Share via

Install-Module

  • Reference
Module:
PowershellGet

Downloads one or more modules from a repository, and installs them on the local computer.

Syntax

Install-Module
       [-Name] <string[]>
       [-MinimumVersion <version>]
       [-MaximumVersion <version>]
       [-RequiredVersion <version>]
       [-Repository <string[]>]
       [-Scope <string>]
       [-Force]
       [-WhatIf]
       [-Confirm]
       [<CommonParameters>]
Install-Module
       [-InputObject] <psobject[]>
       [-Scope <string>]
       [-Force]
       [-WhatIf]
       [-Confirm]
       [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Install-Module cmdlet gets one or more modules that meet specified criteria from an online repository. The cmdlet verifies that search results are valid modules and copies the module folders to the installation location. Installed modules are not automatically imported after installation. You can filter which module is installed based on the minimum, maximum, and exact versions of specified modules.

If the module being installed has the same name or version, or contains commands in an existing module, warning messages are displayed. After you confirm that you want to install the module and override the warnings, use the -Force parameter. Dependent upon your repository settings, you might need to answer a prompt for the module installation to continue.

These examples use the PowerShell Gallery as the only registered repository. Get-PSRepository displays the registered repositories. If you have multiple registered repositories, use the -Repository parameter to specify the repository's name.

Examples

Example 1: Find and install a module

This example finds a module in the repository and installs the module.

Find-Module -Name PowerShellGet | Install-Module

The Find-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the PowerShellGet module. By default, the newest version of the module is downloaded from the repository. The object is sent down the pipeline to the Install-Module cmdlet. Install-Module installs the module for all users in $env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules.

Example 2: Install a module by name

In this example, the newest version of the PowerShellGet module is installed.

Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet

The Install-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the PowerShellGet module. By default, the newest version of the module is downloaded from the repository and installed.

Example 3: Install a module using its minimum version

In this example, the minimum version of the PowerShellGet module is installed. The MinimumVersion parameter specifies the lowest version of the module that should be installed. If a newer version of the module is available, that version is downloaded and installed for all users.

Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet -MinimumVersion 2.0.1

The Install-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the PowerShellGet module. The MinimumVersion parameter specifies that version 2.0.1 is downloaded from the repository and installed. Because version 2.0.4 is available, that version is downloaded and installed for all users.

Example 4: Install a specific version of a module

In this example, a specific version of the PowerShellGet module is installed.

Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet -RequiredVersion 2.0.0

The Install-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the PowerShellGet module. The RequiredVersion parameter specifies that version 2.0.0 is downloaded and installed for all users.

Example 5: Install a module only for the current user

This example downloads and installs the newest version of a module, only for the current user.

Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet -Scope CurrentUser

The Install-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the PowerShellGet module. Install-Module downloads and installs the newest version of PowerShellGet into the current user's directory, $home\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules.

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the Install-Module cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Force

Installs a module and overrides warning messages about module installation conflicts. If a module with the same name already exists on the computer, Force allows for multiple versions to be installed. If there is an existing module with the same name and version, Force overwrites that version.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-InputObject

Used for pipeline input.

Type:PSObject[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-MaximumVersion

Specifies the maximum version of a single module to install. If you want to install multiple modules, you cannot use MaximumVersion. MaximumVersion and RequiredVersion cannot be used in the same Install-Module command.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-MinimumVersion

Specifies the minimum version of a single module to install. If there is a newer version of the module available, the newer version is installed. If you want to install multiple modules, you cannot use MinimumVersion. MinimumVersion and RequiredVersion cannot be used in the same Install-Module command.

Type:String
Aliases:Version
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Name

Specifies the exact names of modules to install from the online gallery. A comma-separated list of module names is accepted. The module name must match the module name in the repository. Use Find-Module to get a list of module names.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Repository

Use the Repository parameter to specify which repository is used to download and install a module. Used when multiple repositories are registered. Specifies the name of a registered repository in the Install-Module command. To register a repository, use Register-PSRepository. To display registered repositories, use Get-PSRepository.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-RequiredVersion

Specifies the exact version of a single module to install. If there is no match in the repository for the specified version, an error is displayed. If you want to install multiple modules, you cannot use RequiredVersion. RequiredVersion cannot be used in the same Install-Module command as MinimumVersion or MaximumVersion.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Scope

Specifies the installation scope of the module. The acceptable values for this parameter are AllUsers and CurrentUser.

The AllUsers scope installs modules in a location that is accessible to all users of the computer:

$env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules

The CurrentUser installs modules in a location that is accessible only to the current user of the computer:

$home\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules

When no Scope is defined, the default is set based on the current session:

  • For an elevated PowerShell session, Scope defaults to AllUsers.
  • For non-elevated PowerShell sessions in PowerShellGet versions 2.0.0 and above, the Scope is CurrentUser.
  • For non-elevated PowerShell sessions in PowerShellGet versions 1.6.7 and earlier, Scope is undefined, and Install-Module fails.
Type:String
Accepted values:AllUsers, CurrentUser
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if an Install-Module command was run. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

PSRepositoryItemInfo

Find-Module creates PSRepositoryItemInfo objects that can be sent down the pipeline to Install-Module.

Notes

Install-Module runs on PowerShell 5.0 or later releases, on Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2 and later releases of Windows.

As a security best practice, evaluate a module's code before running any cmdlets or functions for the first time. To prevent running modules that contain malicious code, installed modules are not automatically imported after installation.

If the module name specified by the Name parameter does not exist in the repository, Install-Module returns an error.

To install multiple modules, use the Name parameter and specify a comma-separated array of module names. If you specify multiple module names, you cannot use MinimumVersion, MaximumVersion, or RequiredVersion. Find-Module creates PSRepositoryItemInfo objects that can be sent down the pipeline to Install-Module. The pipeline is another way to specify multiple modules to install in a single command.

By default, modules for the scope of AllUsers are installed in $env:ProgramFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules. The default prevents confusion when you install PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) resources.

A module installation fails and cannot be imported if it does not have a .psm1, .psd1, or .dll of the same name within the folder. Use the Force parameter to install the module.

If an existing module's version matches the name specified by the Name parameter, and the MinimumVersion or RequiredVersion parameter are not used, Install-Module silently continues but does not install the module.

If an existing module's version is greater than the value of the MinimumVersion parameter, or equal to the value of the RequiredVersion parameter, Install-Module silently continues but does not install the module.

If the existing module does not match the values specified by the MinimumVersion or RequiredVersion parameters, an error occurs in the Install-Module command. For example, if the version of the existing installed module is lower than the MinimumVersion value or not equal to the RequiredVersion value.