.PS1 File Extension

Windows PowerShell Cmdlet File

Developer Microsoft
Popularity
3.9  |  48 Votes
 

What is a PS1 file?

A PS1 file is a script, or "cmdlet," used by Windows PowerShell, a Windows shell program built on Microsoft's .NET Framework. It contains a series of commands written in the PowerShell scripting language. PS1 files are similar to .BAT and .CMD files, except that they are executed in Windows PowerShell instead of the Windows CMD.EXE and COMMAND.COM programs.

More Information

Screenshot of a .ps1 file in Windows PowerShell
PS1 file open in Windows PowerShell

Cmdlets can be used to automate Windows tasks. For example, a cmdlet may rename a group of files to use a new file extension. Another cmdlet may examine the Windows registry and output results to a file. Cmdlets also support aliases, pipelines, and named and positional parameters for commands.

How to open a PS1 file

Because a PS1 file is a plain text file, you can open and view it using any text editor, including:

On Windows, you can open and execute PS1 scripts in Windows PowerShell. However, you should be careful when executing PS1 scripts, as they might contain commands that access and alter critical Windows operating system components. Do not execute a PS1 script unless you can verify its legitimacy and source.

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Programs that open PS1 files

Windows
Mac
Included with OS

Microsoft Indexing Service Data File

Developer Microsoft
Popularity
2.9  |  14 Votes
 

A PS1 file may also be a system file created by the Microsoft Windows Indexing Service feature, which creates an index of searchable file information. It is commonly created in the C:\​System Volume Information\​catalog.wci\​ directory and contains data that helps the operating system perform quicker searches.

Programs that open or reference PS1 files

Windows

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