PowerShell says "execution of scripts is disabled on this system."

Question

I am trying to run a cmd file that calls a PowerShell script from cmd.exe, but I am getting this error:

Management_Install.ps1 cannot be loaded because the execution of scripts is disabled on this system.

I ran this command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

When I run Get-ExecutionPolicy from PowerShell, it returns Unrestricted.

Get-ExecutionPolicy

Output:

Unrestricted

---

cd "C:\Projects\Microsoft.Practices.ESB\Source\Samples\Management Portal\Install\Scripts" powershell .\Management_Install.ps1 1

WARNING: Running x86 PowerShell...

File C:\Projects\Microsoft.Practices.ESB\Source\Samples\Management Portal\Install\Scripts\Management_Install.ps1 cannot be loaded because the execution of scripts is disabled on this system. Please see "get-help about_signing" for more details.

At line:1 char:25

• .\Management_Install.ps1 <<<< 1

  • CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], PSSecurityException

  • FullyQualifiedErrorId : RuntimeException

C:\Projects\Microsoft.Practices.ESB\Source\Samples\Management Portal\Install\Scripts> PAUSE

Press any key to continue . . .

---

The system is Windows Server 2008 R2.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

If you're using Windows Server 2008 R2 then there is an x64 and x86 version of PowerShell both of which have to have their execution policies set. Did you set the execution policy on both hosts?

As an Administrator, you can set the execution policy by typing this into your PowerShell window:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

For more information, see Using the Set-ExecutionPolicy Cmdlet.

When you are done, you can set the policy back to its default value with:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted

You may see an error:

Access to the registry key
'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PowerShell\1\ShellIds\Microsoft.PowerShell' is denied. 
To change the execution policy for the default (LocalMachine) scope, 
  start Windows PowerShell with the "Run as administrator" option. 
To change the execution policy for the current user, 
  run "Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser".

So you may need to run the command like this (as seen in comments):

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Answer 2

You can bypass this policy for a single file by adding -ExecutionPolicy Bypass when running PowerShell

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File script.ps1

Answer 3

I had a similar issue and noted that the default cmd on Windows Server 2012, was running the x64 one.

For Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2012, run the following commands as Administrator:

x86 (32 bit)
Open C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe
Run the command powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

x64 (64 bit)
Open C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
Run the command powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

You can check mode using

• In CMD: echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%
• In Powershell: [Environment]::Is64BitProcess

References:
MSDN - Windows PowerShell execution policies
Windows - 32bit vs 64bit directory explanation

Answer 4

Most of the existing answers explain the How, but very few explain the Why. And before you go around executing code from strangers on the Internet, especially code that disables security measures, you should understand exactly what you're doing. So here's a little more detail on this problem.

From the TechNet About Execution Policies Page:

Windows PowerShell execution policies let you determine the conditions under which Windows PowerShell loads configuration files and runs scripts.

The benefits of which, as enumerated by PowerShell Basics - Execution Policy and Code Signing, are:

• Control of Execution - Control the level of trust for executing scripts.
• Command Highjack - Prevent injection of commands in my path.
• Identity - Is the script created and signed by a developer I trust and/or a signed with a certificate from a Certificate Authority I trust.
• Integrity - Scripts cannot be modified by malware or malicious user.

To check your current execution policy, you can run Get-ExecutionPolicy. But you're probably here because you want to change it.

To do so you'll run the Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet.

You'll have two major decisions to make when updating the execution policy.

Execution Policy Type:

• Restricted^† - No Script either local, remote or downloaded can be executed on the system.
• AllSigned - All script that are ran require to be digitally signed.
• RemoteSigned - All remote scripts (UNC) or downloaded need to be signed.
• Unrestricted - No signature for any type of script is required.

Scope of new Change

• LocalMachine^† - The execution policy affects all users of the computer.
• CurrentUser - The execution policy affects only the current user.
• Process - The execution policy affects only the current Windows PowerShell process.

^{† = Default}

For example: if you wanted to change the policy to RemoteSigned for just the CurrentUser, you'd run the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Note: In order to change the Execution policy, you must be running PowerShell As Administrator. If you are in regular mode and try to change the execution policy, you'll get the following error:

Access to the registry key 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PowerShell\1\ShellIds\Microsoft.PowerShell' is denied. To change the execution policy for the default (LocalMachine) scope, start Windows PowerShell with the "Run as administrator" option.

If you want to tighten up the internal restrictions on your own scripts that have not been downloaded from the Internet (or at least don't contain the UNC metadata), you can force the policy to only run signed scripts. To sign your own scripts, you can follow the instructions on Scott Hanselman's article on Signing PowerShell Scripts.

Note: Most people are likely to get this error whenever they open PowerShell because the first thing PowerShell tries to do when it launches is execute your user profile script that sets up your environment however you like it.

The file is typically located in:

%UserProfile%\My Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShellISE_profile.ps1

You can find the exact location by running the PowerShell variable

$profile

If there's nothing that you care about in the profile, and don't want to fuss with your security settings, you can just delete it and PowerShell won't find anything that it cannot execute.

Answer 5

We can get the status of current ExecutionPolicy by the command below:

Get-ExecutionPolicy

By default it is Restricted. To allow the execution of PowerShell scripts we need to set this ExecutionPolicy either as Unrestricted or Bypass.

We can set the policy for Current User as Bypass by using any of the below PowerShell commands:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force

Unrestricted policy loads all configuration files and runs all scripts. If you run an unsigned script that was downloaded from the Internet, you are prompted for permission before it runs.

Whereas in Bypass policy, nothing is blocked and there are no warnings or prompts during script execution. Bypass ExecutionPolicy is more relaxed than Unrestricted.

Answer 6

Also running this command before the script also solves the issue:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

Answer 7

If you are in an environment where you are not an administrator, you can set the Execution Policy just for you (CurrentUser), and it will not require administrator.

You can set it to RemoteSigned:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned"

or Unrestricted:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "Unrestricted"

You can read all about Getting and Setting Execution policy in the help entries:

Help Get-ExecutionPolicy -Full
Help Set-ExecutionPolicy -Full

Answer 8

In Windows 7:

Go to Start Menu and search for "Windows PowerShell ISE".

Right click the x86 version and choose "Run as administrator".

In the top part, paste Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned; run the script. Choose "Yes".

Repeat these steps for the 64-bit version of Powershell ISE too (the non x86 version).

I'm just clarifying the steps that @Chad Miller hinted at. Thanks Chad!

Answer 9

RemoteSigned: all scripts you created yourself will be run, and all scripts downloaded from the Internet will need to be signed by a trusted publisher.

OK, change the policy by simply typing:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Answer 10

First, you need to open the PowerShell window and run this command.

set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Then it will ask you to confirm. Type Y and press Enter.

When you run this command, you can see that your system has set all policies for the current user as remotely. It will take a few seconds to complete this process.

The image will be shown like below:

To check if the execution policy has set. Type:

Get-ExecutionPolicy

If it was set, the output would be like this:

Answer 11

I'm using Windows 10 and was unable to run any command. The only command that gave me some clues was this:

[x64]

1. Open C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe [as administrator]
2. Run the command> powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

But this didn't work. It was limited. Probably new security policies for Windows10. I had this error:

Set-ExecutionPolicy: Windows PowerShell updated your execution policy successfully, but the setting is overridden by a policy defined at a more specific scope. Due to the override, your shell will retain its current effective execution policy of...

So I found another way (solution):

1. Open Run Command/Console (Win + R)
2. Type: gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor)
3. Browse to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Powershell.
4. Enable "Turn on Script Execution"
5. Set the policy as needed. I set mine to "Allow all scripts".

Now open PowerShell and enjoy ;)

Answer 12

Open a Windows PowerShell command window and run the below query to change ExecutionPolicy:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

If it asks for confirming changes, press Y and hit Enter.

Answer 13

You should run this command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

Answer 14

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

This worked for me

Answer 15

Win + R and type copy paste command and press OK:

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned"

And execute your script.

Then revert changes like:

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "AllSigned"

Answer 16

Open the command prompt in Windows. If the problem is only with PowerShell, use the following command:

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned"

Answer 17

Setting the execution policy is environment-specific. If you are trying to execute a script from the running x86 ISE you have to use the x86 PowerShell to set the execution policy. Likewise, if you are running the 64-bit ISE you have to set the policy with the 64-bit PowerShell.

Answer 18

1. Open Run Command/Console ( Win + R ) Type: gpedit. msc (Group Policy Editor)
2. Browse to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Powershell.
3. Enable "Turn on Script Execution" Set the policy as needed. I set mine to "Allow all scripts".

Now run the run command what ever you are using.. Trust this the app will runs.. Enjoy :)

Answer 19

you may try this and select "All" Option

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Answer 20

You can also bypass this by using the following command:

powershell Get-Content .\test.ps1 | Invoke-Expression

You can also read this article by Scott Sutherland that explains 15 different ways to bypass the PowerShell Set-ExecutionPolicy if you don't have administrator privileges:

15 Ways to Bypass the PowerShell Execution Policy

Answer 21

I have also faced a similar issue. Try this.

As I'm using Windows, I followed the steps as given below. Open a command prompt as an administrator and then go to this path:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\npm\

Look for the file ng.ps1 in this folder (directory) and then delete it (del ng.ps1).

You can also clear npm cache after this though it should work without this step as well.

Answer 22

If you have Git installed, just use Git Bash.

Answer 23

There's great information in the existing answers, but let me attempt a systematic overview:

Context

PowerShell's effective execution policy applies:

• to PowerShell code stored in files, which means:

  • regular script files (*.ps1)
  • script module files (*.psm1) (modules implemented in PowerShell)
  • formatting and type-extension files (*.Format.ps1xml and *.Types.ps1xml).
  • It does not apply to:
    • calls to (binary) cmdlets (e.g., Get-ChildItem)
    • commands submitted interactively or passed to the PowerShell CLI via the
      -Command parameter (unless these commands directly or indirectly call script files as defined above).

• on Windows only (that is, on Unix-like platforms (Linux, macOS) execution policies do not apply and no restrictions are placed on executing PowerShell code)

In workstation editions of Windows, script-file execution is disabled by default (policy Restricted), requiring either a persistent modification of the policy to enable it, or a current-process-only modification such as via the -ExecutionPolicy parameter when calling the PowerShell CLI, powershell.exe (Windows PowerShell edition) / pwsh.exe (PowerShell (Core) edition).
In recent server editions, the default policy is RemoteSigned, meaning that while locally stored scripts (including on file shares) may be executed, downloaded-from-the-web scripts only execute if they're signed.

Execution policies are maintained separately:

• for the two PowerShell editions:

  • the legacy, Windows-only, ships-with-Windows Windows PowerShell edition (whose latest and last version is v5.1.x)
  • the modern, cross-platform, install-on-demand PowerShell (Core) edition (v6+).

• for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows PowerShell (both of which are preinstalled)

  • Note: If you were to install 32-bit and 64-bit versions of PowerShell (Core) side by side (which would be unusual), only the LocalMachine scope would be bitness-specific.

For a given edition / bitness combination of PowerShell, the execution policies can be set in multiple scopes, but there's only ever one effective policy, based on precedence rules - see below.

---

Details

• In PowerShell on Windows, script-file execution is disabled by default in workstation editions of Windows (on Unix, execution policies do not apply); that is, the default execution policy in workstation editions of Windows is Restricted, whereas in server editions, it is RemoteSigned; see the conceptual about_Execution_Policies help topic for a description of all available policies.

• To set a (local) policy that permits script execution, use Set-ExecutionPolicy. There are three scopes that Set-ExecutionPolicy can target, using the -Scope parameter (see below); changing the LocalMachine scope requires elevation (running as admin).

  • To unset a previously set policy in a given scope, use Undefined

• A frequently used policy that provides a balance between security and convenience is RemoteSigned, which allows local scripts - including from network shares - to execute without containing a signature, while requiring scripts downloaded from the internet to be signed (assuming that the downloading mechanism marks such as scripts as internet-originated, which web browsers do by default). For instance, to set the current user's execution policy to RemoteSigned, run the following:

  Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned -Force
  

• The PowerShell CLI (powershell.exe for Windows PowerShell, pwsh.exe for PowerShell (Core), v6+) accepts a process-specific -ExecutionPolicy <policy> argument too, which is often used for ad-hoc policy overrides (only for the process being created, the equivalent of Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process ..); e.g.:

  pwsh.exe -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -File someScript.ps1
  

• Important:

  • Execution policies can also be set via Group Policy Objects (GPOs), in which case they can not be changed or overridden with Set-ExecutionPolicy or via the CLI's -ExecutionPolicy parameter: see about_Group_Policy_Settings

  • Execution policies can be set in various scopes, and which one is in effect is determined by their precedence (run Get-ExecutionPolicy -List to see all scopes and their respective policies), in descending order:

    • MachinePolicy (via GPO; cannot be overridden locally)^[1]
    • UserPolicy (via GPO; cannot be overridden locally)^[1]
    • Process (current process only; typically set ad-hoc via the CLI)
    • CurrentUser (as set by Set-ExecutionPolicy)
    • LocalMachine (as set by Set-ExecutionPolicy, with admin rights)

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^{[1] This applies to domain-wide GPOs. Local GPOs can be modified locally, namely via gpedit.msc or directly via the registry, which in the case of the machine policy requires administrative privileges.}

Answer 24

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Executing this command in administrator mode in PowerShell will solve the problem.

Answer 25

In Window 10:

If you are not administrator, you can use this:

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser

cmdlet Set-ExecutionPolicy at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
ExecutionPolicy: `RemoteSigned`

It solved my problem like a charm!

Answer 26

For Windows 11...

It is indeed very easy. Just open the settings application. Navigate to Privacy and Security:

Click on For Developers and scroll to the bottom and find the PowerShell option under which check the checkbox stating "Change the execution policy ... remote scripts".

Answer 27

In the PowerShell ISE editor I found running the following line first allowed scripts.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process

Answer 28

In powershell

To check the current execution policy, use the following command:

Get-ExecutionPolicy

To change the execution policy to Unrestricted, which allows running any script without digital signatures, use the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

This solution worked for me, but be careful of the security risks involved.

Answer 29

In VS code just run this command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser Unrestricted

Answer 30

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser
2. Provide RemoteSigned and press Enter
3. Run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser
4. Provide Unrestricted and press Enter