5 Ways to Fix Windows Could Not Find PowerShell.exe

Windows PowerShell is a scripting and automation tool that allows you to use commands to manage your computer. While this command-line console is pre-installed on Windows, your computer may fail to find the PowerShell.exe file. This may be due to changes in the operating system files or their location. This guide shows you five ways to fix Windows can't find PowerShell.exe.

Initial repairs

There are a few things you can quickly try before moving on to more targeted fixes.

• Run SFC and DISM commands: System File Checker and DISM One of the most useful utilities you can deploy is to identify corrupted system files. They also automatically fix any problems they find.
• Restart your computer: Restarting your computer is the classic way to solve the problem and may help you find PowerShell.exe on your system again.
• Create a new user account: If your current user account is experiencing problems, we recommend creating a new account. If you have multiple accounts on your computer, switch to a new account and see if the problem persists.

1. Make sure Windows PowerShell is enabled.

The easiest way to ensure PowerShell is enabled is to go to Windows Features in the Control Panel and look for the PowerShell entry. If the check box before the file is unchecked, the option is disabled. Follow the steps below to enable it.

1. Click on Win + R keys To run the application Run.
2. Type appwiz.cpl And press Enter.
   
3. Locate Turn Windows features on or off On the right panel in the newly opened window.
   
4. In the list of entries, find Windows PowerShell Click the checkbox to enable it.
   
5. If the feature is already enabled, disable it and restart your computer. After restarting, follow the steps again to re-enable the entry and restart the service.

Tip: Get to know How to Force Delete Undeletable Files in Windows.

2. Run PowerShell via File Explorer or Run

You can directly access the .EXE file of any Windows application via File Explorer. Run commands are another way to launch Windows applications without clicking on the executable file. Use these two methods to access the PowerShell.exe file and see if they work.

1. Click on Win + R To run the application Run.
2. Type PowerShell And press Enter.
   
3. Instead, use File ExplorerRight-click the Start menu and click Applications.
   
4. Navigate to this folder using the address bar at the top: “C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0.”
5. Find the executable file in the location and double-click it.
   

Advice: Does Powershell keep popping up on startup?Learn what to do if this happens on your Windows PC.

3. Create a PowerShell shortcut

If you recently moved the PowerShell.exe file from its original folder, Windows won't be able to open the file because it doesn't know its exact location. Even if you didn't move the file, it's still a good idea to recreate a shortcut to the executable file.

1. Open File Explorer Go to the folder where you moved the file. PowerShell.exe.
2. Right click on "PowerShell" and select “Show more options.”
   
3. Choose “Send to -> Desktop (create shortcut).”
   
4. Exit File Explorer and open the shortcut. PowerShell.exe on the desktop.

4. Run PowerShell using Command Prompt

You can use the Command Prompt instead of Windows PowerShell, as most of its functions are similar. However, if you insist on using PowerShell, you can launch it with the Command Prompt.

1. Type “command prompt” in Windows Search , right-click on the best result, and select "Run as administrator".
   
2. in "Command Prompt" , write start powershell And press Enter To run it..
   

5. Update Windows PowerShell

Windows should update PowerShell automatically, but it's possible that the update hasn't completed due to a glitch or slow internet connection. Therefore, it's a good idea to manually update Windows PowerShell to see if that resolves the issue.

1. Click "research" In the taskbar, type Microsoft Store , click Best match.
   
2. At the top of the screen, use the search feature to search for PowerShell.
3. Locate "Update" Or "get" On the first app that pops up, wait for it to download and install.
   
4. Try to open PowerShell.exe After the installation or update process.

If none of these fixes solved the issue for you, and you still can't access Powershell.exe, it might be time to perform a system recoveryDoing this will take your computer to a previous state when everything was working fine, and undo any changes to the registry or Windows applications.

To use this feature, you must first create a restore point or enable system protection so that your system creates automatic restore points that you can use to undo changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I download PowerShell if I don't have it?
The answer: Yes. You'll find PowerShell 7.3 or later on the website. Microsoft Store  Or in the Store app in Windows.

Q2: Will my computer be okay without PowerShell?
The answer: If you disable PowerShell, your computer will use the Command Prompt instead to communicate with the system. PowerShell is a better option (in some cases) for running commands, but your computer will be fine without it.