Updated on July 6, 2025
1 min read•170 words
PowerShell is a tool for controlling your computer using commands. It’s made by Microsoft and is especially useful if you want to automate tasks or do things faster than clicking around.
📑 Table of contents
What Can PowerShell Do?
With PowerShell, you can:
- See a list of running programs
- Copy and move files
- Get information about your computer
- Do the same task over and over—automatically
How Is It Different from Command Prompt?
| PowerShell | Command Prompt |
|---|---|
| Smarter and more powerful | Older and simpler |
| Works with files, programs, and settings | Basic commands only |
| It can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux | Mostly Windows only |
Easy Examples
Here are some simple things you can type into PowerShell:
# Show all open programs
Get-Process
# Copy a file
Copy-Item "C:\MyFile.txt" "D:\Backup\"
# Show computer info
Get-ComputerInfo
Just type these into PowerShell and hit Enter!
Why Should You Care?
If you:
- Work with a lot of files
- Want to save time
- Like learning cool computer tricks
Ready to Try?
To open PowerShell:
- Click the Start button.
- Type PowerShell.
- Press Enter.
Affiliate note:
Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you choose to buy through them, it can support this site at no extra cost to you. I try to mention only tools and resources I personally find useful.

