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Copy-Item

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Copies an item from one location to another.

Syntax

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

Description

The Copy-Item cmdlet copies an item from one location to another location in the same namespace. For instance, it can copy a file to a folder, but it can't copy a file to a certificate drive.

This cmdlet doesn't cut or delete the items being copied. The particular items that the cmdlet can copy depend on the PowerShell provider that exposes the item. For instance, it can copy files and directories in a file system drive and registry keys and entries in the registry drive.

This cmdlet can copy and rename items in the same command. To rename an item, enter the new name in the value of the Destination parameter. To rename an item and not copy it, use the Rename-Item cmdlet.

Examples

Example 1: Copy a file to the specified directory

This example copies the mar1604.log.txt file to the C:\Presentation directory. The original file isn't deleted.

Copy-Item "C:\Wabash\Logfiles\mar1604.log.txt" -Destination "C:\Presentation"

Example 2: Copy directory contents to an existing directory

This example copies the contents of the C:\Logfiles directory into the existing C:\Drawings directory. The Logfiles directory isn't copied.

If the Logfiles directory contains files in subdirectories, those subdirectories are copied with their file trees intact. By default, the Container parameter is set to True, which preserves the directory structure.

Copy-Item -Path "C:\Logfiles\*" -Destination "C:\Drawings" -Recurse

Note

If you need to include the Logfiles directory in the copy, remove the \* from the Path. For example:

Copy-Item -Path "C:\Logfiles" -Destination "C:\Drawings" -Recurse

Example 3: Copy directory contents to a new directory

This example copies the contents of the C:\Logfiles source directory and creates a new destination directory. The new destination directory, \Logs is created in C:\Drawings.

To include the source directory's name, copy to an existing destination directory as shown in Example 2. Or, name the new destination directory with the same as the source directory.

Copy-Item -Path "C:\Logfiles" -Destination "C:\Drawings\Logs" -Recurse

Note

If the Path includes \*, all the directory's file contents, without the subdirectory trees, are copied to the new destination directory. For example:

Copy-Item -Path "C:\Logfiles\*" -Destination "C:\Drawings\Logs" -Recurse

Example 4: Copy a file to the specified directory and rename the file

This example uses the Copy-Item cmdlet to copy the Get-Widget.ps1 script from the \\Server01\Share directory to the \\Server12\ScriptArchive directory. As part of the copy operation, the command changes the item name from Get-Widget.ps1 to Get-Widget.ps1.txt, so it can be attached to email messages.

Copy-Item "\\Server01\Share\Get-Widget.ps1" -Destination "\\Server12\ScriptArchive\Get-Widget.ps1.txt"

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

-Container

Indicates that this cmdlet preserves container objects during the copy operation. By default, the Container parameter is set to True.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:True
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 new location. The default is the current directory.

To rename the item being copied, 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:False

-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're retrieved.

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

-Force

Indicates that this cmdlet copies items that can't otherwise be changed, such as copying over a read-only file or alias.

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's 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
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Returns an object that represents the item with which you're working. By default, this cmdlet doesn't generate any output.

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

-Path

Specifies, as a string array, the path to the items to copy. Wildcard characters are permitted.

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

-Recurse

Indicates that this cmdlet does a recursive copy.

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

-UseTransaction

Includes the command in the active transaction. This parameter is valid only when a transaction is in progress. For more information, see about_Transactions.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:usetx
Position:Named
Default value:False
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

String

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

Outputs

None or an object representing the copied item

When you use the PassThru parameter, this cmdlet returns an object that represents the copied item. Otherwise, this cmdlet doesn't generate any output.

Notes

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.