5 Quick Ways to Fix Powershell Not Working

Powershell not working is one of the most common issues with the command line tool. If you’re dealing with this problem, follow the steps below. We figured out a few ways to get rid of this error.

Just follow the easy steps below:

What can I do if PowerShell has stopped working?

1. Disable and re-enable Windows PowerShell

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, enter appwiz.cpl in the text field, and click OK.
2. From the left panel of the main window, click on Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Scroll down, locate the Windows PowerShell entry, uncheck the option and then click OK.
4. Restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.
5. Once the PC turns on, head back to the Windows Features window, tick the checkbox for Windows PowerShell, and click OK to re-enable it.
6. Wait for it to install.

After re-enabling the feature, check if the Windows Powershell stopped working issue is resolved.

2. Check your antivirus

2.1. Perform a full system scan

1. Open Windows Defender or your third-party antivirus.
2. Perform a full system scan.
3. Locate and remove any suspicious files or apps.

Chances are you got infected with Poweliks, a malware that interferes with PowerShell. The file associated with this virus are dllhost.exe *32 or dllhst3g.exe *32 and can usually be stopped from Task Manager.

2.2. Temporarily disable your antivirus

It’s also possible that your antivirus is overzealous and tries to stop apps and processes that aren’t harmful.

That could be the case with Powershell. To test if this is true, disable your antivirus, and try opening Powershell again. If that’s the case, consider adjusting antivirus settings or upgrading to a better antivirus.

3. Perform a clean boot

1. Press the Windows + R to open the Run command, type msconfig, and click OK.
2. From System Configuration, go to the General tab, and uncheck the Load startup items field under Selective startup.
3. Next, switch to the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox and afterward click on Disable all.
4. Now, switch to the Startup tab and click on the Open Task Manager link.
5. Select the programs listed here individually and click on Disable at the bottom.
6. Now, head back to the System Configuration window, and click on OK.
7. Click Restart in the prompt that appears.

By initiating a clean boot, you can see if a software conflict is causing Windows PowerShell malfunctions. In this way, you can start the Windows 10 system only with default features.

If the Windows PowerShell has stopped working error is not displayed after the clean boot is performed it means that there is a software conflict, so you need to remove the program responsible for this issue.

4. Create a new Microsoft account

Tip

Remember to back up your data before completing this process. You might have to import your personal files and app under the new account.

1. Press Windows + I to launch Settings, select Accounts from the navigation pane, and then click on Family & other users.
2. Click the Add account button next to Add other user.
3. Provide the required information and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Your account might be corrupted (due to various reasons), and that’s why you still get the Windows PowerShell has stopped working error. So, try to create a new account, and the problem should be fixed.

5. Reset PowerShell to default

1. Press Windows + E to launch File Explorer, paste the following path in the address bar while replacing Username with the one on your device, and hit Enter:C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows PowerShell
2. Now, select the Windows PowerShell entry, and hit the Del key to delete it. Choose the appropriate response in case a confirmation prompt show up.
3. Now, create a new user account on the same computer, head down the same path, and copy the PowerShell shortcut to a USB drive.
4. Next, go back to the initial account, navigate to the Windows PowerShell folder, and paste the PowerShell shortcut here.

That’s it! PowerShell has now been reset to the factory settings, and any changes made will automatically be removed.

Why is Powershell not working?

Windows PowerShell may not open due to corrupted system files, conflicting third-party apps, or if it’s accidentally disabled. Many users find that clicking “Run as administrator” does nothing, often due to system corruption.

This can also affect Command Prompt, and you might see the “PowerShell is not recognized” error.

Wrapping up

Hopefully, the error message is gone now. If you have questions about the troubleshooting solutions from above, contact our team. You can get in touch with us by using the comments field below.

Also, if you come across other solutions to fix this error, list the troubleshooting steps in the comments, and we’ll update this guide accordingly.