PowerShell says “execution of scripts is disabled on this system.”

Question

I am trying to run a cmd file that calls a PowerShell script from cmd.exe, but I am getting this error:

Management_Install.ps1 cannot be loaded because the execution of scripts is disabled on this system.

I ran this command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

When I run Get-ExecutionPolicy from PowerShell, it returns Unrestricted.

PS C:\Users\Administrator\> Get-ExecutionPolicy
Unrestricted

---

C:\Projects\Microsoft.Practices.ESB\Source\Samples\Management Portal\Install\Scripts> powershell .\Management_Install.ps1 1

WARNING: Running x86 PowerShell...

File C:\Projects\Microsoft.Practices.ESB\Source\Samples\Management Portal\Install\Scripts\Management_Install.ps1 cannot be loaded because the execution of scripts is disabled on this system. Please see "get-help about_signing" for more details.

At line:1 char:25

• .\Management_Install.ps1 <<<< 1

  • CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], PSSecurityException

  • FullyQualifiedErrorId : RuntimeException

C:\Projects\Microsoft.Practices.ESB\Source\Samples\Management Portal\Install\Scripts> PAUSE

Press any key to continue . . .

---

The system is Windows Server 2008R2.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

If you're using Windows Server 2008 R2 then there is an x64 and x86 version of PowerShell both of which have to have their execution policies set. Did you set the execution policy on both hosts?

As an Administrator, you can set the execution policy by typing this into your PowerShell window:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

For more information, see Using the Set-ExecutionPolicy Cmdlet.

When you are done, you can set the policy back to its default value with:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted

You may see an error:

Access to the registry key
'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PowerShell\1\ShellIds\Microsoft.PowerShell' is denied. 
To change the execution policy for the default (LocalMachine) scope, 
  start Windows PowerShell with the "Run as administrator" option. 
To change the execution policy for the current user, 
  run "Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser".

So you may need to run the command like this (as seen in comments):

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Answer 2

You can bypass this policy for a single file by adding -ExecutionPolicy Bypass when running PowerShell

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File script.ps1

Answer 3

I had a similar issue and noted that the default cmd on Windows Server 2012, was running the x64 one.

For Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2012, run the following commands as Administrator:

x86 (32 bit)
Open C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe
Run the command powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

x64 (64 bit)
Open C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
Run the command powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

You can check mode using

• In CMD: echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%
• In Powershell: [Environment]::Is64BitProcess

References:
MSDN - Windows PowerShell execution policies
Windows - 32bit vs 64bit directory explanation

Answer 4

Most of the existing answers explain the How, but very few explain the Why. And before you go around executing code from strangers on the Internet, especially code that disables security measures, you should understand exactly what you're doing. So here's a little more detail on this problem.

From the TechNet About Execution Policies Page:

Windows PowerShell execution policies let you determine the conditions under which Windows PowerShell loads configuration files and runs scripts.

The benefits of which, as enumerated by PowerShell Basics - Execution Policy and Code Signing, are:

• Control of Execution - Control the level of trust for executing scripts.
• Command Highjack - Prevent injection of commands in my path.
• Identity - Is the script created and signed by a developer I trust and/or a signed with a certificate from a Certificate Authority I trust.
• Integrity - Scripts cannot be modified by malware or malicious user.

To check your current execution policy, you can run Get-ExecutionPolicy. But you're probably here because you want to change it.

To do so you'll run the Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet.

You'll have two major decisions to make when updating the execution policy.

Execution Policy Type:

• Restricted^† - No Script either local, remote or downloaded can be executed on the system.
• AllSigned - All script that are ran require to be digitally signed.
• RemoteSigned - All remote scripts (UNC) or downloaded need to be signed.
• Unrestricted - No signature for any type of script is required.

Scope of new Change

• LocalMachine^† - The execution policy affects all users of the computer.
• CurrentUser - The execution policy affects only the current user.
• Process - The execution policy affects only the current Windows PowerShell process.

^{† = Default}

For example: if you wanted to change the policy to RemoteSigned for just the CurrentUser, you'd run the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Note: In order to change the Execution policy, you must be running PowerShell As Adminstrator. If you are in regular mode and try to change the execution policy, you'll get the following error:

Access to the registry key 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PowerShell\1\ShellIds\Microsoft.PowerShell' is denied. To change the execution policy for the default (LocalMachine) scope, start Windows PowerShell with the "Run as administrator" option.

If you want to tighten up the internal restrictions on your own scripts that have not been downloaded from the Internet (or at least don't contain the UNC metadata), you can force the policy to only run signed sripts. To sign your own scripts, you can follow the instructions on Scott Hanselman's article on Signing PowerShell Scripts.

Note: Most people are likely to get this error whenever they open Powershell because the first thing PS tries to do when it launches is execute your user profile script that sets up your environment however you like it.

The file is typically located in:

%UserProfile%\My Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShellISE_profile.ps1

You can find the exact location by running the powershell variable

$profile

If there's nothing that you care about in the profile, and don't want to fuss with your security settings, you can just delete it and powershell won't find anything that it cannot execute.

Answer 5

In Windows 7:

Go to Start Menu and search for "Windows PowerShell ISE".

Right click the x86 version and choose "Run as administrator".

In the top part, paste Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned; run the script. Choose "Yes".

Repeat these steps for the 64-bit version of Powershell ISE too (the non x86 version).

I'm just clarifying the steps that @Chad Miller hinted at. Thanks Chad!

Answer 6

Also running this command before the script also solves the issue:

set-executionpolicy unrestricted

Answer 7

If you are in an environment where you are not an administrator, you can set the Execution Policy just for you, and it will not require administrator.

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned"

or

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "Unrestricted"

You can read all about it in the help entry.

Help Get-ExecutionPolicy -Full
Help Set-ExecutionPolicy -Full

Answer 8

RemoteSigned: all scripts you created yourself will be run, and all scripts downloaded from the Internet will need to be signed by a trusted publisher.

OK, change the policy by simply typing:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Answer 9

We can get the status of current ExecutionPolicy by the command below:

Get-ExecutionPolicy;

By default it is Restricted. To allow the execution of PowerShell scripts we need to set this ExecutionPolicy either as Bypass or Unrestricted.

We can set the policy for Current User as Bypass or Unrestricted by using any of the below PowerShell commands:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force;

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force;

Unrestricted policy loads all configuration files and runs all scripts. If you run an unsigned script that was downloaded from the Internet, you are prompted for permission before it runs.

Whereas in Bypass policy, nothing is blocked and there are no warnings or prompts during script execution. Bypass ExecutionPolicy is more relaxed than Unrestricted.

Answer 10

I'm using Windows 10 and was unable to run any command. The only command that gave me some clues was this:

[x64]

1. Open C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe [as administrator]
2. Run the command> powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

But this didn't work. It was limited. Probably new security policies for Windows10. I had this error:

Set-ExecutionPolicy: Windows PowerShell updated your execution policy successfully, but the setting is overridden by a policy defined at a more specific scope. Due to the override, your shell will retain its current effective execution policy of...

So I found another way (solution):

1. Open Run Command/Console (Win + R)
2. Type: gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor)
3. Browse to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Powershell.
4. Enable "Turn on Script Execution"
5. Set the policy as needed. I set mine to "Allow all scripts".

Now open PowerShell and enjoy ;)

Answer 11

1. Open powershell as administration

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned"

use this command

Answer 12

Win + R and type copy paste command and press OK:

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned"

And execute your script.

Then revert changes like:

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope "CurrentUser" -ExecutionPolicy "AllSigned"

Answer 13

you may try this and select "All" Option

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Answer 14

Setting the execution policy is environment-specific. If you are trying to execute a script from the running x86 ISE you have to use the x86 PowerShell to set the execution policy. Likewise, if you are running the 64-bit ISE you have to set the policy with the 64-bit PowerShell.

Answer 15

You can also bypass this by using the following command:

PS > powershell Get-Content .\test.ps1 | Invoke-Expression

You can also read this article by Scott Sutherland that explains 15 different ways to bypass the PowerShell Set-ExecutionPolicy if you don't have administrator privileges:

15 Ways to Bypass the PowerShell Execution Policy

Answer 16

1. Open Run Command/Console ( Win + R ) Type: gpedit. msc (Group Policy Editor)
2. Browse to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Powershell.
3. Enable "Turn on Script Execution" Set the policy as needed. I set mine to "Allow all scripts".

Now run the run command what ever you are using.. Trust this the app will runs.. Enjoy :)

Answer 17

I have also faced similar issue try this hope it helps someone As I'm using windows so followed the steps as given below Open command prompt as an administrator and then go to this path

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\npm\

Look for the file ng.ps1 in this folder (dir) and then delete it (del ng.ps1)

You can also clear npm cache after this though it should work without this step as well. Hope it helps as it worked for me.

Hope it helps

Answer 18

In the PowerShell ISE editor I found running the following line first allowed scripts.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process

Answer 19

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser
2. Provide RemoteSigned and press Enter
3. Run Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser
4. Provide Unrestricted and press Enter

Answer 20

This solved my issue

Open Windows PowerShell Command and run below query to change ExecutionPolicy

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

if it ask for confirm changes press 'Y' and hit enter.

Answer 21

I get another warning when I tryit to run Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

I solved with this commands

Set-ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned" -Scope Process -Confirm:$false

Set-ExecutionPolicy "RemoteSigned" -Scope CurrentUser -Confirm:$false

Answer 22

Open the Powershell console as an administrator, and then set the execution policy

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Remotesigned 

Answer 23

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Executing this command in administrator mode in powershell will solve the problem.

Answer 24

In PowerShell 2.0, the execution policy was set to disabled by default.

From then on, the PowerShell team has made a lot of improvements, and they are confident that users will not break things much while running scripts. So from PowerShell 4.0 onward, it is enabled by default.

In your case, type Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned from the PowerShell console and say yes.

Answer 25

I had the same problem today. 64-bit execution policy was unrestricted, while 32-bit was restricted.

Here's how to change just the 32-bit policy remotely:

Invoke-Command -ComputerName $servername -ConfigurationName Microsoft.PowerShell32 -scriptblock {Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted}

Answer 26

Go to the registry path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PowerShell\1\ShellIds\Microsoft.PowerShell and set ExecutionPolicy to RemoteSigned.

Answer 27

If you're here because of running it with Ruby or Chef and using `` system execution, execute as follows:

`powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -command [Environment]::GetFolderPath(\'mydocuments\')`

That command is for getting "MyDocuments" Folder.

-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted does the trick.

I hope it's helpful for someone else.

Answer 28

Several answers point to execution policy. However some things require "runas administrator" also. This is safest in that there is no permanent change to execution policy, and can get past administrator restriction. Use with schedtask to start a batch with:

    runas.exe /savecred /user:administrator powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -File script.ps1

from both Jack Edmonds above, and Peter Mortensen / Dhana of post How to run an application as "run as administrator" from the command prompt?

Answer 29

I found this line worked best for one of my Windows Server 2008 R2 servers. A couple of others had no issues without this line in my PowerShell scripts:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Force -Scope Process

Answer 30

You can use a special way to bypass it:

Get-Content "PS1scriptfullpath.ps1" | Powershell-NoProfile -

It pipes the content of powershell script to powershell.exe and executes it bypassing the execution policy.