Download PowerShell 7.2 preview 4 (Installation guide)

Microsoft has released PowerShell 7.2 Preview 4 on Github. If you are a geek and want to use the new functionality, you may install this update on your computer. But since it is a preview release, it should not be installed in a production environment.

Windows PowerShell is a powerful tool in a Windows environment that is used to perform daily tasks as well as automate them at an advanced level. This release is based on .NET 5, however, Microsoft claims that the stable release will be based on .NET 6.

The exact release date of PowerShell 7.2 Preview 4 is March 16th, 2021.

Download PowerShell 7.2.0 Preview 4

For Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7

PowerShell-7.2.0-Preview4-win-x64.msi [96.2 MB]

PowerShell-7.2.0-Preview4-win-x86.msi [87.2 MB]

For MacOS

powershell-7.2.0-Preview4-osx-x64.pkg [61.7 MB]

For Linux

CentOS

powershell-7.2.0-Preview4-1.centos.8.x86_64.rpm [63.2 MB]

Debian

powershell_7.2.0-Preview4-1.debian.11_amd64.deb [63.6 MB]

powershell_7.2.0-Preview4-1.debian.10_amd64.deb [63.6 MB]

powershell_7.2.0-Preview4-1.debian.9_amd64.deb [63.6 MB]

Ubuntu

powershell_7.2.0-Preview4-1.ubuntu.20.04_amd64.deb [63.6 MB]

powershell_7.2.0-Preview4-1.ubuntu.18.04_amd64.deb [63.6 MB]

powershell_7.2.0-Preview4-1.ubuntu.16.04_amd64.deb [63.6 MB]

For more download options, please checkout this download page.

Fixes and improvements

Let us see what new has been incorporated into this preview update and what has been fixed:

• The behavior for Get-Date -UFormat %G and %g has been fixed.
• Updates have been made to the engine:
  • Engine script signature validation has been updated to match Get-AuthenticodeSignature logic.
  • Array allocations have been avoided from GetDirectories and GetFiles.
• UseOSCIndicator settings can be added to enable the progress indicator in the terminal.
• Running the command ConsoleHost will re-enable the TV mode on Windows.
• Move-Item for FileSystemProvider has been fixed to use copy-delete as opposed to moving for DFS paths.
• PromptForCredential() has been fixed to be added targetName as a domain.
• Concise ErrorView has been updated to now show line information for errors from script module functions.
• The 32,767 character limit has been removed on the environment block for Start-Process.
• No longer writing possible secrets to verbose stream for web cmdlets

How to install PowerShell 7.2 Preview 4

Use the guide provided to download and install PowerShell 7.2 Preview 4 on Windows 10, 8.1, and 7.

1. Download the respective .MSI file from the links provided above.
2. Execute the downloaded package. In the installation wizard, click Next.
   
3. On the next screen, choose the destination path to save the new installation and then click Next.
   
4. Now select the optional features you wish to install by checking the boxes next to them. You can add PowerShell to the environment variables, enable PowerShell remoting, add PowerShell to the context menu, etc. Click Next when done.
   
5. Click Install to begin the process.
   
6. The installation should be completed in less than a minute. Click on Finish when it is. You may also check the box next to Launch PowerShell to do so before hitting Finish.
   
7. Now verify that the installation has been completed by typing in pwsh in Run. You will then see a version of PowerShell running.
   

You may also download the latest stable release of PowerShell by running the following command in the existing PowerShell on your Windows:

iex "& { $(irm https://aka.ms/install-powershell.ps1) } -UseMSI -Quiet"

You can also download and install PowerShell over the network. This method is best suited for sysadmins.

Closing words

Since this is still a preview update, we recommend that you do not install it in a production environment unless you absolutely want the new features. However, if you love automation and other PowerShell tools, you should definitely try this preview build on a test computer or a virtual machine.