Update-Module

Downloads and installs the newest version of specified modules from an online gallery to the local computer.

Syntax

Update-Module
      [[-Name] <String[]>]
      [-RequiredVersion <String>]
      [-MaximumVersion <String>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-Scope <String>]
      [-Proxy <Uri>]
      [-ProxyCredential <PSCredential>]
      [-Force]
      [-AllowPrerelease]
      [-AcceptLicense]
      [-PassThru]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Update-Module cmdlet installs a module's newest version from an online gallery. You're prompted to confirm the update before it's installed. Updates are installed only for modules that were installed on the local computer with Install-Module. Update-Module searches $env:PSModulePath for installed modules.

Update-Module with no parameters specified updates all installed modules. To specify a module to update, use the Name parameter. You can update to a module's specific version using the RequiredVersion parameter.

The parameters that take module version numbers expect strings formatted as version numbers.

  • Standard version numbers have a format of x.y.z where x, y, and z are numbers
  • Prerelease versions have a format of x.y.z-<prerelease_label> where the <prerelease_label> is arbitrary string assigned to that release.

If an installed module is already the newest version, the module isn't updated. If the module isn't found in $env:PSModulePath, an error is displayed.

To display the installed modules, use Get-InstalledModule.

Examples

Example 1: Update all modules

This example updates all installed modules to the newest version in an online gallery.

Update-Module

Example 2: Update a module by name

This example updates a specific module to the newest version in an online gallery.

Update-Module -Name SpeculationControl

Update-Module uses the Name parameter to update a specific module, SpeculationControl.

Example 3: View what-if Update-Module runs

This example does a what-if scenario to show what happens if Update-Module is run. The command isn't run.

Update-Module -WhatIf

What if: Performing the operation "Update-Module" on target "Version '2.8.0' of module
  'Carbon', updating to version '2.8.1'".
What if: Performing the operation "Update-Module" on target "Version '1.0.10' of module
  'SpeculationControl', updating to version '1.0.14'".

Update-Module uses the WhatIf parameter display what would happen if Update-Module were run.

Example 4: Update a module to a specified version

In this example, a module is updated to a specific version. The version must exist in the online gallery or an error is displayed.

Update-Module -Name SpeculationControl -RequiredVersion 1.0.14

Update-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the module, SpeculationControl. The RequiredVersion parameter specifies the version, 1.0.14.

Example 5: Update a module without confirmation

This example doesn't request confirmation to update the module to the newest version from an online gallery. If the module is already installed, the Force parameter reinstalls the module.

Update-Module -Name SpeculationControl -Force

Update-Module uses the Name parameter to specify the module, SpeculationControl. The Force parameter updates the module without requesting user confirmation.

Parameters

-AcceptLicense

Automatically accept the license agreement during installation if the package requires it.

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

-AllowPrerelease

Allows you to update a module with the newer module marked as a prerelease.

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

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running Update-Module.

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

-Credential

Specifies a user account that has permission to update a module.

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

-Force

Forces an update of each specified module without a prompt to request confirmation. If the module is already installed, Force reinstalls the module.

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

-MaximumVersion

Specifies the maximum version of a single module to update. You can't add this parameter if you're attempting to update multiple modules. The MaximumVersion and the RequiredVersion parameters can't be used in the same command.

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

-Name

Specifies the names of one or more modules to update. Update-Module searches $env:PSModulePath for the modules to update. If no matches are found in $env:PSModulePath for the specified module name, an error occurs.

Wildcards are accepted in module names. If you add wildcard characters to the specified name and no matches are found, no error occurs.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-PassThru

Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

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

-Proxy

Specifies a proxy server for the request, rather than connecting directly to an internet resource.

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

-ProxyCredential

Specifies a user account that has permission to use the proxy server specified by the Proxy parameter.

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

-RequiredVersion

Specifies the exact version to which the existing installed module will be updated. The version specified by RequiredVersion must exist in the online gallery or an error is displayed. If more than one module is updated in a single command, you can't use RequiredVersion.

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

-Scope

Specifies the installation scope of the module. The acceptable values for this parameter are AllUsers and CurrentUser. If Scope isn't specified, the update is installed in the CurrentUser scope.

The AllUsers scope requires elevated permissions and installs modules in a location that is accessible to all users of the computer:

$env:ProgramFiles\PowerShell\Modules

The CurrentUser doesn't require elevated permissions and installs modules in a location that is accessible only to the current user of the computer:

$HOME\Documents\PowerShell\Modules

When no Scope is defined, the default is set based on the PowerShellGet version.

  • In PowerShellGet versions 2.0.0 and above, the default is CurrentUser, which does not require elevation for install.
  • In PowerShellGet 1.x versions, the default is AllUsers, which requires elevation for install.
Type:String
Accepted values:CurrentUser, AllUsers
Position:Named
Default value:CurrentUser
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if Update-Module runs. The cmdlet isn't run.

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

Inputs

String[]

String

PSCredential

Uri

Outputs

Object

Notes

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Update-Module:

  • All platforms:
    • upmo

For PowerShell version 6.0 and above, the default installation scope is always CurrentUser. Module updates for CurrentUser, $HOME\Documents\PowerShell\Modules, don't need elevated permissions. Module updates for AllUsers, $env:ProgramFiles\PowerShell\Modules, need elevated permissions.

Important

As of April 2020, the PowerShell Gallery no longer supports Transport Layer Security (TLS) versions 1.0 and 1.1. If you are not using TLS 1.2 or higher, you will receive an error when trying to access the PowerShell Gallery. Use the following command to ensure you are using TLS 1.2:

[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12

For more information, see the announcement in the PowerShell blog.

Update-Module runs on PowerShell 3.0 or later releases of PowerShell, on Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2 and later releases of Windows.

If the module that you specify with the Name parameter wasn't installed using Install-Module, an error occurs.

You can only run Update-Module on modules that you installed from the online gallery by running Install-Module.

If Update-Module attempts to update binaries that are in use, Update-Module returns an error that identifies the problem processes. The user is informed to retry Update-Module after the processes are stopped.