PowerShell Genie

Set-Location

Use Set-Location to change the current working directory, on any drive a provider exposes.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — Set-Location

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated

Syntax

1PS> Set-Location [[-Path] <string>] [-PassThru] [-StackName <String>] [<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.

Set-Location [[-Path] <string>] [-PassThru] [-StackName <String>] [<CommonParameters>]
  1. Stage 1Set-Location-Path -PassThru -StackName

    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

    Set-Location -PassThru

    1PS> Set-Location 'C:\Scripts' -PassThru
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Path
----
C:\Scripts

    Change with Set-Location

    1PS> Set-Location 'C:\Temp'; Get-Location
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Path
----
C:\Temp

    Change with Set-Location (2)

    1PS> Set-Location HKLM:\Software # providers make the registry a drive
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    Path
----
C:\Scripts

    Parameters

    Parameter definitions:

    • -Path
    • -PassThru
    • -StackName

    Set-Location on Microsoft Learn

    Practical use and troubleshooting

    Practical scenario: Use Set-Location when you need to change the current working directory, on any drive a provider exposes. 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: A path-not-found error can refer to an unavailable drive or provider. Check Get-PSDrive and Test-Path, then use an existing destination appropriate to the intended provider. 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: Get-Location. Get-Location reports the current provider location; Set-Location changes it. A script that reads relative paths depends on that location unless it supplies a full path. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

    Set-Location reference on Microsoft Learn

    Put this command to work

    Navigate into the report directory

    Create C:\Lab\Reports and make it the working directory.

    Review the lesson

    Recap

    Set-Location Use Set-Location to change the current working directory, on any drive a provider exposes.

    Next: Get-Location
    Genie guideSet-Location

    Use Set-Location to change the current working directory, on any drive a provider exposes. The console below is pre-loaded — run it, then change a value and run it again.

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