Modules

A module is a package of commands. Import-Module loads one, Get-Module shows what is loaded, and Get-Module -ListAvailable shows what is installed and could be loaded.

Lesson 2 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated 02 October 2026

Overview

Auto-loading means you rarely call Import-Module by hand. Use a command from an installed module and PowerShell loads the module for you. You still need Import-Module when the module is somewhere unusual, when you want a specific version with -RequiredVersion, or when you need to force a reload.

Installing comes from the gallery: Install-Module Pester -Scope CurrentUser. Use -Scope CurrentUser unless you deliberately want the module available to every account on the machine, because the machine-wide path needs administrator rights.

The two editions have separate module paths, which explains a common confusion. A module installed under Windows PowerShell 5.1 does not automatically appear in PowerShell 7. Check $env:PSModulePath in the edition that cannot see it.

What happens

-ListAvailable widens the search from loaded modules to every module on the module path. Sorting by name makes the list readable and Select-Object trims it to six rows and three columns. ModuleType tells you how each one is implemented: Manifest, Script or Binary.

Worth remembering

Get-Module shows loaded. -ListAvailable shows installed.
Auto-loading means Import-Module is usually optional.
Install with -Scope CurrentUser to avoid needing admin rights.
5.1 and 7 have separate module paths.

Primary documentation

Select-Object reference · Sort-Object reference

Try it

Browser simulation · fictional data; no changes to your computer.

Command

Interactive simulation · fictional data

Lists six installed modules with their versions and types.

Show reference output

Browser dataset output · the real environment will differ

Name                             Version  ModuleType
-------------------------------  -------  ----------
ActiveDirectory                  1.0.1.0  Manifest  
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management  7.0.0.0  Manifest  
Pester                           5.6.1    Script

Practise this

Choose a task

Import the testing module

Import Pester, then display the Pester module record.

Review the lesson

Keep going

Next: Objects versus text