Exercise - Install Azure PowerShell

  • 10 minutes

In this unit, you learn how to determine the version of PowerShell installed on your local machine and how to install the latest version. You also learn how to install the Az PowerShell module.

Note

This exercise guides you through creating a local installation of the Az PowerShell module. However, the remainder of this module uses Azure Cloud Shell to leverage the free Microsoft Learn sandbox environment. If you prefer, you can consider this exercise optional and simply review the instructions.

Install PowerShell on Windows

Windows PowerShell is included with the Windows operating system. However, we recommend installing the latest stable version of PowerShell 7 for use with Azure PowerShell. Follow these steps to determine which version of PowerShell is installed:

  1. In the System Tray Search Box, type PowerShell. You might see multiple shortcuts:

    • PowerShell 7 (x64): 64-bit version of PowerShell 7 (recommended).
    • Windows PowerShell: 64-bit version of Windows PowerShell, included with Windows.
    • Windows PowerShell (x86): 32-bit version of Windows PowerShell, included on 64-bit versions of Windows.
    • Windows PowerShell ISE: 64-bit Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) for writing Windows PowerShell scripts.
    • Windows PowerShell ISE (x86): 32-bit ISE, included on 64-bit versions of Windows.

    If PowerShell version 7 isn't installed, open Windows PowerShell and use Windows Package Manager (Winget) to install the latest stable version of PowerShell 7:

    winget install --id Microsoft.Powershell --source winget

    For detailed installation instructions, see Installing PowerShell on Windows.

  2. Determine the PowerShell version:

    To open PowerShell version 7, select the PowerShell 7 (x64) shortcut. Run the following command to check the version of PowerShell:

    $PSVersionTable.PSVersion

  3. Set the PowerShell execution policy:

    • Check the current execution policy:

      Get-ExecutionPolicy -List

    • If the execution policy is set to Restricted, change it to RemoteSigned or less restrictive:

      Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

    • Confirm the execution policy change:

      You're prompted to confirm the change:

      The execution policy helps protect you from scripts that you do not trust. Changing the
execution policy might expose you to the security risks described in the
about_Execution_Policies help topic at https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170. Do you
want to change the execution policy? [Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend
[?] Help (default is "N"): Y

      Enter Y or A, then press Enter.

Install PowerShell on Linux

Installing PowerShell on Linux involves using a package manager. The following instructions are for supported versions of Ubuntu. For other distributions, see Install PowerShell on Linux.

Install PowerShell on Ubuntu Linux using the Advanced Packaging Tool (apt) and the Bash command line:

  1. Update the list of packages

    sudo apt-get update

  2. Install prerequisite packages

    sudo apt-get install -y wget apt-transport-https software-properties-common

  3. Determine your version of Ubuntu

    source /etc/os-release

  4. Download the Microsoft repository keys

    wget -q https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/$VERSION_ID/packages-microsoft-prod.deb

  5. Register the Microsoft repository keys

    sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb

  6. Delete the Microsoft repository keys file

    rm packages-microsoft-prod.deb

  7. Update the list of packages after adding the Microsoft repository

    sudo apt-get update

  8. Install PowerShell

    sudo apt-get install -y powershell

  9. Start PowerShell

    pwsh

Install PowerShell on macOS

To install PowerShell on macOS, use the Homebrew package manager.

Important

If the brew command isn't found, you must install Homebrew. For details, see the Homebrew website.

Install Homebrew by running the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

  1. Once Homebrew is installed, install the latest stable release of PowerShell 7:

    brew install powershell/tap/powershell

  2. Start PowerShell to verify that it installed successfully:

    pwsh

For detailed installation instructions, see Installing PowerShell on macOS.

Install the Az PowerShell module

The Az PowerShell module is available from a global repository called the PowerShell Gallery. You can install the module on your local machine using the Install-Module cmdlet.

To install the latest version of the Az PowerShell module, follow these steps:

  1. Open PowerShell version 7

  2. Install the Az PowerShell Module:

    Install-Module -Name Az -Scope CurrentUser -Repository PSGallery

    This command installs the Az PowerShell module for your current user, which is controlled by the Scope parameter.

    • NuGet installation prompt:

      The installation relies on NuGet to retrieve components. You might be prompted to download and install the latest version of NuGet:

      NuGet provider is required to continue PowerShellGet requires NuGet provider version
'2.8.5.201' or newer to interact with NuGet-based repositories. The NuGet provider must be
available in 'C:\Program Files\PackageManagement\ProviderAssemblies' or
'C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\PackageManagement\ProviderAssemblies'. You can also install
the NuGet provider by running 'Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -MinimumVersion 2.8.5.201
-Force'. Do you want PowerShellGet to install and import the NuGet provider now? [Y] Yes [N] No
[S] Suspend [?] Help (default is "Y"):

      Enter Y and press Enter.

    • Untrusted repository prompt:

      By default, the PowerShell Gallery isn't configured as a trusted repository. You're prompted to confirm that you want to install the module from an untrusted repository:

      You are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. If you trust this repository,
change its InstallationPolicy value by running the Set-PSRepository cmdlet. Are you sure you
want to install the modules from 'PSGallery'? [Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S]
Suspend [?] Help (default is "N"):

      Enter Y or A, then press Enter.

    You should now see the Az PowerShell module installing.

The process for installing the Az PowerShell module on Linux and macOS is straightforward and uses the same commands.

  1. Launch PowerShell:

    • Open a terminal and run the following command:

      pwsh

  2. Install the Az PowerShell Module:

    • At the PowerShell prompt, enter the following command:

      Install-Module -Name Az -Scope CurrentUser -Repository PSGallery

    • Untrusted repository prompt:

      By default, the PowerShell Gallery isn't configured as a trusted repository. You're prompted to confirm that you want to install the module from an untrusted repository:

      You are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. If you trust this repository,
change its InstallationPolicy value by running the Set-PSRepository cmdlet. Are you sure you
want to install the modules from 'PSGallery'? [Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S]
Suspend [?] Help (default is "N"):

      Enter Y or A, then press Enter.

    You should see the Az PowerShell module installing.

This process enables you to use the full range of Azure-specific cmdlets available in the Az PowerShell module.