Sometimes when we try to run a PowerShell script, we might encounter the PowerShell warning running scripts on this system is disabled This error is related to PowerShell’s script execution policies. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different script execution policies and how to resolve this error.
Sometimes when we try to run a PowerShell script we see error messages such as Running Scripts on this System is Disabled or Execution of Scripts is Disabled on this System.
Understanding Script Execution Policies
PowerShell has a security feature called “script execution policies” that control the level of trust and security for executing scripts. These policies help protect our system from running potentially harmful scripts. There are four main execution policies in PowerShell:
1. Restricted
The default policy is “Restricted,” which means that PowerShell doesn’t run any scripts. We can only run individual commands interactively in the console.
2. RemoteSigned
With the “RemoteSigned” policy, locally created scripts can run without digital signatures. However, scripts downloaded from the internet must be digitally signed to run.
3. AllSigned
“AllSigned” requires that all scripts, whether local or from the internet, must be digitally signed by a trusted publisher before they can be executed.
4. Unrestricted
The “Unrestricted” policy allows the execution of all scripts without any restrictions. This is the least secure option and should be used with caution.
Resolving the “Running Scripts on this System is Disabled” Error
If we encounter the following error message when trying to run a PowerShell script:
File xxx cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system.
It’s likely because our current execution policy doesn’t allow it. Here’s how we can change the policy to resolve the issue:
1. Launch PowerShell as Administrator
To change the execution policy, we need to run PowerShell as an administrator. Right-click on the PowerShell icon and select “Run as administrator.”
2. Check Current Policy
We can check the current script execution policy by running the following command:
Get-ExecutionPolicy
It will return the current policy, such as “Restricted,” “RemoteSigned,” or another policy.
3. Change the Policy
To change the policy, use the “Set-ExecutionPolicy” cmdlet with one of the available policy options. For example, to set it to “RemoteSigned,” we can use:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the policy change. Note that the default scope of the change is to the local machine, and hence will affect all users on that machine.
4. Running Scripts
Once we’ve changed the execution policy, we should be able to run your scripts without encountering the “Running Scripts on this System is Disabled” error.
PowerShell script execution policies are a crucial aspect of system security, and they help prevent the execution of potentially harmful scripts.
