Microsoft finally bids farewell to PowerShell 2.0
(2025/07/04)
- Reference: 1751650088
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/04/microsoft_finally_bids_farewell_to/
- Source link:
Users still clinging on to PowerShell 2.0 just received notice to quit as the command-line tool is officially leaving Windows.
The confirmation came in a [1]Windows Insider update .
The move away from PowerShell 2.0 is a long time coming; Microsoft has for years encouraged users to move to later versions. Version 5.1 is preinstalled on most modern editions of Windows, and there is a newer, cross-platform version in the form of PowerShell 7.x.
[2]
However, version 2 lingered on in the name of backward compatibility, despite the fact it was [3]deprecated in 2017 .
[4]
[5]
PowerShell is a command line tool with a rich scripting language. Admins could use command.com to scratch that Command Line Interface (CLI) itch in the early days of Windows and MS-DOS, and Windows Script Host and a variety of command line interpreters were also available, but it wasn't until the debut of PowerShell that Windows administrators could properly flex their scripting muscles.
PowerShell 2.0 first arrived as a component in Windows 7 ("where it was not an optional feature", according to Microsoft). It was also shipped to other versions of Windows, including Windows Server 2008 and 2003, Vista, and even XP.
[6]
Even when later versions superseded it, PowerShell 2.0 remained as an optional side-by-side component.
[7]Microsoft 365 brings the shutters down on legacy protocols
[8]Crims defeat human intelligence with fake AI installers they poison with ransomware
[9]Microsoft is opening Windows Update to third-party apps
[10]Microsoft Copilot shows up even when it's not wanted
However, in 2017, Microsoft announced the application would be deprecated. Not removed, but no longer be actively developed. At the time, it noted some of the company's first-party products, such as some versions of SQL Server, still used PowerShell 2.0 "under the hood" and said "Windows PowerShell 2.0 will remain a part of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, and we have no plans to remove it until those dependencies are mitigated."
Many years and one pandemic later, PowerShell 2.0 has finally come to the end of the road, at least as far as Windows 11 is concerned. While it is removed from most current Insider Preview builds, Microsoft said, "More information will be shared in the coming months on the removal of Windows PowerShell 2.0 in an upcoming update for Windows 11.
PowerShell 2.0 has also long been deprecated for Windows Server, with administrators encouraged to move to a newer version. Microsoft has not yet provided a timeline for its removal from its server operating system. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/07/03/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-27891-canary-channel/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://devblogs.microsoft.com/powershell/windows-powershell-2-0-deprecation/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/19/the_microsoft_axeman_is_coming/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/30/fake_ai_installers_carry_ransomware/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/28/microsoft_update_backup/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/18/microsoft_copilot_not_wanted/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The confirmation came in a [1]Windows Insider update .
The move away from PowerShell 2.0 is a long time coming; Microsoft has for years encouraged users to move to later versions. Version 5.1 is preinstalled on most modern editions of Windows, and there is a newer, cross-platform version in the form of PowerShell 7.x.
[2]
However, version 2 lingered on in the name of backward compatibility, despite the fact it was [3]deprecated in 2017 .
[4]
[5]
PowerShell is a command line tool with a rich scripting language. Admins could use command.com to scratch that Command Line Interface (CLI) itch in the early days of Windows and MS-DOS, and Windows Script Host and a variety of command line interpreters were also available, but it wasn't until the debut of PowerShell that Windows administrators could properly flex their scripting muscles.
PowerShell 2.0 first arrived as a component in Windows 7 ("where it was not an optional feature", according to Microsoft). It was also shipped to other versions of Windows, including Windows Server 2008 and 2003, Vista, and even XP.
[6]
Even when later versions superseded it, PowerShell 2.0 remained as an optional side-by-side component.
[7]Microsoft 365 brings the shutters down on legacy protocols
[8]Crims defeat human intelligence with fake AI installers they poison with ransomware
[9]Microsoft is opening Windows Update to third-party apps
[10]Microsoft Copilot shows up even when it's not wanted
However, in 2017, Microsoft announced the application would be deprecated. Not removed, but no longer be actively developed. At the time, it noted some of the company's first-party products, such as some versions of SQL Server, still used PowerShell 2.0 "under the hood" and said "Windows PowerShell 2.0 will remain a part of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, and we have no plans to remove it until those dependencies are mitigated."
Many years and one pandemic later, PowerShell 2.0 has finally come to the end of the road, at least as far as Windows 11 is concerned. While it is removed from most current Insider Preview builds, Microsoft said, "More information will be shared in the coming months on the removal of Windows PowerShell 2.0 in an upcoming update for Windows 11.
PowerShell 2.0 has also long been deprecated for Windows Server, with administrators encouraged to move to a newer version. Microsoft has not yet provided a timeline for its removal from its server operating system. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/07/03/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-27891-canary-channel/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://devblogs.microsoft.com/powershell/windows-powershell-2-0-deprecation/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aGhO8m4bkI_utOSim0xOiAAAABU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/19/the_microsoft_axeman_is_coming/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/30/fake_ai_installers_carry_ransomware/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/28/microsoft_update_backup/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/18/microsoft_copilot_not_wanted/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Yes ...
Anonymous Coward
1000 times agree !!!
Powershell is a 'Good Idea' that has been expanded beyond its original 'idea' and as per usual with MS NOT fully completed before it has been upgraded etc.
What happened to creating software/tools that have documentation that is complete, up to date and comprehensive.
Don't spend money constantly changing it IF the documentation is NOT equally updated & complete.
As a tool for everyday use it is too verbose to use ... yes I know this does not matter if you are writing scripts (Write once, use many times).
Reminds me too much of how 'systemd' (cough spit) has grown too big & complicated !!!
:)
ecofeco
This.
Powershell is the most mixed up and convoluted mess of commands I've ever seen. When it works, it works well, BUT... The useful commands are deprecated continually and their replacements need a lot of reading and faffing to get working. Then when you are successful in getting that module operational, there's another command you need from a different PS version to get something else to work. Installing the later version borks your scripts that have been running smoothly because you have to log into the cloud now instead of on-prem.
Every time I install a new module I get the warning:
Untrusted repository
You are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. If you trust this repository,
change its InstallationPolicy value by running the Set-PSRepository cmdlet.
Are you sure you want to install the modules from 'PSGallery'?
So the thing MS is forcing down my throat to run our domain and production servers is not official and actually 'untrusted' by Microsoft? FFS...
The documentation is all over the place and full of out-of-date info. Consistency and Powershell are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
I've got Linux cron scripts that have been running unmodified for ten+ years. Night and frikking day.