PowerShell Genie

Format-List

Use Format-List to render each object as a vertical list of property names and values.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — Format-List

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated

Syntax

1PS> Format-List [[-Property] <object[]>] [-GroupBy <Object>] [<CommonParameters>]
See the command anatomy

Read the command and its supplied arguments. This example requires real PowerShell or its module; this diagram does not execute it.

Format-List [[-Property] <object[]>] [-GroupBy <Object>] [<CommonParameters>]
  1. Stage 1Format-List-Property -GroupBy

    Try it

    Windows PowerShell

    PowerShell example · browser support is limited.

    Execution scope: The full example below requires PowerShell outside this browser. You can edit this runner to use the supported practice commands; unsupported syntax returns an explanation.

    Interactive simulation · fictional data

    Examples

    Get-Service -Name Spooler

    1PS> Get-Service -Name Spooler | Format-List *
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Name        : Spooler
DisplayName : Print Spooler
Status      : Running
StartType   : Automatic

    Select first 1

    1PS> Get-Process | Select-Object -First 1 | Format-List Name, Id, Path
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Name : pwsh
Id   : 9184
Path : C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe

    Select first 4

    1PS> Get-Service | Select-Object -First 4 | Format-List Name, Status
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Name   : BITS
Status : Running

Name   : Spooler
Status : Stopped

    Parameters

    Parameter definitions:

    • -Property
    • -GroupBy

    Format-List on Microsoft Learn

    Practical use and troubleshooting

    Practical scenario: Use Format-List when you need to render each object as a vertical list of property names and values. Review syntax and sample output, then try an example in the browser lab. Start with one identified target and inspect the returned values before extending the operation to a list. Keep the identity in your report so you can trace each result back to the object or path that produced it.

    Common error and fix: Piping formatted output to Export-Csv produces formatting metadata. Export the unformatted objects and apply Format-List only at the end of a display-only pipeline. In an unattended script, capture this failure with its original error record and record which target failed. An empty result and an unsuccessful query must remain distinguishable in the final report.

    See also: Format-Table. Format-Table lays out columns; Format-List lays out properties vertically. Both create formatting instructions rather than the original objects needed by filtering and structured export. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

    Format-List reference on Microsoft Learn

    Recap

    Format-List Use Format-List to render each object as a vertical list of property names and values.

    Next: Format-Table
    Genie guideFormat-List

    Use Format-List to render each object as a vertical list of property names and values. The console below is pre-loaded — run it, then change a value and run it again.

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