PSReadLine module: setup and commands

Module 2 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated 02 October 2026

Configure command history, prediction, completion and key handlers with PSReadLine while checking host support and avoiding shared-history surprises.

Getting it

Bundled with PowerShell 5.1 and later. Move to the current release with Install-PSResource -Name PSReadLine.

Examples

1PS> Get-PSReadLineOption

Show reference output

1 C:\Users\demo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\PSReadLine\ConsoleHost_history.txt

1PS> Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler

Show reference output

1 Key Function Description

2 --- -------- -----------

3 Ctrl+c CopyOrCancelLine Copy selected text or cancel line

4 Ctrl+r ReverseSearchHistory Search command history backward

5 Tab MenuComplete Complete the current token

What it is for

Configure it when interactive work fills a large part of your day, particularly history search and key bindings. It matters for security reviews too, because it writes a plain text history file that can capture whatever was typed at the prompt.

Typical tasks

Search history with a partial command
Rebind keys to an editing style you prefer
Turn on predictive suggestions from history
Change how the prompt colors errors
Relocate or shorten the history save file
Stop sensitive commands from being recorded

Check the installed version

1PS> Get-Module -ListAvailable PSReadLine | Select-Object Name, Version, Path

2PS> Get-Command -Module PSReadLine

Compare the module path and version with the session used by your scheduled task or automation account. Configure it when interactive work fills a large part of your day, particularly history search and key bindings. It matters for security reviews too, because it writes a plain text history file that can capture whatever was typed at the prompt.

Primary documentation

PSReadLine documentation

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