Update-Help

Reference

Module:: Microsoft.PowerShell.Core

Downloads and installs the newest help files on your computer.

Syntax

Update-Help
      [[-Module] <String[]>]
      [-FullyQualifiedModule <ModuleSpecification[]>]
      [[-SourcePath] <String[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [[-UICulture] <CultureInfo[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-UseDefaultCredentials]
      [-Force]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Update-Help
      [[-Module] <String[]>]
      [-FullyQualifiedModule <ModuleSpecification[]>]
      [-LiteralPath <String[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [[-UICulture] <CultureInfo[]>]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-UseDefaultCredentials]
      [-Force]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Update-Help cmdlet downloads the newest help files for PowerShell modules and installs them on your computer. You don't need to restart PowerShell to make the change effective. You can use the Get-Help cmdlet to view the new help files immediately.

Update-Help checks the version of the help files on your computer. If you don't have help files for a module or if your help files are outdated, Update-Help downloads the newest help files. The help files can be downloaded and installed from the internet or a file share.

Without parameters, Update-Help updates the help files for modules in the session and for all installed modules that support Updatable Help. Modules that are installed but not loaded in the current session are included. PowerShell modules are stored in a location listed in the $env:PSModulePath environment variable. For more information, see about_Updatable_Help.

You can use the Module parameter to update help files for a particular module. Use the UICulture parameter to download help files in multiple languages and locales.

You can use Update-Help on computers that aren't connected to the internet. Use the Save-Help cmdlet to download help files from the internet and save them in a file system location, such as a shared folder or file system directory. Then use the SourcePath parameter of Update-Help to download the updated help files from a file system location and install them on the computer.

You can automate help updates by adding the Update-Help cmdlet to your PowerShell profile. By default, Update-Help runs only one time per day on each computer. To override the once-per-day limit, use the Force parameter.

The Update-Help cmdlet was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

Important

Update-Help requires administrative privileges.

You must be a member of the Administrators group on the computer to update the help files for the PowerShell Core modules.

To download or update the help files for modules in the PowerShell installation directory ($PSHOME\Modules), including the PowerShell Core modules, start PowerShell by using the Run as administrator option. For example: Start-Process powershell.exe -Verb RunAs.

You can also update help files by using the Update Windows PowerShell Help menu item in the Help menu in Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE).

The Update Windows PowerShell Help item runs an Update-Help cmdlet without parameters. To update help for modules in the $PSHOME directory, start Windows PowerShell ISE by using the Run as administrator option.

Examples

Example 1: Update help files for all modules

The Update-Help cmdlet updates help files for installed modules that support Updatable Help. The user-interface (UI) culture language is set in the operating system.

Update-Help

Example 2: Update help files for specified modules

The Update-Help cmdlet updates help files only for module names that begin with Microsoft.PowerShell.

Update-Help -Module Microsoft.PowerShell*

Example 3: Update help files for different languages

The Update-Help cmdlet updates the Japanese (ja-JP) and English (en-US) help files for all modules.

If a module doesn't provide help files for a specified UI culture, an error message is displayed for the module and UI culture. In this example, the error message indicates that the ja-JP help files were not found for module Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility.

Update-Help -UICulture ja-JP, en-US

Update-Help : Failed to update Help for the module(s) 'Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility' with UI culture(s) {ja-JP}
No UI culture was found that matches the following pattern: ja-JP.

Example 4: Update help files automatically

This example creates a scheduled job that updates help for all modules every day at 3:00 AM.

$jobParams = @{
  Name = 'UpdateHelpJob'
  Credential = 'Domain01\User01'
  ScriptBlock = '{Update-Help}'
  Trigger = (New-JobTrigger -Daily -At "3 AM")
}
Register-ScheduledJob @jobParams

Id         Name            JobTriggers     Command                                  Enabled
--         ----            -----------     -------                                  -------
1          UpdateHelpJob   1               Update-Help                              True

The Register-ScheduledJob cmdlet creates a scheduled job that runs an Update-Help command. The command uses the Credential parameter to run Update-Help by using the credentials of a member of the Administrators group on the computer. The value of the Trigger parameter is a New-JobTrigger command that creates a job trigger that starts the job every day at 3:00 AM.

To run the Register-ScheduledJob command, start PowerShell by using the Run as administrator option. PowerShell prompts you for the password of the user specified in the Credential parameter. The credentials are stored with the scheduled job. You aren't prompted when the job runs.

You can use the Get-ScheduledJob cmdlet to view the scheduled job, use the Set-ScheduledJob cmdlet to change it, and use the Unregister-ScheduledJob cmdlet to delete it. You can also view and manage the scheduled job in Task Scheduler in the following path:

Task Scheduler Library\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ScheduledJobs.

In this example, updated help files are downloaded from the internet and saved in a file share. User credentials are needed that have permissions to access the file share and install updates. When a file share is used, it's possible to update computers that are behind firewalls or aren't connected to the internet.

PS> Save-Help -DestinationPath \\Server01\Share\PSHelp -Credential Domain01\Admin01
PS> Invoke-Command -ComputerName (Get-Content Servers.txt) -ScriptBlock {
     Update-Help -SourcePath \\Server01\Share\PSHelp -Credential Domain01\Admin01
}

The Save-Help command downloads the newest help files for all modules that support Updatable Help. The DestinationPath parameter saves the files in the \\Server01\Share\PSHelp file share. The Credential parameter specifies a user who has permission to access the file share.

The Invoke-Command cmdlet runs remote Update-Help commands on multiple computers. The ComputerName parameter gets a list of remote computers from the Servers.txt file. The ScriptBlock parameter runs the Update-Help command and uses the SourcePath parameter to specify the file share that contains the updated help files. The Credential parameter specifies a user who can access the file share and run the remote Update-Help command.

Example 6: Get a list of updated help files

The Update-Help cmdlet updates help for a specified module. The cmdlet uses the Verbose common parameter to display the list of help files that were updated. You can use Verbose to view output for all help files or help files for a specific module.

Without the Verbose parameter, Update-Help doesn't display the results of the command. The Verbose parameter output is useful to verify that the help files were updated or if the latest version is installed.

Update-Help -Module Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility -Verbose

Example 7: Find modules that support Updatable Help

This example lists modules that support Updatable Help. The command uses the module's HelpInfoUri property to identify modules that support Updatable Help. The HelpInfoUri property contains an address that is redirected when the Update-Help cmdlet is run.

Get-Module -ListAvailable | Where-Object -Property HelpInfoUri

Directory: C:\program files\powershell\6\Modules

ModuleType Version    Name                                PSEdition ExportedCommands
---------- -------    ----                                --------- ----------------
Manifest   6.1.0.0    CimCmdlets                          Core      {Get-CimAssociatedInstance... }
Manifest   1.2.2.0    Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive        Desk      {Compress-Archive... }
Manifest   6.1.0.0    Microsoft.PowerShell.Diagnostics    Core      {Get-WinEvent, New-WinEvent}

    Directory: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules

ModuleType Version    Name                                PSEdition ExportedCommands
---------- -------    ----                                --------- ----------------
Manifest   2.0.1.0    Appx                                Core,Desk {Add-AppxPackage, ... }
Script     1.0.0.0    AssignedAccess                      Core,Desk {Clear-AssignedAccess, ... }
Manifest   1.0.0.0    BitLocker                           Core,Desk {Unlock-BitLocker, ... }

Example 8: Inventory updated help files

In this example, the script Get-UpdateHelpVersion.ps1 creates an inventory of the Updatable Help files for each module and their version numbers.

The script identifies modules that support Updatable Help by using the HelpInfoUri property of modules. For modules that support Updatable Help, the script looks for and parses the help information file (*helpinfo.xml) to find the latest version number.

The script uses the PSCustomObject class and a hash table to create a custom output object.

# Get-UpdateHelpVersion.ps1
Param(
    [parameter(Mandatory=$False)]
    [String[]]
    $Module
)
$HelpInfoNamespace = @{helpInfo='https://schemas.microsoft.com/powershell/help/2010/05'}

if ($Module) { $Modules = Get-Module $Module -ListAvailable | where {$_.HelpInfoUri} }
else { $Modules = Get-Module -ListAvailable | where {$_.HelpInfoUri} }

foreach ($mModule in $Modules)
{
    $mDir = $mModule.ModuleBase

    if (Test-Path $mdir\*helpinfo.xml)
    {
        $mName=$mModule.Name
        $mNodes = dir $mdir\*helpinfo.xml -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
            Select-Xml -Namespace $HelpInfoNamespace -XPath "//helpInfo:UICulture"
        foreach ($mNode in $mNodes)
        {
            $mCulture=$mNode.Node.UICultureName
            $mVer=$mNode.Node.UICultureVersion

            [PSCustomObject]@{"ModuleName"=$mName; "Culture"=$mCulture; "Version"=$mVer}
        }
    }
}

ModuleName                              Culture                                 Version
----------                              -------                                 -------
ActiveDirectory                         en-US                                   3.0.0.0
ADCSAdministration                      en-US                                   3.0.0.0
ADCSDeployment                          en-US                                   3.0.0.0
ADDSDeployment                          en-US                                   3.0.0.0
ADFS                                    en-US                                   3.0.0.0

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

Specifies credentials of a user who has permission to access the file system location specified by SourcePath. This parameter is valid only when the SourcePath or LiteralPath parameter is used in the command.

The Credential parameter enables you to run Update-Help commands with the SourcePath parameter on remote computers. By providing explicit credentials, you can run the command on a remote computer and access a file share on a third computer without encountering an access denied error or using CredSSP authentication to delegate credentials.

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

-Force

Indicates that this cmdlet doesn't follow the once-per-day limitation, skips version checking, and downloads files that exceed the 1 GB limit.

Without this parameter, Update-Help runs only once in each 24-hour period. Downloads are limited to 1 GB of uncompressed content per module and help files are only installed when they're newer than the existing files on the computer.

The once-per-day limit protects the servers that host the help files and makes it practical for you to add an Update-Help command to your PowerShell profile without incurring the resource cost of repeated connections or downloads.

To update help for a module in multiple UI cultures without the Force parameter, include all UI cultures in the same command, such as:

Update-Help -Module PSScheduledJobs -UICulture en-US, fr-FR, pt-BR

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

-FullyQualifiedModule

Specifies modules with names that are specified in the form of ModuleSpecification objects. These modules are described in the Remarks section of ModuleSpecification Constructor (Hashtable).

For example, the FullyQualifiedModule parameter accepts a module name that is specified in the format:

@{ModuleName = "modulename"; ModuleVersion = "version_number"}

@{ModuleName = "modulename"; ModuleVersion = "version_number"; Guid = "GUID"}.

ModuleName and ModuleVersion are required, but Guid is optional.

You can't specify the FullyQualifiedModule parameter in the same command as a Module parameter.

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

-LiteralPath

Specifies the folder for updated help files instead of downloading them from the internet. Use this parameter or SourcePath if you've used the Save-Help cmdlet to download help files to a directory.

You can pipeline a directory object, such as from the Get-Item or Get-ChildItem cmdlets, to Update-Help.

Unlike the value of SourcePath, the value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it's typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcard characters. 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.

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

-Module

Updates help for the specified modules. Enter one or more module names or name patterns in a comma-separated list, or specify a file that lists one module name on each line. Wildcard characters are permitted. You can pipeline modules from the Get-Module cmdlet to the Update-Help cmdlet.

The modules that you specify must be installed on the computer, but they don't have to be imported into the current session. You can specify any module in the session or any module that is installed in a location listed in the $env:PSModulePath environment variable.

A value of * (all) attempts to update help for all modules that are installed on the computer. Modules that don't support Updatable Help are included. This value might generate errors when the command encounters modules that don't support Updatable Help. Instead, run Update-Help without parameters.

The Module parameter of the Update-Help cmdlet doesn't accept the full path of a module file or module manifest file. To update help for a module that isn't in a $env:PSModulePath location, import the module into the current session before you run the Update-Help command.

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

-Recurse

Performs a recursive search for help files in the specified directory. This parameter is valid only when the command uses the SourcePath parameter.

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

-SourcePath

Specifies a file system folder where Update-Help gets updated help files, instead of downloading them from the internet. Enter the path of a folder. Don't specify a file name or file name extension. You can pipeline a folder, such as one from the Get-Item or Get-ChildItem cmdlets, to Update-Help.

By default, Update-Help downloads updated help files from the internet. Use SourcePath when you've used the Save-Help cmdlet to download updated help files to a directory.

To specify a default value for SourcePath, go to Group Policy, Computer Configuration, and Set the default source path for Update-Help. This Group Policy setting prevents users from using Update-Help to download help files from the internet. For more information, see about_Group_Policy_Settings.

Type:	String[]
Position:	1
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-UICulture

Specifies UI culture values that Update-Help uses to get updated help files. Enter one or more language codes, such as es-ES, a variable that contains culture objects, or a command that gets culture objects, such as a Get-Culture or Get-UICulture command. Wildcard characters aren't permitted and you can't submit a partial language code, such as de.

By default, Update-Help gets help files in the UI culture set for the operating system. If you specify the UICulture parameter, Update-Help looks for help only for the specified UI culture.

Commands that use the UICulture parameter succeed only when the module provides help files for the specified UI culture. If the command fails because the specified UI culture isn't supported, an error message is displayed.

Type:	CultureInfo[]
Position:	2
Default value:	None
Required:	False
Accept pipeline input:	False
Accept wildcard characters:	False

-UseDefaultCredentials

Indicates that Update-Help runs the command, including the internet download, by using the credentials of the current user. By default, the command runs without explicit credentials.

This parameter is effective only when the web download uses NT LAN Manager (NTLM), negotiate, or Kerberos-based authentication.

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

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet 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

DirectoryInfo

You can pipe a directory path to Update-Help.

PSModuleInfo

You can pipe a module object from the Get-Module cmdlet to Update-Help.

Outputs

None

Update-Help doesn't generate any output.

Notes

To update help for the PowerShell Core modules, that contain the commands that are installed with PowerShell, or any module in the $PSHOME\Modules directory, start PowerShell with the option to Run as administrator.

Only members of the Administrators group on the computer can update help for the PowerShell Core modules, the commands that are installed together with PowerShell, and for modules in the $PSHOME\Modules folder. If you don't have permission to update help files, you can read the help files online. For example, Get-Help Update-Help -Online.

Modules are the smallest unit of updatable help. You can't update help for a particular cmdlet. To find the module that contains a particular cmdlet, use the ModuleName property of the Get-Command cmdlet, for example, (Get-Command Update-Help).ModuleName.

Because help files are installed in the module directory, the Update-Help cmdlet can install updated help file only for modules that are installed on the computer. However, the Save-Help cmdlet can save help for modules that aren't installed on the computer.

If Update-Help can't find updated help files for a module, or can't find updated help in the specified language, it continues silently without displaying an error message. To see status and progress details, use the Verbose parameter.

The Update-Help cmdlet was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0. It doesn't work in earlier versions of Windows PowerShell. On computers that have both Windows PowerShell 2.0 and Windows PowerShell 3.0, use the Update-Help cmdlet in a Windows PowerShell 3.0 session to download and update help files. The help files are available to both Windows PowerShell 2.0 and Windows PowerShell 3.0.

The Update-Help and Save-Help cmdlets use the following ports to download help files: Port 80 for HTTP and port 443 for HTTPS.

Update-Help supports all modules and the PowerShell Core snap-ins. It doesn't support any other snap-ins.

To update help for a module in a location that isn't listed in the $env:PSModulePath environment variable, import the module into the current session and then run an Update-Help command. Run Update-Help without parameters or use the Module parameter to specify the module name. The Module parameter of the Update-Help and Save-Help cmdlets doesn't accept the full path of a module file or module manifest file.

Any module can support Updatable Help. For instructions for supporting Updatable Help in the modules that you author, see Supporting Updatable Help.

The Update-Help and Save-Help cmdlets are not supported on Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE).

Share via

Update-Help

Syntax

Description

Examples

Example 1: Update help files for all modules

Example 2: Update help files for specified modules

Example 3: Update help files for different languages

Example 4: Update help files automatically

Example 6: Get a list of updated help files

Example 7: Find modules that support Updatable Help

Example 8: Inventory updated help files

Parameters

-Confirm

-Credential

-Force

-FullyQualifiedModule

-LiteralPath

-Module

-Recurse

-SourcePath

-UICulture

-UseDefaultCredentials

-WhatIf

Inputs

Outputs

Notes

Additional resources

Share via

Update-Help

Syntax

Description

Examples

Example 1: Update help files for all modules

Example 2: Update help files for specified modules

Example 3: Update help files for different languages

Example 4: Update help files automatically

Example 5: Update help files on multiple computers from a file share

Example 6: Get a list of updated help files

Example 7: Find modules that support Updatable Help

Example 8: Inventory updated help files

Parameters

-Confirm

-Credential

-Force

-FullyQualifiedModule

-LiteralPath

-Module

-Recurse

-SourcePath

-UICulture

-UseDefaultCredentials

-WhatIf

Inputs

Outputs

Notes

Related Links

Additional resources