PowerShell Script Execution Policy - Simple User Guide

🔑 Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator (Admin Mode)

You can access PowerShell by either searching for it or using Win + X and selecting Terminal (Admin).

🧭 Step 2: Check your current Execution Policy

The execution policy is a safety feature in PowerShell. It controls whether scripts are allowed to run. This command shows what your system is currently set to.

Get-ExecutionPolicy

🧩 Step 3: Change Execution Policy (Enable or Disable Scripts)

Use these commands to control whether scripts can run. For most users, RemoteSigned is the best balance. The -Scope CurrentUser option changes it for your user account only (safer and usually does not require full system changes).

✅ Recommended: Allow scripts (Current User)

This allows scripts you created locally to run, but downloaded scripts must be signed.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

🔒 Disable all scripts (Most restrictive)

Use this if you want to block scripts completely.

Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted -Scope CurrentUser

💾 Step 4: Save a PowerShell (.ps1) Script

A .ps1 file is a PowerShell script file that contains a series of commands. To create and save a script:

✅ Save the script as a .ps1 file:

1. Open Notepad or any text editor.
2. Write your PowerShell commands in the editor.
3. Click File → Save As.
4. Choose a location to save the file, and type script.ps1 in the File name field.
5. Ensure the Save as type is set to All Files.
6. Click Save.

Example .ps1 script:

      # Example PowerShell Script to Enable RemoteSigned Policy
      Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
      

✅ How to run the .ps1 script:

1. Navigate to the folder where your .ps1 file is saved in PowerShell:

cd "C:\path\to\your\script\

2. Run the script:

.\script.ps1

🧯 Step 5: Set Execution Policy for All Users (System-wide)

This affects the whole computer. It usually requires admin privileges. Only do this if you manage the machine and understand the impact.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope LocalMachine

↩️ Revert to default (Restricted)

Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted -Scope LocalMachine

🧩 Optional: Use a PowerShell Profile (Advanced)

A PowerShell profile is a script that runs automatically every time PowerShell opens. You can use it to set your preferred policy each time.

📂 Open your profile file

notepad.exe $PROFILE

➕ Add this line to set RemoteSigned on startup

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

🧾 Quick Summary (Copy-friendly)

Get-ExecutionPolicy

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted -Scope CurrentUser