Start-Process

Syntax

Start-Process
     [-FilePath] <String>
     [[-ArgumentList] <String[]>]
     [-Credential <PSCredential>]
     [-WorkingDirectory <String>]
     [-LoadUserProfile]
     [-NoNewWindow]
     [-PassThru]
     [-RedirectStandardError <String>]
     [-RedirectStandardInput <String>]
     [-RedirectStandardOutput <String>]
     [-WindowStyle <ProcessWindowStyle>]
     [-Wait]
     [-UseNewEnvironment]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Start-Process
     [-FilePath] <String>
     [[-ArgumentList] <String[]>]
     [-WorkingDirectory <String>]
     [-PassThru]
     [-Verb <String>]
     [-WindowStyle <ProcessWindowStyle>]
     [-Wait]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Start-Process cmdlet starts one or more processes on the local computer. To specify the program that runs in the process, enter an executable file or script file, or a file that can be opened by using a program on the computer. If you specify a non-executable file, Start-Process starts the program that is associated with the file, similar to the Invoke-Item cmdlet.

You can use the parameters of Start-Process to specify options, such as loading a user profile, starting the process in a new window, or using alternate credentials.

Examples

Example 1: Start a process that uses default values

This example starts a process that uses the Sort.exe file in the current folder. The command uses all of the default values, including the default window style, working folder, and credentials.

Start-Process -FilePath "sort.exe"

Example 2: Print a text file

This example starts a process that prints the C:\PS-Test\MyFile.txt file.

Start-Process -FilePath "myfile.txt" -WorkingDirectory "C:\PS-Test" -Verb Print

Example 3: Start a process to sort items to a new file

This example starts a process that sorts items in the Testsort.txt file and returns the sorted items in the Sorted.txt files. Any errors are written to the SortError.txt file.

Start-Process -FilePath "Sort.exe" -RedirectStandardInput "Testsort.txt" -RedirectStandardOutput "Sorted.txt" -RedirectStandardError "SortError.txt" -UseNewEnvironment

The UseNewEnvironment parameter specifies that the process runs with its own environment variables.

Example 4: Start a process in a maximized window

This example starts the Notepad.exe process. It maximizes the window and retains the window until the process completes.

Start-Process -FilePath "notepad" -Wait -WindowStyle Maximized

Example 5: Start PowerShell as an administrator

This example starts PowerShell by using the "Run as administrator" option.

Start-Process -FilePath "powershell" -Verb RunAs

Example 6: Using different verbs to start a process

This example shows how to find the verbs that can be used when starting a process. The available verbs are determined by the filename extension of the file that runs in the process.

$startExe = New-Object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo -Args PowerShell.exe
$startExe.verbs

open
runas

The example uses New-Object to create a System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo object for PowerShell.exe, the file that runs in the PowerShell process. The Verbs property of the ProcessStartInfo object shows that you can use the Open and RunAs verbs with PowerShell.exe, or with any process that runs a .exe file.

Example 7: Specifying arguments to the process

Both commands start the Windows command interpreter, issuing a dir command on the 'Program Files' folder. Because this foldername contains a space, the value needs surrounded with escaped quotes. Note that the first command specifies a string as ArgumentList. The second command a string array.

Start-Process -FilePath "$env:comspec" -ArgumentList "/c dir `"%systemdrive%\program files`""
Start-Process -FilePath "$env:comspec" -ArgumentList "/c","dir","`"%systemdrive%\program files`""

Parameters

-ArgumentList

-Credential

-FilePath

-LoadUserProfile

-NoNewWindow

-PassThru

-RedirectStandardError

-RedirectStandardInput

-RedirectStandardOutput

-UseNewEnvironment

-Verb

-Wait

-WindowStyle

-WorkingDirectory

Inputs

None

You cannot pipe input to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None, System.Diagnostics.Process

This cmdlet generates a System.Diagnostics.Process object, if you specify the PassThru parameter. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not return any output.

Notes

• This cmdlet is implemented by using the Start method of the System.Diagnostics.Process class. For more information about this method, see Process.Start Method.

Related Links

• Debug-Process
• Get-Process
• Start-Service
• Stop-Process
• Wait-Process