pwsh in Terminal and press Enter. PowerShell 7 launches.
Installing PowerShell 7 on Linux
On Linux, the installation command depends on which distribution you use. Open your terminal and run the command that matches your system.
On Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, type:
sudo apt-get install -y powershell
On Fedora, CentOS, or Red Hat systems, type:
sudo dnf install -y powershell
Press Enter. Your system downloads and installs PowerShell 7. When it finishes, type pwsh in your terminal and press Enter. PowerShell 7 opens.
Verifying the installation worked
After PowerShell 7 launches on any operating system, you can confirm the installation is correct. Type this command and press Enter:
$PSVersionTable
A table appears showing version information. Look for the line that says "PSVersion" — it should show 7.x.x (with the actual version numbers). If you see version 5.x instead, you are running the older built-in PowerShell, not PowerShell 7. Close that window and make sure you launched the correct program.
Updating PowerShell 7 later
PowerShell 7 receives updates regularly. On Windows, you can check for updates by opening PowerShell 7 and typing Update-Help. To upgrade to a newer version of PowerShell 7 itself, read the latest installer from GitHub (the same place you got the first one) and run it — it replaces the old version automatically.
On Mac, type brew upgrade powershell in Terminal. On Linux, use the same command you used to install it (sudo apt-get install powershell or sudo dnf install powershell) — your package manager checks for a newer version and installs it if one exists.
Uninstalling PowerShell 7 if you no longer need it
On Windows, open your Settings, go to "Apps" > "Apps & features", search for "PowerShell", click it, and click "Uninstall". Confirm the removal. The older PowerShell that came with Windows remains on your computer.
On Mac, open Terminal and type brew uninstall powershell. On Linux, type sudo apt-get remove powershell (Ubuntu/Debian) or sudo dnf remove powershell (Fedora/CentOS/Red Hat). In all cases, uninstalling PowerShell 7 does not affect anything else on your system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to uninstall the old PowerShell before installing PowerShell 7?
No. PowerShell 7 and the built-in PowerShell are separate programs that can coexist. The older version stays on your computer and works as before. You can use either one depending on what you need.
What if the GitHub read page looks different than described?
GitHub updates its interface occasionally. Look for a section labeled "Releases" on the PowerShell repository page. The latest release is always at the top. If you cannot find the .msi file for Windows, look for any file with "win-x64" in the name.
Can I use PowerShell 7 for the same tasks as the built-in PowerShell?
Yes, PowerShell 7 is backward compatible, meaning scripts and commands written for older versions usually work in PowerShell 7. PowerShell 7 also includes newer features and security improvements that the older version does not have.
What if I get an error when I try to launch PowerShell 7?
On Windows, make sure you downloaded the correct file (the one with "win-x64" in the name). On Mac or Linux, verify that the installation command completed without errors. If you see a "command not found" error, the installation may not have finished — try running the installation command again.
Is PowerShell 7 safe to install?
Yes. PowerShell 7 is an official Microsoft product distributed through GitHub, Homebrew, and official Linux repositories. These are the same sources your operating system uses to distribute other software updates.