Installing the AWS Tools for PowerShell on Windows - AWS Tools for PowerShell (version 5)
Prerequisites

Version 5 (V5) of the AWS Tools for PowerShell has been released!

For information about breaking changes and migrating your applications, see the migration topic.

Installing the AWS Tools for PowerShell on Windows

For information about the Tools for PowerShell that are pre-installed on AWS CloudShell, see Installed on CloudShell.

A Windows-based computer can run any of the AWS Tools for PowerShell package options:

  • AWS.Tools - The modularized version of AWS Tools for PowerShell. Each AWS service is supported by its own individual, small module, with shared support modules AWS.Tools.Common and AWS.Tools.Installer.

  • AWSPowerShell.NetCore - The single, large-module version of AWS Tools for PowerShell. All AWS services are supported by this single, large module.

    Note

    Be aware that the single module might be too large to use with AWS Lambda functions. Instead, use the modularized version shown above.

  • AWSPowerShell - The legacy, Windows-specific, single, large-module version of AWS Tools for PowerShell. All AWS services are supported by this single, large module.

The package you choose depends on the release and edition of Windows that you are running.

Note

The AWS Tools for PowerShell are installed by default on all Windows-based Amazon Machine Images (AMIs). The option that is installed depends on the AMI. Many AMIs have the AWSPowerShell module, but some might have a different option. For example, Amazon EC2 AMIs for Windows Server 2025 use the modular AWS.Tools option.

Setting up the AWS Tools for PowerShell involves the following high-level tasks, described in detail in subsequent topics.

  1. Install the AWS Tools for PowerShell package option that's appropriate for your environment.

  2. Verify that script execution is enabled by running the Get-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet.

  3. Import the AWS Tools for PowerShell module into your PowerShell session.

Prerequisites

Newer versions of PowerShell, including PowerShell Core, are available as downloads from Microsoft at Installing various versions of PowerShell on Microsoft's Web site.

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