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Move-Item

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Moves an item from one location to another.

Syntax

Move-Item
    [-Path] <String[]>
    [[-Destination] <String>]
    [-Force]
    [-Filter <String>]
    [-Include <String[]>]
    [-Exclude <String[]>]
    [-PassThru]
    [-Credential <PSCredential>]
    [-WhatIf]
    [-Confirm]
    [<CommonParameters>]
Move-Item
    -LiteralPath <String[]>
    [[-Destination] <String>]
    [-Force]
    [-Filter <String>]
    [-Include <String[]>]
    [-Exclude <String[]>]
    [-PassThru]
    [-Credential <PSCredential>]
    [-WhatIf]
    [-Confirm]
    [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Move-Item cmdlet moves an item, including its properties, contents, and child items, from one location to another location. The locations must be supported by the same provider.

For example, it can move a file or subdirectory from one directory to another or move a registry subkey from one key to another. When you move an item, it is added to the new location and deleted from its original location.

Examples

Example 1: Move a file to another directory and rename it

This command moves the Test.txt file from the C: drive to the E:\Temp directory and renames it from test.txt to tst.txt.

Move-Item -Path C:\test.txt -Destination E:\Temp\tst.txt

Example 2: Move a directory and its contents to another directory

This command moves the C:\Temp directory and its contents to the C:\Logs directory. The Temp directory, and all of its subdirectories and files, then appear in the Logs directory.

Move-Item -Path C:\Temp -Destination C:\Logs

Example 3: Move all files of a specified extension from the current directory to another directory

This command moves all of the text files (*.txt) in the current directory (represented by a dot (.)) to the C:\Logs directory.

Move-Item -Path .\*.txt -Destination C:\Logs

Example 4: Recursively move all files of a specified extension from the current directory to another directory

This command moves all of the text files from the current directory and all subdirectories, recursively, to the C:\TextFiles directory.

Get-ChildItem -Path ".\*.txt" -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination "C:\TextFiles"

The command uses the Get-ChildItem cmdlet to get all of the child items in the current directory (represented by the dot (.)) and its subdirectories that have a *.txt file name extension. It uses the Recurse parameter to make the retrieval recursive and the Include parameter to limit the retrieval to *.txt files.

The pipeline operator (|) sends the results of this command to Move-Item, which moves the text files to the TextFiles directory.

If files that are to be moved to C:\Textfiles have the same name, Move-Item displays an error and continues, but it moves only one file with each name to C:\Textfiles. The other files remain in their original directories.

If the Textfiles directory (or any other element of the destination path) does not exist, the command fails. The missing directory is not created for you, even if you use the Force parameter. Move-Item moves the first item to a file called Textfiles and then displays an error explaining that the file already exists.

Also, by default, Get-ChildItem does not move hidden files. To move hidden files, use the Force parameter with Get-ChildItem.

Note

In Windows PowerShell 2.0, when using the Recurse parameter of the Get-ChildItem cmdlet, the value of the Path parameter must be a container. Use the Include parameter to specify the *.txt file name extension filter (Get-ChildItem -Path .\* -Include *.txt -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination C:\TextFiles).

Example 5: Move registry keys and values to another key

This command moves the registry keys and values within the MyCompany registry key in HKLM\Software to the MyNewCompany key. The wildcard character (*) indicates that the contents of the MyCompany key should be moved, not the key itself. In this command, the optional Path and Destination parameter names are omitted.

Move-Item "HKLM:\software\mycompany\*" "HKLM:\software\mynewcompany"

Example 6: Move a directory and its contents to a subdirectory of the specified directory

This command moves the Logs[Sept`06] directory (and its contents) into the Logs[2006] directory.

Move-Item -LiteralPath 'Logs[Sept`06]' -Destination 'Logs[2006]'

The LiteralPath parameter is used instead of Path, because the original directory name includes left bracket and right bracket characters ([ and ]). The path is also enclosed in single quotation marks ('), so that the backtick symbol (`) is not misinterpreted.

The Destination parameter must also be enclosed in single quotation marks because it includes brackets that can be misinterpreted.

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:Current user
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Destination

Specifies the path to the location where the items are being moved. The default is the current directory. Wildcards aren't permitted.

To rename the item being moved, specify a new name in the value of the Destination parameter.

Type:String
Position:1
Default value:Current directory
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Filter

Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Force

Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation. Implementation varies from provider to provider. For more information, see about_Providers.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-LiteralPath

Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks ('). Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Returns an object representing the moved item. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

Specifies the path to the current location of the items. The default is the current directory. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:Current directory
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String

You can pipe a string that contains a path to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

By default, this cmdlet returns no output.

PSObject

When you use the PassThru parameter, this cmdlet returns an object representing the moved item.

Notes

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Move-Item:

  • All platforms:

    • mi
    • move

  • Windows:

    • mv

  • This cmdlet will move files between drives that are supported by the same provider, but it will move directories only within the same drive.

  • Because a Move-Item command moves the properties, contents, and child items of an item, all moves are recursive by default.

  • This cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PSProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.