When it comes to automating tasks and managing systems, PowerShell is a versatile and powerful tool. One common task that you may need to perform using PowerShell is running an executable file (.exe) without displaying a console window. This can be useful for automating the installation of software, launching applications in the background, or performing other tasks that don’t require user interaction.
Luckily, PowerShell provides a simple and straightforward way to achieve this. By leveraging the Start-Process cmdlet, you can execute an exe file without displaying a title. Transitioning to the next paragraph, we will delve into the syntax and usage of Start-Process along with practical examples.
How to Run an Exe File Using PowerShell
PowerShell provides a convenient way to execute executable files (EXE) from the command line. There are two main methods for running EXEs in PowerShell:
- Using the Start-Process cmdlet
- Using the Invoke-Item cmdlet
Using the Start-Process Cmdlet
The Start-Process cmdlet allows you to start a new process and specify the path to the EXE file as an argument. The following syntax shows how to use the Start-Process cmdlet:
Start-Process -FilePath "path-to-exe-file"
For example, to run the Notepad.exe application, you would use the following command:
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"
Using the Invoke-Item Cmdlet
The Invoke-Item cmdlet can also be used to run EXE files. The Invoke-Item cmdlet takes the path to the EXE file as a parameter and automatically starts the process. The following syntax shows how to use the Invoke-Item cmdlet:
Invoke-Item "path-to-exe-file"
For example, to run the Notepad.exe application using the Invoke-Item cmdlet, you would use the following command:
Invoke-Item "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"
People Also Ask
How do I run an EXE file with arguments in PowerShell?
To run an EXE file with arguments in PowerShell, you can use the -ArgumentList parameter of the Start-Process cmdlet. The following syntax shows how to run an EXE file with arguments:
Start-Process -FilePath "path-to-exe-file" -ArgumentList "argument1" "argument2"
For example, to run the Notepad.exe application with the “/a” argument, you would use the following command:
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe" -ArgumentList "/a"
How do I run an EXE file as a different user in PowerShell?
To run an EXE file as a different user in PowerShell, you can use the -Credential parameter of the Start-Process cmdlet. The following syntax shows how to run an EXE file as a different user:
Start-Process -FilePath "path-to-exe-file" -Credential "username" "password"
For example, to run the Notepad.exe application as the user “administrator”, you would use the following command:
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe" -Credential "administrator" "password"
