Visual Studio 2019 CE doesn't have default Powershell tools, it means you can't create powershell projects. You need to install 'PowerShell tools for Visual Studio' from 'Visual Studio Marketplace'. Goto Visual Studio = Extension. Integrated Terminal. In Visual Studio Code, you can open an integrated terminal, initially starting at the root of your workspace. This can be convenient as you don't have to switch windows or alter the state of an existing terminal to perform a quick command-line task. I find this a very useful customization to Visual Studio to run project specific tasks from PowerShell while developing. For example I have PowerShell.ps1 scripts in a Tasks or Deployment solution folders that do things like: Refresh nuget packages because I use nuget without committing packages (Update: Nuget.org have finally fixed this!). The key to opening PowerShell Core and PowerShell for Windows side by side is the Shell Launcher Visual Studio Code extension. Shell Launcher allows you to configure multiple shells within Visual Studio Code. Install the extension by clicking on the Visual Studio Code extensions button and searching the market place for shell launcher.

• Visual Studio Powershell Window
• Visual Studio Powershell Project
• Visual Studio Powershell Edit
• Visual Studio Powershell Terminal

Visual Studio Code is a cross-platform script editor by Microsoft. Together with thePowerShell extension, it provides a rich and interactive script editing experience, makingit easier to write reliable PowerShell scripts. Visual Studio Code with the PowerShell extension isthe recommended editor for writing PowerShell scripts.

It supports the following PowerShell versions:

• PowerShell 7 and up (Windows, macOS, and Linux)
• PowerShell Core 6 (Windows, macOS, and Linux)
• Windows PowerShell 5.1 (Windows-only)

Note

Visual Studio Code is not the same as Visual Studio.

Getting started

Before you begin, make sure PowerShell exists on your system. For modern workloads on Windows,macOS, and Linux, see the following links:

For traditional Windows PowerShell workloads, see Installing Windows PowerShell.

Important

The Windows PowerShell ISE is still available for Windows. However, it is no longer inactive feature development. The ISE does not work with PowerShell 6 and higher. As a component ofWindows, it continues to be officially supported for security and high-priority servicing fixes.We have no plans to remove the ISE from Windows.

Editing with Visual Studio Code

1. Install Visual Studio Code. For more information, see the overviewSetting up Visual Studio Code.

   There are installation instructions for each platform:

   • Windows: follow the installation instructions on theRunning Visual Studio Code on Windows page.
   • macOS: follow the installation instructions on theRunning Visual Studio Code on macOS page.
   • Linux: follow the installation instructions on theRunning Visual Studio Code on Linux page.

2. Install the PowerShell Extension.

   1. Launch the Visual Studio Code app by typing code in a console or code-insidersif you installed Visual Studio Code Insiders.

   2. Launch Quick Open on Windows or Linux by pressing Ctrl+P. On macOS,press Cmd+P.

   3. In Quick Open, type ext install powershell and press Enter.

   4. The Extensions view opens on the Side Bar. Select the PowerShell extension from Microsoft.You should see a Visual Studio Code screen similar to the following image:

   5. Click the Install button on the PowerShell extension from Microsoft.

   6. After the install, if you see the Install button turn into Reload, Click on Reload.

   7. After Visual Studio Code has reloaded, you're ready for editing.

For example, to create a new file, click File > New. To save it, click File > Save and thenprovide a file name, such as HelloWorld.ps1. To close the file, click the X next to the filename. To exit Visual Studio Code, File > Exit.

Installing the PowerShell Extension on Restricted Systems

Some systems are set up to require validation of all code signatures. You may receive the followingerror:

This problem can occur when PowerShell's execution policy is set by Windows Group Policy. Tomanually approve PowerShell Editor Services and the PowerShell extension for Visual Studio Code,open a PowerShell prompt and run the following command:

You're prompted with Do you want to run software from this untrusted publisher? Type A to runthe file. Then, open Visual Studio Code and check that the PowerShell extension is functioningproperly. If you still have problems getting started, let us know on GitHub issues.

Note

The PowerShell extension for Visual Studio Code does not support running in constrained languagemode. For more information, see GitHub issue #606.

Choosing a version of PowerShell to use with the extension

With PowerShell Core installing side-by-side with Windows PowerShell, it's now possible to use aspecific version of PowerShell with the PowerShell extension. This feature looks at a few well-knownpaths on different operating systems to discover installations of PowerShell.

Use the following steps to choose the version:

1. Open the Command Palette on Windows or Linux withCtrl+Shift+P. On macOS, useCmd+Shift+P.
2. Search for Session.
3. Click on PowerShell: Show Session Menu.
4. Choose the version of PowerShell you want to use from the list, for example: PowerShell Core.

If you installed PowerShell to a non-typical location, it might not show up initially in the SessionMenu. You can extend the session menu by adding your own custom pathsas described below.

Note

The PowerShell session menu can also be accessed from the green version number in the bottom rightcorner of status bar. Clicking this version number opens the session menu.

Configuration settings for Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Powershell Window

First, if you're not familiar with how to change settings in Visual Studio Code, we recommendreading Visual Studio Code's settings documentation.

After reading the documentation, you can add configuration settings in settings.json.

If you don't want these settings to affect all files types, Visual Studio Code also allowsper-language configurations. Create a language-specific setting by putting settings in a[<language-name>] field. For example:

Tip

For more information about file encoding in Visual Studio Code, see Understanding file encoding.

Also, check out How to replicate the ISE experience in Visual Studio Code for othertips on how to configure Visual Studio Code for PowerShell editing.

Adding your own PowerShell paths to the session menu

You can add other PowerShell executable paths to the session menu through theVisual Studio Code setting:powershell.powerShellAdditionalExePaths.

Add an item to the list powershell.powerShellAdditionalExePaths or create the list if it doesn'texist in your settings.json:

Each item must have:

• exePath: The path to the pwsh or powershell executable.
• versionName: The text that will show up in the session menu.

To set the default PowerShell version, set the value powershell.powerShellDefaultVersion to thetext displayed in the session menu (also known as the versionName):

After you've configured this setting, restart Visual Studio Code or to reload the current VisualStudio Code window from the Command Palette, type Developer: Reload Window.

If you open the session menu, you now see your additional PowerShell versions!

Note

If you build PowerShell from source, this is a great way to test out your local build ofPowerShell.

Using an older version of the PowerShell Extension for Windows PowerShell v3 and v4

The current PowerShell extension doesn't support PowerShell v3 and v4. However, you canuse the last version of the extension that supports PowerShell v3 and v4.

Caution

There will be no additional fixes to this older version of the extension. It's provided 'AS IS'but is available for you if you are still using Windows PowerShell v3 and Windows PowerShell v4.

First, open the Extension pane and search for PowerShell. Then click the gear and selectInstall another version....

Then select the 2020.1.0 version. This version of the extension was the last version tosupport v3 and v4. Be sure to add the following setting so that your extension version doesn'tupdate automatically:

Version 2020.1.0 will work for the foreseeable future. However, Visual Studio Code couldimplement a change that breaks this version of the extension. Because of this, and lack of support,we recommend:

• Upgrading to Windows PowerShell 5.1
• Install PowerShell 7, which is a side-by-side install to Windows PowerShell and works thebest with the PowerShell extension

Debugging with Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Powershell Project

No-workspace debugging

In Visual Studio Code version 1.9 (or higher), you can debug PowerShell scripts without opening thefolder that contains the PowerShell script.

1. Open the PowerShell script file with File > Open File...
2. Set a breakpoint - select a line then press F9
3. Press F5 to start debugging

You should see the Debug actions pane appear which allows you to break into the debugger,step, resume, and stop debugging.

Visual Studio Powershell Edit

Workspace debugging

Workspace debugging refers to debugging in the context of a folder that you've opened from theFile menu using Open Folder.... The folder you open is typically your PowerShell projectfolder or the root of your Git repository. Workspace debugging allows you to define multiple debugconfigurations other than just debugging the currently open file.

Follow these steps to create a debug configuration file:

1. Open the Debug view on Windows or Linux by pressingCtrl+Shift+D. On macOS, pressCmd+Shift+D.

2. Click the create a launch.json file link.

3. From the Select Environment prompt, choose PowerShell.

4. Choose the type of debugging you'd like to use:

   • Launch Current File - Launch and debug the file in the currently active editor window
   • Launch Script - Launch and debug the specified file or command
   • Interactive Session - Debug commands executed from the Integrated Console
   • Attach - Attach the debugger to a running PowerShell Host Process

Visual Studio Powershell Terminal

Visual Studio Code creates a directory and a file .vscodelaunch.json in the root of yourworkspace folder to store the debug configuration. If your files are in a Git repository, youtypically want to commit the launch.json file. The contents of the launch.json file are:

This file represents the common debug scenarios. When you open this file in the editor, you see anAdd Configuration... button. You can click this button to add more PowerShell debugconfigurations. One useful configuration to add is PowerShell: Launch Script. With thisconfiguration, you can specify a file containing optional arguments that are used whenever youpress F5 no matter which file is active in the editor.

After the debug configuration is established, you can select which configuration you want to useduring a debug session. Select a configuration from the debug configuration drop-down in theDebug view's toolbar.

Troubleshooting the PowerShell extension for Visual Studio Code

If you experience any issues using Visual Studio Code for PowerShell script development, see thetroubleshooting guide on GitHub.

Useful resources

There are a few videos and blog posts that may be helpful to get you started using the PowerShellextension for Visual Studio Code:

Videos

Blog posts

PowerShell extension project source code

The PowerShell extension's source code can be found on GitHub.

If you're interested in contributing, Pull Requests are greatly appreciated. Follow along with thedeveloper documentation on GitHub to get started.