Powershell Commands quick Reference and Purpose of each Command

Use Get-Help command to get an information about cmdlet.

One of the really nice features of Windows PowerShell is the fact that it includes a very extensive help system, which just happens to be incorporated right into the shell itself. Once you know the name of a cmdlet, you can get additional information on that cmdlet by calling the Get-Help cmdlet:

Reference from the Microsoft Press book Windows PowerShell 2.0 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant by William R. Stanek.

Add-BitsFile	Adds one or more files to an existing Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) transfer job.
Add-Computer	Adds the local computer to a domain or workgroup.
Add-Content	Adds content to the specified items, such as adding words to a file.
Add-History	Appends entries to the session history.
Add-Member	Adds a user-defined custom member to an instance of a Windows PowerShell object.
Add-PSSnapin	Adds one or more Windows PowerShell snap-ins to the current session.
Add-Type	Adds a Microsoft .NET Framework type (a class) to a Windows PowerShell session (PSSession).
Checkpoint-Computer	Creates a system restore point on the local computer.
Clear-Content	Deletes the contents of an item, such as deleting the text from a file, but does not delete the item.
Clear-EventLog	Deletes all entries from specified event logs on the local or remote computers.
Clear-History	Deletes entries from the command history.
Clear-Item	Deletes the contents of an item but does not delete the item.
Clear-ItemProperty	Deletes the value of a property but does not delete the property.
Clear-Variable	Deletes the value of a variable.
Compare-Object	Compares two sets of objects.
Complete-BitsTransfer	Completes a BITS transfer job.
Complete-Transaction	Commits the active transaction.
Connect-WSMan	Connects to the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) service on a remote computer.
ConvertFrom-CSV	Converts object properties in comma-separated value (CSV) format into CSV versions of the original objects.
ConvertFrom-SecureString	Converts a secure string into an encrypted standard string.
ConvertFrom-StringData	Converts a string containing one or more key/value pairs to a hash table.
Convert-Path	Converts a path from a Windows PowerShell path to a PowerShell provider path.
ConvertTo-CSV	Converts .NET Framework objects into a series of CSV variable-length strings.
ConvertTo-Html	Converts .NET Framework objects into HTML that can be displayed in a Web browser.
ConvertTo-SecureString	Converts encrypted standard strings to secure strings. It can also convert plain text to secure strings. It is used with ConvertFrom-SecureString and Read-Host.
ConvertTo-XML	Creates an XML-based representation of an object.
Copy-Item	Copies an item from one location to another within a namespace.
Copy-ItemProperty	Copies a property and value from a specified location to another location.
Debug-Process	Debugs one or more processes running on the local computer.
Disable-ComputerRestore	Disables the System Restore feature on the specified file system drive.
Disable-PSBreakpoint	Disables breakpoints in the current console.
Disable-PSSessionConfiguration	Denies access to the session configurations on the local computer.
Disable-WSManCredSSP	Disables Credential Security Service Provider (CredSSP) authentication on a client computer.
Disconnect-WSMan	Disconnects the client from the WinRM service on a remote computer.
Enable-ComputerRestore	Enables the System Restore feature on the specified file system drive.
Enable-PSBreakpoint	Enables breakpoints in the current console.
Enable-PSRemoting	Configures the computer to receive remote commands.
Enable-PSSessionConfiguration	Enables session configurations on the local computer.
Enable-WSManCredSSP	Enables CredSSP authentication on a client computer.
Enter-PSSession	Starts an interactive session with a remote computer.
Exit-PSSession	Ends an interactive session with a remote computer.
Export-Alias	Exports information about currently defined aliases to a file.
Export-Clixml	Creates an XML-based representation of an object or objects and stores it in a file.
Export-Console	Exports the names of snap-ins in the current session to a console file.
Export-Counter	Takes PerformanceCounterSampleSet objects and exports them as counter log files.
Export-CSV	Converts .NET Framework objects into a series of CSV variable-length strings and saves the strings in a CSV file.
Export-FormatData	Saves formatting data from the current session in a formatting file.
Export-ModuleMember	Specifies the module members that are exported.
Export-PSSession	Imports commands from another session and saves them in a Windows PowerShell module.
ForEach-Object	Performs an operation against each of a set of input objects.
Format-Custom	Uses a customized view to format the output.
Format-List	Formats the output as a list of properties in which each property appears on a new line.
Format-Table	Formats the output as a table.
Format-Wide	Formats objects as a wide table that displays only one property of each object.
Get-Acl	Gets the security descriptor for a resource, such as a file or registry key.
Get-Alias	Gets the aliases for the current session.
Get-AppLockerFileInformation	Gets the AppLocker file information from a list of files or an event log.
Get-AppLockerPolicy	Gets the local, effective, or domain AppLocker policy.
Get-AuthenticodeSignature	Gets information about the Authenticode signature in a file.
Get-BitsTransfer	Retrieves the associated BitsJob object for an existing BITS transfer job.
Get-ChildItem	Gets the items and child items in one or more specified locations.
Get-Command	Gets basic information about cmdlets and other elements of Windows PowerShell commands.
Get-ComputerRestorePoint	Gets the restore points on the local computer.
Get-Content	Gets the content of the item at the specified location.
Get-Counter	Gets performance counter data from local and remote computers.
Get-Credential	Gets a credential object based on a user name and password.
Get-Culture	Gets the current culture set in the operating system.
Get-Date	Gets the current date and time.
Get-Event	Gets the events in the event queue.
Get-EventLog	Gets the events in an event log, or a list of the event logs, on the local or remote computers.
Get-EventSubscriber	Gets the event subscribers in the current session.
Get-ExecutionPolicy	Gets the execution policies for the current session.
Get-FormatData	Gets the formatting data in the current session.
Get-Help	Displays information about Windows PowerShell commands and concepts.
Get-History	Gets a list of the commands entered during the current session.
Get-Host	Gets an object that represents the current host program. Also displays Windows PowerShell version and regional information by default.
Get-HotFix	Gets the hotfixes that are applied to the local and remote computers.
Get-Item	Gets the item at the specified location.
Get-ItemProperty	Gets the properties of a specified item.
Get-Job	Gets Windows PowerShell background jobs that are running in the current session.
Get-Location	Gets information about the current working location.
Get-Member	Gets the properties and methods of objects.
Get-Module	Gets the modules that are imported or that can be imported into the current session.
Get-PfxCertificate	Gets information about .pfx certificate files on the computer.
Get-Process	Gets the processes that are running on the local computer or a remote computer.
Get-PSBreakpoint	Gets the breakpoints that are set in the current session.
Get-PSCallStack	Displays the current call stack.
Get-PSDrive	Gets the Windows PowerShell drives in the current session.
Get-PSProvider	Gets information about the specified Windows PowerShell provider.
Get-PSSession	Gets the Windows PSSessions in the current session.
Get-PSSessionConfiguration	Gets the registered session configurations on the computer.
Get-PSSnapin	Gets the Windows PowerShell snap-ins on the computer.
Get-Random	Gets a random number or selects objects randomly from a collection.
Get-Service	Gets the services on a local or remote computer.
Get-TraceSource	Gets the Windows PowerShell components that are instrumented for tracing.
Get-Transaction	Gets the current (active) transaction.
Get-TroubleshootingPack	Gets information about a troubleshooting pack and can generate an answer file.
Get-UICulture	Gets the current user interface (UI) culture settings in the operating system.
Get-Unique	Returns the unique items from a sorted list.
Get-Variable	Gets the variables in the current console.
Get-WinEvent	Gets events from event logs and event tracing log files on local and remote computers.
Get-WmiObject	Gets instances of Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) classes or information about the available classes.
Get-WSManCredSSP	Gets the CredSSP-related configuration for the client.
Get-WSManInstance	Displays management information for a resource instance specified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).
Group-Object	Groups objects that contain the same value for specified properties.
Import-Alias	Imports an alias list from a file.
Import-Clixml	Imports a CLIXML file and creates corresponding objects within Windows PowerShell.
Import-Counter	Imports performance counter log files (.blg, .csv, .tsv) and creates the objects that represent each counter sample in the log.
Import-CSV	Converts object properties in a CSV file into CSV versions of the original objects.
Import-LocalizedData	Imports language-specific data into scripts and functions based on the UI culture that is selected for the operating system.
Import-Module	Adds modules to the current session.
Import-PSSession	Imports commands from another session into the current session.
Invoke-Command	Runs commands on local and remote computers.
Invoke-Expression	Runs commands or expressions on the local computer.
Invoke-History	Runs commands from the session history.
Invoke-Item	Performs the default action on the specified item.
Invoke-TroubleshootingPack	Executes a troubleshooting pack in interactive or unattended mode to fix a problem and then generates a results report.
Invoke-WmiMethod	Calls WMI methods.
Invoke-WSManAction	Invokes an action on the object that is specified by the Resource URI and by the selectors.
Join-Path	Combines a path and a child path into a single path. The provider supplies the path delimiters.
Limit-EventLog	Sets the event log properties that limit the size of the event log and the age of its entries.
Measure-Command	Measures the time it takes to run script blocks and cmdlets.
Measure-Object	Calculates the numeric properties of objects and the characters, words, and lines in string objects, such as files of text.
Move-Item	Moves an item from one location to another.
Move-ItemProperty	Moves a property from one location to another.
New-Alias	Creates a new alias.
New-AppLockerPolicy	Creates a new AppLocker policy from a list of file information and other rule creation options.
New-Event	Creates a new event.
New-EventLog	Creates a new event log and a new event source on a local or remote computer.
New-Item	Creates a new item.
New-ItemProperty	Creates a new property for an item and sets its value. For example, you can use New-ItemProperty to create and change registry values and data, which are properties of a registry key.
New-Module	Creates a new dynamic module that exists only in memory.
New-ModuleManifest	Creates a new module manifest.
New-Object	Creates an instance of a Microsoft .NET Framework or Component Object Model (COM) object.
New-PSDrive	Creates a Windows PowerShell drive in the current session.
New-PSSession	Creates a persistent connection to a local or remote computer.
New-PSSessionOption	Creates an object that contains advanced options for a PSSession.
New-Service	Creates a new Windows service.
New-TimeSpan	Creates a TimeSpan object.
New-Variable	Creates a new variable.
New-WebServiceProxy	Creates a Web service proxy object that lets you use and manage the Web service in Windows PowerShell.
New-WSManInstance	Creates a new instance of a management resource.
New-WSManSessionOption	Creates a WS-Management session option hash table to use as input parameters to the followingWS-Management cmdlets: Get-WSManInstance, Set-WSManInstance, Invoke-WSManAction, Connect-WSMan.
Out-Default	Sends the output to the default formatter and to the default output cmdlet.
Out-File	Sends output to a file.
Out-GridView	Sends output to an interactive table in a separate window.
Out-Host	Sends output to the command line.
Out-Null	Deletes output instead of sending it to the console.
Out-Printer	Sends output to a printer.
Out-String	Sends objects to the host as a series of strings.
Pop-Location	Changes the current location to the location most recently pushed onto the stack. You can pop the location from the default stack or from a stack that you create by using the Push-Location cmdlet.
Push-Location	Adds the current location to the top of a list of locations (a stack).
Read-Host	Reads a line of input from the console.
Receive-Job	Gets the results of the Windows PowerShell background jobs in the current session.
Register-EngineEvent	Subscribes to events that are generated by the Windows PowerShell engine and by the New-Event cmdlet.
Register-ObjectEvent	Subscribes to the events that are generated by a Microsoft .NET Framework object.
Register-PSSessionConfiguration	Creates and registers a new session configuration.
Register-WmiEvent	Subscribes to a WMI event.
Remove-BitsTransfer	Cancels a BITS transfer job.
Remove-Computer	Removes the local computer from a workgroup or domain.
Remove-Event	Deletes events from the event queue.
Remove-EventLog	Deletes an event log or unregisters an event source.
Remove-Item	Deletes the specified items.
Remove-ItemProperty	Deletes the property and its value from an item.
Remove-Job	Deletes a Windows PowerShell background job.
Remove-Module	Removes modules from the current session.
Remove-PSBreakpoint	Deletes breakpoints from the current console.
Remove-PSDrive	Removes a Windows PowerShell drive from its location.
Remove-PSSession	Closes one or more Windows PSSessions.
Remove-PSSnapin	Removes Windows PowerShell snap-ins from the current session.
Remove-Variable	Deletes a variable and its value.
Remove-WmiObject	Deletes an instance of an existing WMI class.
Remove-WSManInstance	Deletes a management resource instance.
Rename-Item	Renames an item in a Windows PowerShell provider namespace.
Rename-ItemProperty	Renames a property of an item.
Reset-ComputerMachinePassword	Resets the machine account password for the computer.
Resolve-Path	Resolves the wildcard characters in a path and displays the path contents.
Restart-Computer	Restarts (reboots) the operating system on local and remote computers.
Restart-Service	Stops and then starts one or more services.
Restore-Computer	Starts a system restore on the local computer.
Resume-BitsTransfer	Resumes a BITS transfer job.
Resume-Service	Resumes one or more suspended (paused) services.
Select-Object	Selects specified properties of an object or set of objects. It can also select unique objects from an array of objects, or it can select a specified number of objects from the beginning or end of an array of objects.
Select-String	Finds text in strings and files.
Select-XML	Finds text in an XML string or document.
Send-MailMessage	Sends an e-mail message.
Set-Acl	Changes the security descriptor of a specified resource, such as a file or registry key.
Set-Alias	Creates or changes an alias (alternate name) for a cmdlet or other command element in the current Windows PSSession.
Set-AppLockerPolicy	Sets the AppLocker policy for the specified Group Policy object (GPO).
Set-AuthenticodeSignature	Adds an Authenticode signature to a Windows PowerShell script or other file.
Set-BitsTransfer	Modifies the properties of an existing BITS transfer job.
Set-Content	Writes or replaces the content in an item with new content.
Set-Date	Changes the system time on the computer to a time that you specify.
Set-ExecutionPolicy	Changes the user preference for the Windows PowerShell execution policy.
Set-Item	Changes the value of an item to the value specified in the command.
Set-ItemProperty	Creates or changes the value of a property of an item.
Set-Location	Sets the current working location to a specified location.
Set-PSBreakpoint	Sets a breakpoint on a line, command, or variable.
Set-PSDebug	Turns script debugging features on and off, sets the trace level, and toggles StrictMode.
Set-PSSessionConfiguration	Changes the properties of a registered session configuration.
Set-Service	Starts, stops, and suspends a service and changes its properties.
Set-StrictMode	Establishes and enforces coding rules in expressions, scripts, and script blocks.
Set-TraceSource	Configures, starts, and stops a trace of Windows PowerShell components.
Set-Variable	Sets the value of a variable. Creates the variable if one with the requested name does not exist.
Set-WmiInstance	Creates or updates an instance of an existing WMI class.
Set-WSManInstance	Modifies the management information that is related to a resource.
Set-WSManQuickConfig	Configures the local computer for remote management.
Show-EventLog	Displays the event logs of the local or a remote computer in Event Viewer.
Sort-Object	Sorts objects by property values.
Split-Path	Returns the specified part of a path.
Start-BitsTransfer	Creates a new BITS transfer job.
Start-Job	Starts a Windows PowerShell background job.
Start-Process	Starts one or more processes on the local computer.
Start-Service	Starts one or more stopped services.
Start-Sleep	Suspends the activity in a script or session for the specified period of time.
Start-Transaction	Starts a transaction.
Start-Transcript	Creates a record of all or part of a Windows PSSession in a text file.
Stop-Computer	Stops (shuts down) local and remote computers.
Stop-Job	Stops a Windows PowerShell background job.
Stop-Process	Stops one or more running processes.
Stop-Service	Stops one or more running services.
Stop-Transcript	Stops a transcript.
Suspend-BitsTransfer	Suspends a BITS transfer job.
Suspend-Service	Suspends (pauses) one or more running services.
Tee-Object	Saves command output in a file or variable and displays it in the console.
Test-AppLockerPolicy	Tests whether the input files are allowed to run for a given user based on the specified AppLocker policy.
Test-ComputerSecureChannel	Tests and repairs the secure channel between the local computer and its domain.
Test-Connection	Sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request packets (pings) to one or more computers.
Test-ModuleManifest	Verifies that a module manifest file accurately describes the contents of a module.
Test-Path	Determines whether all elements of a path exist.
Test-WSMan	Tests whether the WinRM service is running on a local or remote computer.
Trace-Command	Configures and starts a trace of the specified expression or command.
Undo-Transaction	Rolls back the active transaction.
Unregister-Event	Cancels an event subscription.
Unregister-PSSessionConfiguration	Deletes registered session configurations from the computer.
Update-FormatData	Updates the formatting data in the current session.
Update-List	Adds items to and removes items from a property value that contains a collection of objects.
Update-TypeData	Updates the current extended type configuration by reloading the *.types.ps1xml files into memory.
Use-Transaction	Adds the script block to the active transaction.
Wait-Event	Waits until a particular event is raised before continuing to run.
Wait-Job	Suppresses the command prompt until one or all of the Windows PowerShell background jobs running in the session are complete.
Wait-Process	Waits for the processes to be stopped before accepting more input.
Where-Object	Creates a filter that controls which objects will be passed along a command pipeline.
Write-Debug	Writes a debug message to the console.
Write-Error	Writes an object to the error stream.
Write-EventLog	Writes an event to an event log.
Write-Host	Writes customized output to a host.
Write-Output	Sends the specified objects to the next command in the pipeline. If the command is the last command in the pipeline, the objects are displayed in the console.
Write-Progress	Displays a progress bar within a Windows PowerShell command window.
Write-Verbose	Writes text to the verbose message stream.
Write-Warning	Writes a warning message.