pwshguy

Announcements!

• v7.7.0-preview.2 Release of PowerShell
  Come test the latest preview of 7.7

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• How to Send a Welcome Message to New Employees with Attachments for Calendar Events
  ICS files are a useful method to send information about calendar events between different IT systems. This article discusses creating ICS files for Teams Online meetings as part of a project to send welcome messages to new employees that contain information about upcoming corporate events that the new people might like to attend. Suffice to say that formatting the ICS files to Outlook’s satisfaction takes some effort.
• Entra Automation: Users, Groups, and Conditional Access
  Use Microsoft Graph PowerShell to automate Entra ID users, security groups, group membership, and Conditional Access policies with report-only validation.
• RBAC for Exchange Online Service Principals: A Deep Dive
  Configuring Exchange Online Service Principal permissions correctly is one of those things that looks straightforward until something breaks in production. Connecting an application to Exchange Online is not the same as connecting a user. The objects involved are different, and the mistakes people make are different too.
• Get Users’ True Last Logon in Active Directory Using PowerShell
  Identifying the true last logon time of Active Directory users can be difficult because logon details are stored on individual domain controllers and not fully replicated. This makes it hard to get a single accurate value, especially in environments with multiple DCs. To simplify this, we developed a PowerShell script that retrieves accurate last logon details for all users in a domain.
• Mastering Markdown
  I've loved Markdown since the day it was a Daring Fireball post. It's a simple rich text format that gets the job done, and it's used everywhere.
• Azure Logic Apps Adds Sandboxed Code Interpreters to Agent Workflows
  Microsoft added sandboxed code interpreters to Azure Logic Apps, enabling agents within integration workflows to generate and execute Python, JavaScript, C#, and PowerShell in Hyper-V isolated session.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• New EntraFIDOFinder Module Version Release!
  Good news and bad news.. which would you like first? Bad news? There are no new external PowerShell functions in this release, but I did create some functions to compare differences as well as one to show changes by the month. Is there a functionality you are looking for?
• Create executables of PowerShell scripts
  Giving PowerShell scripts to people often results in questions like, "How do I start this?" or "I ran this, but nothing happens..." (When sending a script that contained a function). In this blog post, I will show you how to create an executable of a script and its limitations.
• Release Pode v2.13.3
  Multiple bug fixes and improvements
• PsBash v 0.10.1
  Real bash commands for PowerShell with typed objects. 76 commands (ls, grep, sort, awk, sed, jq, find, ps, du, tar, etc.) that accept real bash flags and return structured PowerShell objects while producing identical text output. Pipeline bridge pattern preserves typed objects through grep, sort, head, tail.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Compare AI Models from PowerShell: PSAIBattlecard + PSAISuite Dashboard
  A quick walkthrough of PSAIBattlecard, a PowerShell-backed model comparison dashboard powered by PSAISuite.

Community

• Solving Problems at the Root with Mark Littlefield
  In this episode, host Andrew Pla sits down with Mark Littlefield, VP of Product at PDQ, for a wide-ranging conversation about product management, the PowerShell community, and what it looks like to deeply learn a technical domain when you're not coming from a traditional sysadmin background. Mark shares his journey from tech support to product management, what drew him to PDQ and the challenges facing IT admins, and what surprised him about PowerShell once he started paying close attention. The two also dig into the history behind PDQ Connect's PowerShell Scanner, how product teams learn from customers, the art of storytelling as a PM and sysadmin skill, and more.

Events

• PSDepend is Back! (Gilbert Sanchez)
  If you've ever wished PowerShell had a requirements.txt -- a simple file that says "here's what this project needs" and just handles it -- that's exactly what PSDepend is.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• PowerShell PSResource Roadmap and Best Practices
  PowerShell is a critical automation and configuration platform across enterprises—and as that automation grows, how you source, validate, and distribute PowerShell packages becomes just as important as the scripts themselves. Modern security guidance increasingly treats package feeds as part of the software supply chain. For PowerShell, that means being deliberate about which repositories you trust
• PowerShell is now notarized and hardened for macOS
  We’re excited to announce that the PowerShell packages for macOS are now properly notarized and hardened, meeting both Apple’s security requirements and Microsoft’s internal compliance standards.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Windows 11 SecureBoot folder: PowerShell scripts explained
  The May 2026 cumulative update KB5089549 added a new C:\Windows\SecureBoot\ExampleRolloutScripts folder containing seven PowerShell scripts. These scripts are part of Microsoft's sample toolkit for managing Secure Boot certificate migration across enterprise environments. This article explains what each script does, how to run it, and its limitations.
• Contributing to PSAISuite
  A Practical Guide for New Contributors
• Azure Arc-enabled SCVMM: Securing the Azure Connected Machine agent during onboarding with PowerShell
  In this blog post, I’ll cover one of the more overlooked aspects of deploying Azure Arc-enabled SCVMM, which is hardening
• PowerShell Methods
  In scripts, I often use Methods to perform actions or retrieve information. In this blog post, I will show you how to discover and use them :-)
• Monitor a Folder for File Changes Using PowerShell and FileSystemWatcher
  If you need to monitor a specific folder/file and trigger an automatic action on changes, use the built-in .NET FileSystemWatcher class instead of relying on classic Windows file-system access auditing.…
• Secure Boot Rollout Scripts added in May 2026 Security Update
  If you've patched a Windows 11 device with KB5089549 (the May 12, 2026 cumulative update) and looked in the root of C:\Windows lately, you've probably noticed something new: a SecureBoot folder containing an ExampleRolloutScripts subfolder with seven PowerShell scripts inside. You might even recognize these scripts because they were previously available as individual articles
• Microsoft AD CS Adds Post-Quantum Cryptography Support with ML-DSA
  Despite predictions of its decline, Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) continues to evolve.
• Toward a more POSIX-Friendly PowerShell experience
  I'm a MacOS and Debian user primarily, but my 9-5 is a Windows shop that requires I work from a...
• Static Sites are Simple (with PowerShell)
  I've been doing WebDev since the dawn of the internet, and I've been doing PowerShell for almost 20 years now. I want to share with you something that I've realized over the years: Static Sites Are Simple
• Your Git config is not reproducible (and here's how to fix it)
  Configure Git in a way you might not have seen before

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Driver Automation Tool – Upgraded
  The Driver Automation Tool is back and better than ever in version 10. This marks 10 years of development, and some new additions, including Intune support.
• PSFunctionInfo
  A PowerShell module for managing metadata in stand-alone functions.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PoshBytes: Get-Verb Before You Get Judged
  PowerShell function names are more than personal preference. In this PoshBytes, I cover how Get-Verb helps you find approved verbs, make your commands easier to discover, and keep PowerShell from judging you.

Community

• PowerShell Community Call - May21st, 2026
  For more information on the PowerShell Community Call, check out https://aka.ms/PSCommunityCall
• PowerShell After Dark: OnRamp, IoT, and Finding Your People.
  It's PowerShell After Dark. Recorded live at the PowerShell & DevOps Global Summit in Bellevue, Washington, host Andrew Pla takes his mic to the hotel bar for a series of candid conversations with attendees. The episode features four guests: Josh Gratton, an OnRamp scholarship recipient whose career pivot to junior systems engineer was fueled by PowerShell and the podcast; Mark Go, a first-time Summit speaker and attendee; Craig Mileham, a fellow podcast listener and Summit first-timer working in higher ed IT; and Matt Zaske, a longtime community member, conference speaker, and IoT enthusiast who ran a Home Assistant lightning demo. What connects all four conversations is the same thread Andrew keeps pulling on: community makes everything better. Beginners belong here. Reach out. Take the risk. Start now.

Fun

• Bing-ImageOfTheDay-Xplat
  Fetch the Bing wallpaper image of the day. Now with macOS support

Events

• PowerShell Conference Europe 2026
  1-4 June 2026 in Wiesbaden, Germany

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

The PSWeekly module brings the full PowerShell Weekly newsletter experience right into your terminal.

With it, you can:

• Read the latest issue directly in the terminal
• Browse all past editions (5+ years of archives!)
• Search the entire link collection by keyword

Coming soon:

• Search by author
• Filter by tags

PowerShell Weekly has been and will continue to be:

• Hand-curated - not just an RSS dump
• 100% free
• No ads
• No sponsorships
• No email collection, tracking, or paywalls

Install it now and run Get-PSWeekly to read this week's edition

Install-Module PSWeekly

Built for terminal lovers, automation enthusiasts, and anyone who wants high-quality PowerShell content at their fingertips.

I'd love to hear your feedback and ideas for new features!

Link to PowerShell Gallery: https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/PSWeekly
As with all my modules it is FOSS: https://github.com/mdowst/PSWeekly

Announcements!

• ANNOUNCING PSWeekly the Module!!!
  You can now read and search PowerShell Weekly without leaving the comfort of your shell. Because why should your terminal miss out on the good stuff? Simply Install-Module PSWeekly, then run Get-PSWeekly to get the most recent addition.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Better Control over Your Copilot Code Suggestions
  Copilot code completions and suggestions in the editor speed you up in your daily programming and coding activities, at every keystroke. They help you finish the line you’re typing or anticipate your next edit, making your workflow smoother and faster.
• Remote HTTP access to self-hosted Ollama AI models
  In my previous post in the Ollama series with OpenAI OSS models, I explained how to install Ollama on an Ubuntu EC2 instance. If you followed my guide, you now have everything set up to remotely access gpt-oss-20b on your self-hosted Ollama installation via HTTP. I will also showcase how to connect to remote AI models in VS Code using popular coding assistants like Cline and Roo Code, as well as through AI apps such as the local Ollama client, BoltAI, and Anything LLM.
• Auto Deploy Progressive Web Applications (PWA) using Intune or PowerShell
  In this article I will walk you through installing progressive web app’s, or PWA’s to endpoint machines using either PowerShell or Microsoft Intune. You may want to do this for users with frontline licenses that grant them web apps but not full desktop application’s.
• Removing Obsolete Mobile Device Partnerships from Exchange Online
  This article discusses how to use PowerShell to find obsolete mobile device partnerships in Exchange Online (or Exchange Server) and remove the obsolete devices. Users won’t be able to remove obsolete mobile devices after the settings to manage mobile devices are removed from OWA and the New Outlook, so cleaning up the mess is the responsibility of administrators (like it usually always is).
• PowerShell: Stop Outlook from Junking Legit Messages
  Outlook often struggles with erroneous junk mail classifications. It seems that some messages can pass through the SMTP perimeter scanning and email authentication, but still end up in Outlook’s junk folder. The internal workings of Outlook’s built-in message filters aren’t fully documented anywhere that I know of. This can lead to some perplexing situations.
• Why is Microsoft Removing PowerShell 2.0 from Windows 11? Critical Steps You Must Take Now
  Will PowerShell 2.0 Removal Break Your Windows System?
• How to Free Up and Automatically Manage Disk Space for WSL on Windows 10/11
  Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets you run a Linux environment directly on Windows. This is particularly useful for web development where you can develop and test applications in a Linux environment without leaving Windows.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Using the Indented.Net.IP PowerShell module for IPv4 Subnet math
  I still do some networking, although not as much as I did during my CCNP certification, and I eventually memorized subnet calculations. That, and using IP Calculators ;-) In this blog post, I will show you how you can use Chris Dent's PowerShell module for that.
• PSTimers
  A PowerShell module with a variety of timer and countdown functions. A perfect compliment to the PSDates module.
• Borg v 0.2.23
  BORG Backup Orchestrator for Reliable Groundwork. A modular PowerShell toolkit for automating SQL Server Docker container workflows, backup and restore operations, and local dev environment setup.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Behind the PowerShell Pipeline
  Discover parts of PowerShell that lie under the surface that can make you a better PowerShell user and scripter. From one of the original PowerShell experts.
• Turtles in PowerShell: Drawing Shapes with Code by James Brundage
  Join us for PowerShell Wednesday with James Brundage as he shows off Turtles in a PowerShell -- a fun way to create art with just a few simple commands. From drawing squares and hexagons to building fractals and animations, you’ll see how Forward() and Rotate() can unlock endless creativity right inside PowerShell.

Community

• Live from TechMentor: Profiles, People, and PowerShell Progress with Sean Wheeler and James Petty
  In this episode, Andrew catches up with Sean Wheeler and James Petty live from TechMentor. What starts as casual conversation about conference camaraderie turns into a rich discussion on learning PowerShell, building effective profiles, AI-assisted scripting, module recommendations, and what's next for the PowerShell Summit.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  You've got 1 week left to submit your proposals! Even if you've never spoken before, don't be scared, this is a friendly welcoming environment that is so supportive.
• PSConfEU MiniCon 2025
  MiniCon is back! Join the PSConfEU community on 14 October 2025. Secure your free ticket now!

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• PowerToys 0.93 is here: faster Command Palette, new dashboard UX and more
  Hey PowerToys fans! We're back with a fresh release: PowerToys 0.93! As usual, we’ve squashed a bunch of bugs and made some small quality of life tweaks, but we’ve also packed in some bigger, exciting changes you’ll want to check out.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Microsoft AI Shell Preview 6: MCP support and great PowerShell integration
  The key new feature in the just-released AI Shell Preview 6 is run_command_in_terminal, among several new built-in tools that allow the AI model to run commands and review outputs directly in your PowerShell terminal. Additionally, AI Shell now supports local and remote MCP servers, transforming it into a versatile AI assistant across Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Who is logged in to PowerShell? Alternatives to whoami
  If you are working with PowerShell, you will often face the question: "Under which user is my script running?" In other words, you want to know who is logged in. Many admins use the whoami command on the Command Prompt (cmd). However, PowerShell provides native alternatives to whoami that give you the username and domain.
• Practical Graph: Creating Dynamic Microsoft 365 Groups without Entra P1 Licenses
  Dynamic Microsoft 365 Groups come with many advantages, but they also require Entra P1 licenses. This article explores how to create and maintain a DIY version of dynamic Microsoft 365 groups using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK and Azure Automation. At the end of the day, the principle is proven, but maybe it's best to pay for the licenses.
• Create an Image in Nerdio using PSNerdio
  The next part! Create an image in Nerdio using PSNerdio. So, the next step is of course creating an image in Nerdio. We want to do that automatically via PSNerdio. So, let’s add some CMDlets to the module to make sure we can do everything from code. Link to the GitHub repo.
• Using the Microsoft-Extractor-Suite PowerShell module for collecting Microsoft Online logs
  Collecting logs from various Microsoft Endpoints, like Entra, 365 Services, and Azure, can be a hassle sometimes. The Microsoft-Extractor-Suite module from Joey Rentenaar and Korstiaan Tam can help you with that! In this blog post, I will show you how to use it
• Choosing the Right Command-Line Tool for Your Needs: CMD vs PowerShell vs Windows Terminal - Izoate Tech
  Confused about Choosing the Right Command Line Tool? Explore the differences between CMD, PowerShell, and Windows Terminal to find the best fit for your needs.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Servy
  Servy lets you run any app as a Windows service with full control over working directory, startup type, process priority, logging, health checks, environment variables, dependencies, pre-launch scripts and parameters. A fully managed alternative to NSSM.
• PixelPoSH
  PixelPoSH is a PowerShell module that generates customizable, random SVG backgrounds using the PSSVG DSL (no System.Drawing).
• PowerShell Localization
  A Visual Studio Code extension that displays PowerShell localization variable values as decorations in your editor, making it easier to develop and debug internationalized PowerShell modules.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell in the Pipeline: Open Source CI/CD with GitHub Actions
  Learn how to build reliable CI/CD pipelines in GitHub with a focus on PowerShell. Microsoft MVP Emanuel Palm will show us the basics of GitHub Actions from VS Code, discuss community collaboration in open source projects, and show how to start automating your own modules or other projects.

Community

• PSStucco, Accessibility, and the Power of Templating in PowerShell with Gilbert Sanchez & Jake Hildreth
  In this high-energy episode, returning guests Gilbert Sanchez and Jake Hildreth join Andrew for a deep dive into:

Fun

• If powershell commands were translated into your language, what would be the best example?
  A fun and light hearted thread

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  Today is the last day to submit your proposals!
• PSConfEU MiniCon 2025
  MiniCon is back! Join the PSConfEU community on 14 October 2025. Secure your free ticket now!

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Introducing MCP Support in AI Shell Preview 6
  We're excited to share the latest preview release of AI Shell that includes new features and improvements based on your feedback.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• How Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Access Tokens Work
  If you use the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK, you don’t need to worry about obtaining an access token because SDK cmdlets include automatic token management. Although you don’t need to know the details of the access token used in an SDK session, it’s possible to find and examine its contents, and even use the token with a Graph request. It's a nice to know thing that you’ll never need in practice.
• PowerShell Find All Files With Extension
  Ever found yourself needing to quickly list every .pdf or .xlsx file scattered across hundreds of folders on your Windows laptop? PowerShell helps find every file with a particular extension—no matter where it’s hiding. In this tutorial, I will explain how to find all files with extensions using PowerShell with examples.
• Investigating Document Exfiltration with the Graph Activity Log
  In this installment of our Graph Activity Log series, we’ll provide a practical playbook for using the Graph Activity Log and Kusto Query Language (KQL) to hunt for indicators of document exfiltration.
• Linking all required resources to Nerdio via PSNerdio
  Second part of the series! This part is about linking all required resources to nerdio via PSNerdio. So, in the previous part of this series I mentioned that the PowerShell module created by Nerdio needs some love. I wanted to link my resourcegroups to Nerdio and that CMDlet was not working.
• Exploring the PowerShell Gallery using PSGalleryExplorer
  The PowerShell Gallery is the primary source for downloading most of your modules. You can search and find information about them using the website or... By using the PSGalleryExplorer module from Jake Morison :) In this blog post, I will show you how to use it.
• Timing Scripts
  How to manage time effectively in scripts

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• GenXdev.Queries v 1.236.2025
  A Windows PowerShell module for finding resources and information on the internet
• PowerShellWeb Turtle
  I implemented Turtle in#PowerShell, so now we can draw shapes and fractals in PowerShell.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• LAPS Password Not Stored in Intune
  Generate Missing LAPS Password Report

Community

• From EntraAuth to PSConfEU with Fred Weinmann
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla reunites with PowerShell legend Fred, diving deep into productivity with hotkeys and key bindings, EntraAuth, C# integration, and community reflections from PowerShell Conference EU. Fred shares practical advice for improving your daily workflow, how to extend PowerShell with C#, and why participation in the community—whether through conferences or contributing modules—can be a game-changer for your career.

Events

• Watch Live: Visual Studio Toolbox at VS LIVE! Redmond 2025
  On Tuesday, August 5, join us for a special edition of Visual Studio Toolbox Live—broadcast from VS LIVE!
• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  We are thrilled to invite you to submit your session proposals for the 2026 PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, taking place in Bellevue, WA, from April 13-16, 2026. This Summit is the premier event for PowerShell and DevOps professionals, offering a unique opportunity to share knowledge, solve problems, socialize, and network with peers. Whether you're an Automater, Integrator, Problem-Solver, Tinkerer, Scripter, or Tech Wizard, this event is for you! 

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Smarter AI Edits in Visual Studio Copilot
  When we first set out to get smarter AI edits in Visual Studio Copilot, we knew we were tackling a deeply complex problem. It wasn’t just about generating great suggestions—it was about figuring out how to seamlessly apply those suggestions to your code.
• How to Delete Recurring Planner Tasks with PowerShell
  Are you using PowerShell and Microsoft Planner? I feel it doesn’t get the love it deserves, and to be honest, I hadn’t used PowerShell with Planner in a while, but wanted to get back into it. I first starting using the Microsoft.Graph.Planner and found some limitations that were possible if you used the Graph API directly.
• Mount an NFS Share on Windows 11 with PowerShell
  The Network File System (NFS) is a widely used file-sharing protocol in Linux environments. However, many Windows administrators may not know you can mount an NFS share easily on Windows 11 and Windows Server. This guide shows you step-by-step instructions on activating NFS for Windows and mounting a share using PowerShell.
• PowerShell v5.x and v7.x differences
  This is a question I often get: Why or when should I use PowerShell v5 or v7? In this blog post, I will highlight key points from the excellent Microsoft Learn article on this topic and share some personal experiences.
• Combine Images
  So I decided to let Powershell combine the images for me vertically to allow me to have one long image as the end result.
• PowerShell to verify the auditing status for our Organization
  Today I am sharing small informative article. This article is regarding verifying if an auditing is turned on or not for our organization using PowerShell.
• Securing a Departing Employee’s OneDrive File Sharing
  Secure a departing employee's OneDrive with Microsoft 365 group restrictions. Step-by-step guide for SharePoint Admin Center & PowerShell. Keep data safe!

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• TheDashboard v 0.0.42
  TheDashboard is a module that allows you to create a dashboard for your HTML reports
• PSPreworkout v 1.9.11
  A special mix of tools to help jump start your PowerShell session!

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• August 2025 Update for Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell eBook
  The August 2025 update for the Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell eBook is available for subscribers to download. The eBook now includes over 350 content-rich pages packed full of practical examples of how to use PowerShell to automate Microsoft 365 operations. It’s an essential tool for anyone who needs to use PowerShell in a Microsoft 365 environment.

Community

• Are PowerShell Pros Ready for C# - Ryan Coates
  In this insightful episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla welcomes longtime friend and seasoned technologist Ryan Coates. Together, they explore the intersection of PowerShell and C#, discuss the natural evolution of tech careers, and examine the role of continuous learning in long-term success.
• Move your Automation to the Cloud using Azure Automation with Morten Mynster
  Still using schedule task on multiple servers? How about trying some Azure automation to centralize the management logging and getting the added benefit of Source control for your scripts.

Events

• Watch Live: Visual Studio Toolbox at VS LIVE! Redmond 2025
  On Tuesday, August 5, join us for a special edition of Visual Studio Toolbox Live—broadcast from VS LIVE!
• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  We are thrilled to invite you to submit your session proposals for the 2026 PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, taking place in Bellevue, WA, from April 13-16, 2026. This Summit is the premier event for PowerShell and DevOps professionals, offering a unique opportunity to share knowledge, solve problems, socialize, and network with peers. Whether you're an Automater, Integrator, Problem-Solver, Tinkerer, Scripter, or Tech Wizard, this event is for you! 

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Announcing Microsoft.PowerShell.PlatyPS 1.0.0
  We are pleased to announce the general availability of Microsoft.PowerShell.PlatyPS 1.0.0, a tool to build PowerShell help files.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Finding Group Policy settings by category
  A PowerShell script to search for GPO settings by category.
• Install Microsoft AI Shell on Mac
  Microsoft has released AI Shell v1.0.0‑preview.5, which provides a Windows-only security patch, while Preview 4 delivered substantial improvements—enhanced macOS side‑pane support in iTerm2, Entra ID authentication, expanded Invoke‑AIShell functionality (with new -PostCode, -CopyCode, and -Exit flags)—all based on community feedback to improve workflows across Azure OpenAI, macOS, and PowerShell. This article also explains how to install Microsoft AI Shell on macOS.
• Be Careful with Retention Labels Configured with Created Date Expiration
  Retention policies and retention labels have been around for about 8 years. Some of the older retention settings might use file created dates to remove items. No doubt basing retention on creation dates made perfect sense at the time, but experience shows that maybe basing retention on the last modified date can be better. All explored here together with a script to update retention labels in OneDrive.
• Microsoft Teams Direct Routing: Phone Number Inventory
  In this article, Thorsten Pickhan covers how to add Direct Routing phone numbers to the internal Teams Phone Number database, how to remove phone numbers, and the benefits of doing so.
• Ordering and Choices in PowerShell
  Ah! Hash tables! Ever since I saw a presentation by Anthony Howell ( Blog ), aka PoshWolf, about them, read the blog post by Kevin Marquette ( Blog ) about them, and was enlightened by multiple PowerShell community members (e.g. Chris Dent, Mathias "IISResetMe" Jessen, etc.) about them, I’ve loved hash tables.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• NetTrace v 1.4.0
  A professional PowerShell module for Windows network tracing using the native netsh trace utility with circular file management, non-blocking background operation, and enterprise-grade persistence capabilities.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell Runspaces Deep Dive - Jordan Borean, Justin Grote
  This lecture explores PowerShell RunSpaces, providing an in-depth examination of their functionality, applications, and intricacies beyond basic tutorials typically found online. Justin Grote and Jordan Borean lead the discussion, aiming to equip participants with a deeper understanding of what's happening behind the scenes when utilizing RunSpaces, ultimately unveiling the “magic” that occurs during execution.
• Check Email Read Status with PowerShell & Microsoft Graph API!
  Learn how to use Microsoft Graph API with PowerShell to check the read status of emails in Outlook 365. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the steps to authenticate with Graph API, access email data, and determine whether an email has been read or not.

Community

• PowerShell Community Call - July 17th, 2025
  View the replay of the July 2025 PowerShell Community Call
• The Power of Splatting and Team Empowerment
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, Andrew Pla welcomes longtime friend and DevOps Endpoint Engineer David Richmond. Fresh off his PowerShell Wednesday presentation, David shares insights into the power of splatting in PowerShell, centralizing automations, and driving organizational change through best practices and leadership. The conversation explores the evolution of automation practices, Git adoption in Ops, secrets management using Azure Key Vault, and how empowering others can multiply technical impact. It’s an inspiring blend of deep PowerShell knowledge and practical career development advice.

Fun

• The Syntax and The Shredding Podcast: Episode 2: The Legend of Power Metal and PowerShell's Gold
  The second episode is about my security PowerShell module while listening to Falconer's Royal Galley from their 1st self titled album Falconer.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  We are thrilled to invite you to submit your session proposals for the 2026 PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, taking place in Bellevue, WA, from April 13-16, 2026. This Summit is the premier event for PowerShell and DevOps professionals, offering a unique opportunity to share knowledge, solve problems, socialize, and network with peers. Whether you're an Automater, Integrator, Problem-Solver, Tinkerer, Scripter, or Tech Wizard, this event is for you! 
• SQL Saturday Baton Rouge 2025 (#1110)
  Come July 26th and see Mike Robbins present Mastering #PowerShell Functions and Script Modules: Build, Reuse, and Share Your Code Like a Pro.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.29 Now Available
  Version 2.29 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK can now be downloaded from the PowerShell Gallery. Initial tests show that the release is stable. However, it’s recommended that you deploy V2.29 on a few workstations to test essential scripts before proceeding to a full-scale roll-out. V2.29 does not address the issue with PowerShell runtime in Azure Automation, but overall, first indications are that V2.29 is a good release.
• Azure Update Manager: Register all required resource providers with a PowerShell script
  This blog post will show you how to use an Azure PowerShell script to register all required Azure Update ManagerContinue Reading
• Why does my 365 Admin Audit Log sometime say it’s disabled, but other times enabled? Am I being compromised?
  Let me first start this off with I’m 99% sure you aren’t being compromised, but read on to see what I mean. I first ran into this when I was running Maester and I saw that it said my test failed for having Unified Audit Log enabled.
• METR study: Is AI-assisted coding overhyped?
  A new study by METR got a lot of attention online. It claims that developers often overestimate the productivity boost from AI tools. In a coding test, the researchers found that AI caused a 19% "slowdown" for developers. In my opinion, it's not AI coding that's overhyped, but rather the study's findings.
• Using Get-NetNeighbor to retrieve MAC, Vendor and IP details in PowerShell
  I just moved to my new house and reconfigured all my network equipment. I wanted to know which MAC address belongs to which Vendor and the corresponding IP details, as well as the open ports. In this blog post, I will demonstrate how to use Get-NetNeighbor and NMAP for this purpose.
• PowerShell Potluck June 2025
  Once again, we've reached the end of the month. By the time you read this, I will have wrapped up my European PowerShell Tour.
• How to Run Atomic Red Team on Linux and Automate Attack Simulations with Velociraptor
  Atomic Red Team is an outstanding framework for simulating real-world adversary behaviors. While many security professionals focus on Windows endpoints, it’s equally crucial to validate detection.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Splatting for Better PowerShell Code with David Richmond
  Single-line function calls with multiple parameters are hard to read (and maintain!) in scripts. There's a cleaner way to do complex function calls, so let's dive in to see how splatting keeps code cleaner AND can make it smarter.
• PowerShell Conference EU 2025
  More video have been added. Be sure to check them out.
• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  The full summit playlist is now available

Community

• PSConfEU 2025 Bar Sessions: Community, Code & Connection PSConfEU 2025 Bar Sessions: Community, Code & Connection
  In this special live episode recorded amidst the rain-soaked streets of Malmö duringPSConfEU 2025, host Andrew Pla brings us a vibrant, multi-guest edition of the PowerShell Podcast. From impromptu bar chats to in-depth discussions on PowerShell modules, CI/CD pipelines, career growth, and community culture, this episode captures the heart of the PowerShell community in full force.
• Congrats to all new and renewed MVPs!
  Search PowerShell for the full list.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  We are thrilled to invite you to submit your session proposals for the 2026 PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, taking place in Bellevue, WA, from April 13-16, 2026. This Summit is the premier event for PowerShell and DevOps professionals, offering a unique opportunity to share knowledge, solve problems, socialize, and network with peers. Whether you're an Automater, Integrator, Problem-Solver, Tinkerer, Scripter, or Tech Wizard, this event is for you! 
• SQL Saturday Baton Rouge 2025 (#1110)
  Come July 26th and see Mike Robbins present Mastering #PowerShell Functions and Script Modules: Build, Reuse, and Share Your Code Like a Pro.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.29 Now Available
  Version 2.29 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK can now be downloaded from the PowerShell Gallery. Initial tests show that the release is stable. However, it’s recommended that you deploy V2.29 on a few workstations to test essential scripts before proceeding to a full-scale roll-out. V2.29 does not address the issue with PowerShell runtime in Azure Automation, but overall, first indications are that V2.29 is a good release.
• Microsoft finally bids farewell to PowerShell 2.0
  Users still clinging on to PowerShell 2.0 just received notice to quit as the command-line tool is officially leaving Windows.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• CleanupMonster v 3.1.5
  This module provides an easy way to cleanup Active Directory from dead/old objects based on various criteria. It can also disable, move or delete objects. It can utilize Azure AD, Intune and Jamf to get additional information about objects before deleting them.
• Free up RAM in Windows with taskkill, PowerShell, and Sysinternals RAMMap
  Freeing up RAM on Windows can significantly improve system performance, especially when certain applications consume excessive memory. In this guide, you’ll learn how to free up RAM using taskkill on the command prompt, PowerShell, wmic, and the free Sysinternals RAMMap tool, with step-by-step instructions for each method.
• Send Email Alert for Break Glass Account Activity
  Break glass accounts in Microsoft 365 are used for emergency access when admin accounts get locked out. But since they hold global admin privileges, they’re a prime target for attackers.
• Practical Graph: Tracking Critical App Actions Through Audit Events
  App management audit events are captured when changes are made to Entra registered and enterprise apps. Critical app management audit events should be closely monitored to ensure that permissions are used properly and attackers haven't attempted to penetrate the tenant to extract data. This article explains how to find and analyze audit data for some critical app management audit events and run the code as an Azure Automation runbook.
• How to Remove SharePoint Sharing Links using PowerShell   
  In our earlier blog we explored how to export all sharing links to track and audit file sharing across your SharePoint Online environment. The post helped admins identify various link types, spot risky shares, and gain visibility into shared content across sites.
• PowerCLI Reimagined: Deep Dive into VCF PowerCLI 9.0
  Introduction PowerCLI has long established itself as one of the most trusted and widely adopted automation tools across VMware environments.
• How to Update PowerShell on Windows (All Methods)
  PowerShell may take time to respond to your commands or return with errors. At times, PowerShell may also fail to open on your Windows PC. So, if you think that PowerShell is outdated on your device, it’s time to update it to the latest version.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• dbatools v 2.1.32
  The community module that enables SQL Server Pros to automate database development and server administration
• TerminalBlocks v2.0.0 (pre-release)
  PowerShell Native Prompt Blocks

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PSCONFEU 2025
  More videos from PSCONFEU 2025 are being added daily.
• Optimize Your Microsoft Graph Calls
  Building a Graph Pre-Processor Module with Christian Ritter

Community

• Building Layers of Protection and Purpose - Miriam Wiesner
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we catch up with returning guest and security research program manager at Microsoft, Miriam Wiesner. Recorded live at PowerShell Conference EU in Malmö, Sweden, we dive into her fascinating journey from Premier Field Engineer to her current role in security research. Miriam reflects on her early talks about Just Enough Administration (JEA), shares insights into MFA bypass techniques involving browser cookies (with a fun appearance from Cookie Monster), and emphasizes the importance of defense-in-depth and layered security.

Events

• Teaching AI to Use Your Tools
  It's Not Just Devs Using Your Code Anymore

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Apologizes for the abridged version of PowerShell Weekly. It's a holiday and my nephew's waiting on me to take him fishing. I owe you all an extra-large edition next week. Thanks for understanding!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• How to Add Timeouts to Pester Tests with PowerShell Runspaces
  Prevent Pester tests from hanging indefinitely using PowerShell runspaces. Learn to handle variable scoping, module loading, TestDrive access, and stream capture challenges with timeout protection.
• How to Block Registry Editor in Windows Devices using PowerShell Script Group Policy and Intune Policy
  Hello - Here is the new HTMD Blog Article for you. Enjoy reading it.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Azure Arc: Uninstall the Connected Machine agent and clean up related resources on Windows using a PowerShell script
  In this blog post, I’ll walk you through removing the Azure Arc Connected Machine agent from a Windows machine and cleaning up all related folders, files, registry keys, other agents, and configuration files using a PowerShell script.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell Second Edition
  The Office 365 for IT Pros team are thrilled to announce the availability of Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell (2nd edition). This completely revised 350-page book delivers the most comprehensive coverage of how to use Microsoft Graph APIs and the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK with Microsoft 365 workloads. Existing subscribers can download the second edition now free of charge.

Community

• Behind the Shell with Microsoft
  In this episode, recorded live at PSConfEU, Andrew catches up with some of the PowerShell team from Microsoft to talk all things PowerShell—from AIShell to PSResourceGet to the future of DSC and OpenSSH.

Events

• NYC Agentic Foundation – First Meetup
  I’ll be attending. They're demoing Claude, Roo, and early agentic workflows. If you're into orchestration, multi-agent coordination, or spec-driven dev (AIDD, anyone?), it's worth a look.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Token Protection Extends to Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Sessions
  The conditional access policy condition for token protection now extends to Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK interactive sessions. Any account within the scope of a CA policy that requires token protection can use Web Account Manager (WAM) to sign in and check that everything is secure and ready to go. It’s a protection that might be of interest to administrators and developers that access sensitive data in Graph SDK sessions.
• PowerShell 101: Creating a Module Manifest
  Maybe you've put together some great functions but struggle to make them cohesive, intuitive, or shareable. Without a way to define your module's identity and functionality, managing or scaling as your scripts evolve into robust tools can be a headache. Not unless you have a module manifest in place.
• Reboot with PowerShell: Use Restart-Computer to restart locally, remotely, and automate reboots for multiple Windows computers
  Rebooting a Windows PC via PowerShell is a routine administrative task. This guide will teach you how to use the PowerShell cmdlet Restart-Computer to reboot a local Windows PC, restart a remote computer, and automate the reboot process for multiple systems.
• 10 Powerful PowerShell Select-String Examples
  As a PowerShell administrator, I mostly worked with the PowerShell Select-String cmdlet. So, I thought to show you 10 real examples of Select-String in PowerShell.
• Practical Graph: Finding Owners for Ownerless Apps from Audit Data
  When administrators create new Entra ID apps, the apps don't have an owner unless an owner is explicitly assigned. The net result is that a tenant can end up with many ownerless apps. In this article, we explain how to find ownerless apps, and how to use audit data to find suitable owners for those apps. All done with PowerShell, of course.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• EntraFIDOFinder Update
  June( v0.0.18) update is here and we skipped May as I could tell they were still making some changes so I didn’t push them to the PowerShell gallery. This month they removed 50+ keys as they were unapproved models, but there are still over 150 keys that are Entra Attestation capable!

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Optimizing Visual Studio Code for PowerShell, 2025 Edition
  In this session, Justin Grote presents an in-depth overview of optimizing Visual Studio Code (VS Code) specifically for PowerShell development. He begins by establishing the importance of VS Code as the recommended editor for PowerShell, having evolved from a basic text editor to a powerful tool that supports a variety of programming languages and capabilities. The lecture aims to provide a structured approach for setting up VS Code for PowerShell users, whether they are new to the environment or seasoned developers looking to refine their setup.
• Lightning Demos from PSConfEU
  See the Lightning Demos from PSConfEU 2025

Community

• A Conversation from the Heart of PSConfEU
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla reports live from PowerShell Conference Europe 2025 in Malmö, Sweden. With energy high and community engagement stronger than ever, Andrew chats with key figures shaping the PowerShell ecosystem.
• The Dos and Don'ts of PowerShell with Steven Judd and Gilbert Sanchez
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re joined by Steven Judd and Gilbert Sanchez, two active contributors and speakers in the PowerShell community. We talk about the Dos and Don'ts of PowerShell. We cover topics like documentation, testing, community, how you should view yourself in your growth, and even get some top tips on logging from those who have done PowerShell at the highest levels. 
• PowerShell Community Call
  June 2025 Community Call recording

Events

• NYC Agentic Foundation – First Meetup
  I’ll be attending. They're demoing Claude, Roo, and early agentic workflows. If you're into orchestration, multi-agent coordination, or spec-driven dev (AIDD, anyone?), it's worth a look.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.