How to Update PowerShell in Windows 11

To update PowerShell in Windows 11, open Terminal and run winget upgrade –id Microsoft.PowerShell. If you installed PowerShell 7 from the Microsoft Store, the Store updates it for you. First check which PowerShell you have: Windows 11 comes with Windows PowerShell 5.1, which you can’t upgrade to version 7. PowerShell 7 is a separate app that installs alongside it.

Applies to: Windows 11 and PowerShell 7. Checked against Microsoft Learn on September 30, 2026.

Windows PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell 7?

• Windows PowerShell 5.1 is built into Windows 11. It’s updated only through Windows Update, and it stays at version 5.1. It opens as Windows PowerShell.
• PowerShell 7 is Microsoft’s current, cross-platform PowerShell. You install it separately, and it opens as PowerShell 7 or with the pwsh command. Microsoft says it runs side by side with Windows PowerShell 5.1 and doesn’t replace it.

So “updating PowerShell” usually means installing PowerShell 7 for the first time, or updating the PowerShell 7 you already have.

Check your version

1. Open Terminal or PowerShell from Start.
2. Type $PSVersionTable.PSVersion and press Enter.
3. Look at the Major and Minor numbers. 5 and 1 means Windows PowerShell 5.1. 7 means PowerShell 7.

Update PowerShell 7 with winget

winget, the Windows Package Manager, is included in Windows 11. Microsoft recommends it for installing and updating PowerShell on Windows.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal.
2. To see whether an update is available, run: winget list –id Microsoft.PowerShell –upgrade-available
3. To update, run: winget upgrade –id Microsoft.PowerShell
4. When it finishes, close all PowerShell 7 windows and open a new one.

Microsoft says winget updates PowerShell using the same package type you installed before. Run the update from Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt rather than from PowerShell 7 itself, so the program isn’t in use while it’s replaced.

Don’t have PowerShell 7 yet?

Run winget install –id Microsoft.PowerShell –source winget. From PowerShell 7.6, Microsoft says winget installs the MSIX package by default, which installs PowerShell 7 for your account.

Update PowerShell 7 from the Microsoft Store

1. Open Microsoft Store and search for PowerShell.
2. Make sure the publisher is Microsoft Corporation, and then select Get or Update.
3. To update all Store apps, go to Downloads and select Get updates.

Microsoft notes that the Store version updates automatically and installs for a single user. A few advanced features, such as receiving PowerShell remoting connections, aren’t supported in the Store version.

If you installed PowerShell 7 with the MSI package

Microsoft recommends updating with the same method you used to install. The MSI version can also update through Microsoft Update: go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and turn on Receive updates for other Microsoft products. Installing or updating the MSI version needs an administrator account. On a work or school PC, ask your IT administrator.

Make PowerShell 7 your default in Terminal

1. Open Terminal and select the down arrow next to the tabs, then Settings.
2. Under Startup, set Default profile to PowerShell.
3. Select Save.

For other command-line windows, see how to open Command Prompt in Windows 11.

If the update doesn’t work

• winget isn’t recognized. Update App Installer in the Microsoft Store, which provides winget, and then try again.
• No update is found. You may already have the latest version, or PowerShell 7 was installed another way. Check where it runs from with $PSHOME: a path containing WindowsApps is the MSIX or Store version, and Program Files\PowerShell\7 is usually the MSI version.
• The update fails because files are in use. Close every PowerShell 7 window, including tabs in Terminal, and run the command again from Windows PowerShell.

Frequently asked questions

Can I upgrade Windows PowerShell 5.1 to PowerShell 7?

Not in place. Install PowerShell 7 alongside it. Scripts that need 5.1 keep working in Windows PowerShell.

Will updating PowerShell 7 keep my old version?

No. Microsoft says a newer PowerShell 7 release replaces the previous one. Preview versions install separately.

Why does PowerShell 7 say a new version is available?

PowerShell 7 checks for updates when it starts and shows a message when a newer release is out. Use the winget or Store steps above to update.

How do I remove PowerShell 7?

Uninstall it like any app. See how to uninstall a program in Windows 11.

Next steps

Microsoft covers every install method in Install PowerShell 7 on Windows.