pwshguy

Announcements!

• v7.4.10 Release of PowerShell
  PowerShell 7.4.10 has been released

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Shorten Azure CLI commands in PowerShell without backticks
  Learn how to shorten Azure CLI commands in PowerShell using arrays and splatting. No backticks needed. Cleaner, safer, and easier automation.
• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.28 Attempts to Restore Stability
  On May 10, 2025, Microsoft released V2.28 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK in the hope that the new version would fix a bunch of annoying problems that have dogged the SDK for several months. The first few days haven’t revealed any new problems and bug reports are being closed, so the signs are positive. But do test before deploying V2.28 into production.
• What are GitHub Copilot instruction files? A simple usage example
  In Visual Studio Code version 1.100, Microsoft introduced GitHub Copilot instruction files, which mirror the Rules feature in AI IDEs like Cursor and Windsurf. Instructions allow you to guide the AI assistant’s behavior by providing specific, context-aware directives tailored to your coding standards and project requirements.
• Get SharePoint List Column Details [Internal Name, Display Name, Data Type] Using PnP PowerShell
  A few weeks before, I developed a Power Apps application for a client that takes data sources as a SharePoint list. There are almost six lists, and each list has more than 20 fields. Due to some permission issues, we had to manually create all the lists and columns on the SharePoint site.
• How to Check if a PowerShell String Contains Special Characters (5 Easy Methods)
  Recently, I was working on a PowerShell script to validate user inputs, and I needed to check if strings contained special characters. This is a common requirement when validating usernames, passwords, or parsing data files. The challenge is that PowerShell treats many special characters differently since they have specific meanings in the language.
• Using Show-ObjectTree to browse PowerShell Objects
  You can use Get-Member to discover all Methods and Properties when working with Variables. But browsing them in your PowerShell Terminal is easier using Show-ObjectTree. In this small blog post, I'm having a busy week and preparing for my WorkplaceNinjasNL session next week, I will show you how that cmdlet works :-)

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• IntuneMermaid
  This module was created to generate diagrams on Mermaid format for Intune assignments of profiles and applications.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell: Creating viewer requested script 01
  In this video, I will be demonstrating viewer requested script for modifying taskbar behaviors settings.
• How to Create Amazing Websites with Obsidian and GitHub
  In this episode of PowerShell Wednesday, we're joined by Joshua Dearing (aka Fortress) who delivers a fantastic, beginner-friendly walkthrough on how to build and publish a personal website using GitHub Pages.

Community

• PowerShell, Security, and the Path to Mastery.
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we bring you a special double feature! We chat with Bogdan Calapod live from PDQ HQ, a seasoned security expert and co-founder of Coda, who reflects on his path from hackathon projects to helping organizations secure their environments. Then, we sit down with Lucas Allman live from the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, where he shares his journey from podcast listener to conference presenter. Key topics in this episode include:

Fun

• PowerShell Terminal Setup
  I just got back from Midwest Management Summit (MMS MOA), and I was a little surprised how many people wanted to know how I setup my terminal. I figured that since I had to read a couple of blog posts to get exactly the setup that I was after, this deserved a blog post.

Events

• PowerShell Conference Europe 2025
  23-26 June 2025

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

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Sudo for Windows (PowerShell)
  Sudo for Windows is a new way for users to execute commands with elevated privileges (as an administrator) directly from a non-relevant console session on Windows.
• How to Permanently Remove Mailbox Items with the Graph API
  Some new Graph APIs were announced on April 1 to close a feature gap with EWS. The new APIs permanently remove mailbox items and other objects, including folders, calendars, and calendar items. Permanent deletion means that items cannot be recovered through clients because they end up in the Purges folder in Recoverable Items. This article explains how the new APIs work, including a practical example.
• How to Check if a Variable is Null or Empty in PowerShell?
  While working on PowerShell scripts, you’ll often need to check if a variable contains data before performing operations on it. There are various methods for checking this. In this article, I’ll show you several methods to check if a PowerShell variable is null or empty.
• Export All Mailboxes in Microsoft 365 Using PowerShell
  Managing Exchange Online mailboxes is one of the most essential responsibilities for Microsoft 365 administrators. Whether you’re conducting audits, offboarding M365 users, or handling routine mailbox maintenance, having quick access to a complete and accurate list of mailboxes is vital.
• Using PowerShell to disable (audio) devices in Windows
  I often encounter this issue. I dock my laptop at a customer's location and start a Teams call with someone. No idea what audio device my microphone in Teams will be or what output device it will use, the built-in speakers of the monitor attached to the docking station? My Sony earplugs? In this small blog post, I will show you how you can search and disable a lot of (audio) devices at once using PowerShell :)
• PowerShell Format Number: Essentials Made Easy
  Discover the art of PowerShell format number and master the nuances of numeric formatting. This concise guide unveils tips for polished scripts.
• How Can You Dramatically Boost Exchange PowerShell Performance with Multi-Threading? - PUPUWEB
  Is Your Bulk Exchange Script Sluggish? Discover the Game-Changing PowerShell Parallelism! Optimizing bulk operations in Microsoft Exchange using
• The PowerShell Pipeline
  When I first started learning PowerShell, one of the most fascinating things to discover was the “pipeline”. I was already amazed with the data that I could gather by running commands, but using the pipeline took that to the next level.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• New version of EntraFIDOFinder is out now
  Now with over 15 new keys! It was a little slow last month, but this month they made up with adding 6 new Vendors too. For the module, most of the enhancements were on the backend, where I created a function to reorganize any keys that weren’t following the standard configuration.
• Oh My Posh update to non-module version
  After my latest (not so) regular update of installed PowerShell modules, I was surprised by a breaking change in the Oh My Posh module. Fortunately, a link to an online migration guide was displayed directly in the terminal to get me started, but it still took me some time to get it working again.
• dbatools v2.1.31
  The community module that enables SQL Server Pros to automate database development and server administration
• Intune Primary User Mix Up
  Tired of one tech “owning” every Intune device? Use my quick PowerShell cleanup script and put the right users back in charge fast!

Community

• Growing with PowerShell and Community Support - Joshua Dearing
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Joshua Dearing, aka Fortress, to explore his personal and professional growth through PowerShell, community engagement, and saying yes to new opportunities. Fresh off his first PowerShell Wednesday presentation, Joshua shares the story of how he overcame imposter syndrome, started his blog, and found confidence by getting involved in the PowerShell community. Key topics in this episode include:

Events

• Rolling Your Own Configuration as Code Toolset
  Lucas will demo his home-grown toolset which includes custom PowerShell modules for maintaining the environment, the Microsoft.PowerShell.SecretManagement module for managing automation credentials, GitHub for versioning and collaboration and good old Window Task Scheduler.
• PowerShell Conference Europe 2025
  23-26 June 2025

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

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• PowerShell: Changing Active Directory User Logon Names (Bulk)
  Active Directory users log on with their logon names and password. But what are the rules for assigning usernames? g.surname? surname? gsurname? What are the naming conventions?
• Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell Update #11
  Update #11 for the Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell eBook is now available for subscribers to download. The eBook is now over 300 pages long and includes extensive coverage of using PowerShell to interact with Exchange Online, Teams, Planner, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business data using workload modules or the Graph APIs (and Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK).
• Check the Windows Server version to determine if an in-place upgrade to Server 2025 is supported
  Before upgrading to Windows Server 2025, check your existing Windows Server version to determine if an in-place upgrade is feasible. You can check the Windows version via the graphical user interface, Windows PowerShell, or the command prompt.
• How to Add Items to an Array in PowerShell (5 Simple Methods)
  Recently, I was developing an automation script to manage a large inventory of servers, and I needed to add items to an array as the script ran dynamically. The challenge is that PowerShell handles arrays differently than many other programming languages. In this tutorial, I will show you five proven methods to add items to
• Set Up Email Notifications for Application Credentials Expiry in Microsoft Entra
  Each organization registers applications in Microsoft Entra ID for various purposes, such as integrating third-party services, enabling Single Sign-On (SSO), or automating business processes. To ensure these applications function smoothly, they require credentials like client secrets or certificates, which are used to obtain access tokens and access organizational resources.
• Creating Intune Randomized Rollouts with Entra Group Membership
  In our org, we have around 40k devices. Rolling out policies in the Group Policy days was a little bit easier for us, as we weren’t hitting every device at once (way too many forests). The great thing about Intune, is that we can hit all the devices at once. The bad thing about Intune, is we can hit all devices at once!
• Using PowerShell to Find Outdated Ubuntu Containers
  With Ubuntu 20.04 LTS’s sunset on the horizon, my manager forwarded an email about the need to update all of our Docker images to version 22.04. He sent it out as an FYI, but I took a moment to context switch towards answering this question because I thought that I could figure this out quickly using a one-liner in PowerShell.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell Using the Pipe Line
  Intro into the PowerShell Pipeline
• Build Amazing WinUI 3 GUIs with PowerShell in Minutes!
  Want to build stunning modern Windows GUIs directly from PowerShell? In this episode of PowerShell Pro Tips, Microsoft MVP Andrew Pla dives into the WinUIShell module — an open-source gem that lets you create slick WinUI 3 interfaces with just a few lines of PowerShell code.

Community

• Lessons in Leadership from PowerShell Pioneers Jeffrey Snover and Don Jones
  In this very special episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with two legends of the PowerShell world: Jeffrey Snover, the inventor of PowerShell, and Don Jones, bestselling author, teacher, and longtime PowerShell community builder. Recorded live at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, this conversation is packed with personal insights, impactful moments, and the kind of storytelling that only Snover and Jones can deliver. 

Events

• Rolling Your Own Configuration as Code Toolset
  Lucas will demo his home-grown toolset which includes custom PowerShell modules for maintaining the environment, the Microsoft.PowerShell.SecretManagement module for managing automation credentials, GitHub for versioning and collaboration and good old Window Task Scheduler.
• PowerShell Conference Europe 2025
  23-26 June 2025

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

Announcements!

• PowerShell v7.5.1
  Come and get the latest and greatest!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Restrict and report logon hours for Active Directory accounts
  For security purposes, it may be beneficial to restrict Active Directory account logins to regular working hours. These logon times can be configured using the calendar widget in Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC). However, PowerShell provides a more efficient and flexible alternative, particularly because it offers reporting capabilities that the graphical interface does not.
• How to Report the Sponsors of Entra ID Guest Accounts
  Entra ID populates the sponsor property for new guest accounts with details of the person who invites the guest to the tenant. It's data that can be used for different purposes, such as having someone to justify the continued presence of a guest account in a Microsoft 365 tenant. This article explains how to report guest accounts and their sponsors with some straightforward PowerShell.
• Why aligning equals signs in PowerShell hash tables matters
  If you ever formatted a hash table in PowerShell, you know how easy it is to focus on function over form. But what if one minor formatting tweak could improve readability, reduce syntax errors, simplify code reviews, and enhance script maintainability?
• Windows PowerToys 2 in 1 Short cuts
  In Windows 11 there’s a really powerful set of tools called “Microsoft PowerToys“. Within the features there’s a section to make your own shortcut hot keys under “Keyboard Manager”
• Tab completions in PowerShell
  While learning about Fast Node Manager, I noticed completions for PowerShell being mentioned in the documentation. I wasn't aware of completions beyond filenames and cmdlets were even supported in PowerShell. I decided to try them out with Fast Node Manager first and then check if they are available for other command line tools I regularly use.
• How to post on Bluesky with PowerShell
  I wanted to know how to use the Bluesky APIs and PowerShell for new posts (or Skeets). Bluesky has published a sample to post via code, also they have very good documentation about their API.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Video: Windows Server App Control and Azure Arc
  Are you looking for ways to enhance the security of your Windows Server environment? In this video, we explore how to leverage App Control to secure your Windows Server and manage it at scale using Microsoft Azure Arc.
• PowerShell Execution Policy: A Comprehensive Guide
  Have you encountered an error “execution of scripts is disabled on this system” while trying to run a PowerShell script? I am sure you must have at least at the beginning. This is because of PowerShell’s execution policy settings. In this article, I will walk you through everything you need to know about PowerShell execution

Community

• The Powershell Podcast Summit sessions with Adam Rivera, Asmar Fontenot, & Luis Orta
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we bring you another Summit Sessions special recorded live at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025! This episode is a celebration of first-time attendees, newcomers to the PowerShell community, and those discovering their voice in tech. Andrew Pla sits down with passionate IT professionals who share their personal stories of growth, connection, and finding purpose through PowerShell and community.

Fun

• PSPodcast
  A few commands to get and display information of episodes of The PowerShell Podcast.
• Basically me to my new coworkers this week.
  100% agree!

Events

• Rolling Your Own Configuration as Code Toolset
  Lucas will demo his home-grown toolset which includes custom PowerShell modules for maintaining the environment, the Microsoft.PowerShell.SecretManagement module for managing automation credentials, GitHub for versioning and collaboration and good old Window Task Scheduler.
• PowerShell Conference Europe 2025
  23-26 June 2025

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

Announcements!

• Important Purview eDiscovery Changes Take Effect in May 2025
  Microsoft is making some important changes to Purview eDiscovery from May 26, 2025. The changes affect how content searches work and are likely to affect many Microsoft 365 tenants. Administrators and eDiscovery investigators will both have to master new ways of working with eDiscovery cases, searching for information, reviewing search results, and exporting what’s found. Changes to PowerShell cmdlets might affect scripts, so there’s lots to consider.
• PowerShell, OpenSSH, and DSC team investments for 2025
  Come read about the investments Microsoft has planned for PowerShell in 2025.
• PnP PowerShell v3 released!
  It has been in the works for a long time, but finally we’re excited to announce that PnP PowerShell 3.0 has been released.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Microsoft Attempts to Fix Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Problem with Azure Automation
  V2.26 and V2.26.1 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK were low-quality, buggy disasters. Microsoft aims to fix the problem in the next version to make it possible for the SDK to work with Azure Automation runbooks again and address many of the obvious problems that should never have appeared outside Microsoft. It will take time for customer confidence to be restored.
• Build your own natural language interface for PowerShell using the Azure OpenAI API
  This article presents a PowerShell script leveraging the Azure OpenAI API, enabling you to execute PowerShell commands using natural language. A key benefit compared to comparable AI tools like ShellGPT is the ability to customize the script.
• Vibe Coding: How I Built a 120K Line App Without “Learning to Code”
  Building real applications with AI isn't just for developers anymore. Here's how I went from PowerShell scripts to a full-stack React/Express app by embracing "vibe coding" with AI.
• Create a Catalog of Windows Update Data using Microsoft Graph
  For some time I have run my own reporting solution for Windows Updates since I’ve never really been happy with the canned reports Microsoft have created in Intune and Windows Update for Business reports, even to this day.
• How to Append Text to Files in PowerShell
  As a PowerShell user, I’ve found that one of the most common tasks is writing data to files, especially appending content to existing files without overwriting previous information. This will be helpful in scenarios such as creating logs, generating reports, or saving script output, etc. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the different methods
• Practical AI: Managing My Travel Calendar with PowerShell
  AI is supposed to make our lives easier, so how about writing some PowerShell to block out timeslots in a travek calendar when the calendar's owner is on the move? Eventually AI gets the task done, but it needed some coaching and firm instruction along the way.
• Using the Get-NetView PowerShell Module for Network Troubleshooting
  Collecting enough logs and information from a system with networking issues can be difficult. You always need just one more to troubleshoot the problem. ;-) In this blog post, I will show you how the built-in Get-NetView module can help you collect all the necessary logs and information.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• AutoCategorizerPS
  A series of scripts that perform zero-shot (untrained) data classification using AI.
• Metro.AI.PowerShell
  Metro-AI is a unified PowerShell module that streamlines management of Azure AI Agent and Assistant APIs.
• psBluesky v2.6.0
  Heads up PowerShell PSBluesky users, time to update the module. Thanks to @wragg.io for adding StarterPack commands.

Community

• The PowerShell Podcast Summit 2025 - Missy, Leslie, & Hailey
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we bring you a special edition live from the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025 — the Summit Sessions! This episode is packed with energy, community stories, and career inspiration as Andrew Pla chats with community leaders, organizers, and first-time contributors about what makes this event and the PowerShell community so special.

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

Announcements!

• v7.6.0-preview.4 Release of PowerShell
  Come test out the latest release.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• PowerShell script: BgInfo deployment script for Windows Server 2025
  In this blog post, I’ll show you how to deploy and configure the latest version of BgInfo on a serverContinue Reading
• Build your own natural language interface for PowerShell using the Azure OpenAI API
  This article presents a PowerShell script leveraging the Azure OpenAI API, enabling you to execute PowerShell commands using natural language. A key benefit compared to comparable AI tools like ShellGPT is the ability to customize the script.
• Mastering Error Handling in PowerShell: Try, Catch, and Finally
  Error handling is a critical aspect of writing robust scripts in any programming language. PowerShell provides a powerful structure for handling errors gracefully using try, catch, and finally blocks.
• Automate Your Virtual Infrastructure Management: A Handy PowerCLI Script for On-Call Situations
  Imagine a scenario where a power outage or building power-up event causes your ESXi hosts to remain in maintenance mode.
• Practical Graph: Running Audit Log Searches with the AuditLog Query API
  After a year or so of using the AuditLog Query Graph API, we have enough experience to be able to explain how to take advantage of the API and when it could be used to run audit searches instead of the Search-UnifiedAuditLog cmdlet. There's lots of PowerShell code in this article to give anyone who wants to experiment with the API a good start to finding audit events.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Create a Web Server on the fly using PowerShell with James Brundage
  Join Microsoft MVP James Brundage for a look at how you can create a fully functional web server in just 50 lines of PowerShell code! 🚀 Come see the potential of transforming PowerShell scripts into dynamic web front ends, setting the stage for your next development project. Don’t miss it!

Community

• PowerShell Summit Bar Sessions 2025 - David R
  In this casual bar-session chat recorded at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025, host Andrew Pla sits down with David R, a first-time attendee with a passion for learning PowerShell. David shares how the PowerShell Podcast itself inspired him to attend and helped shape his scripting journey. What began as a work assignment turned into a powerful learning path, community connection, and a personal transformation.
• Discovering the Deeper Layers of PowerShell with Jeff Hicks
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re joined by the legendary Jeff Hicks, PowerShell educator, author, speaker, and community pillar. With decades of experience shaping the PowerShell landscape, Jeff returns to the podcast to share insights from his latest projects, discuss the evolution of the community, and offer wisdom for both new and experienced PowerShell users. From PowerShell Summit to writing foundational books and building up new contributors, Jeff continues to play a critical role in shaping the PowerShell ecosystem.
• PowerShell Summit Bar Sessions 2025 - Frank Lesniak
  In this episode of the PowerShell Summit 2025 Bar Sessions, Frank Lesniak makes a triumphant return to the podcast. Frank has taken the reigns In this two-sided interview, Frank flips the script and interviews Andrew, but only after we talk about how his week is going, fine dining, how to grow in your career and capitalize on opportunity, the value of empowering others, and more!
• PowerShell Summit Bar Sessions 2025 - Steven Judd
  In this episode of the PowerShell Summit Bar Sessions we talk with Steven Judd. We talk about Summit, Sean Kearney Spirit award, community, career, and more!
• Writing Better PowerShell with Jeff Hicks
  How do you write better PowerShell? Richard talks to Jeff Hicks about his latest book, Behind the PowerShell Pipeline, and his efforts to promote writing PowerShell scripts that are easy to understand, use, and maintain! Jeff...

Announcements!

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  The summit starts on Monday! I can’t wait to see a bunch of you there!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• How to Check CPU Temperature Using PowerShell Command
  Let's check real-time CPU temperature logging using powershell command. In this guide we have discuss best powershell command to monitor CPU temp.
• Duplicate Mail User Objects Created for Guest Accounts
  The February 2025 EX1015484 incident explains why mail user objects with duplicate SMTP addresses are created for guest accounts. That’s a problem because Exchange Online can’t route messages to objects with duplicate email addresses. Fortunately, you can find out if any duplicates exist in your tenant with some PowerShell. Problems happen!
• How to Find Who Assigned Retention Labels to SharePoint Files
  A reader asked if it's possible to discover who made retention label assignments for SharePoint files. The Files Graph API can't tell you who (or what policy) made retention label assignments, but it’s possible to find this information in the audit log and use that data to report the requested information. All with a few lines of PowerShell!

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• TeamViewerPS v 2.2.0
  TeamViewerPS allows to interact with the TeamViewer Web API as well as a locally installed TeamViewer client.
• PSCalendar v2.10.1
  A set of PowerShell commands for displaying calendars in the console. The module is compatible with Windows PowerShell and PowerShell 7.
• Creating a No-Prompt ConfigMgr Boot Image ISO
  Here are two PowerShell scripts that can be used to create a No-Prompt ConfigMgr Boot Image ISO. This is particularly useful when performing large-scale deployments of virtual machines, or for any automation related to VM deployments, such as our Image Factory solution for ConfigMgr.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell best practices for Intune: Error Handling
  In the next part of our PowerShell best practices series, we go over how to get started with error handling.

Community

• Contribute a tip (now available via PR template)
  Have a PowerShell tip you want to share? Know of a great module, blog post, or community event that you think others should know about?
• From Proper Football to Databases with Jess Pomfret
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we reconnect with Jess Pomfret, a PowerShell and SQL Server powerhouse, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and community advocate. From her early days in England to becoming a respected speaker and consultant, Jess shares her journey into tech, her passion for automation, and the importance of mentorship, curiosity, and community.
• MVP Summit 2025
  This year was my first in-person MVP Summit at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond. In this blog post, I will highlight a few things about the week, but... I won't share any details about the sessions because of the non-disclosure agreement (NDA). :)

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

Announcements!

• Docker images containing PowerShell now maintained by the .NET team
  For years, the PowerShell team has maintained official PowerShell Docker images. Moving forward, we are using the Docker images produced by the .NET team.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Install IIS and PHP 8.x on Windows 11 and Server 2025 (Core)
  PHP is still available on Windows despite Microsoft no longer providing support for version 8.x. It can be integrated as a script engine into Internet Information Services (IIS), either through the graphical IIS Manager or via PowerShell, which is especially useful for Server Core installations.
• Using Windows Terminal Chat with GitHub Copilot
  Terminal Chat enables the integration of GitHub Copilot, Azure OpenAI, and OpenAI's AI services into Windows Terminal Canary. Through this experimental feature, you can request assistance from an AI for your PowerShell commands and directly execute the AI's recommendations in the terminal.
• AI-powered administration in the terminal without cutoff date using OpenAI GPT-4o Search in PowerShell and Warp
  The GPT-4o Search model offers search engine functionality similar to ChatGPT Search or Perplexity when accessed via the OpenAI API. With the free OpenAI Python Library, you can enhance your terminal AI by adding online search features, overcoming the limitations of LLM cutoff dates, and eliminating the frustration of outdated instructions.
• Artificial Intelligence, PowerShell, and Microsoft 365 Administration
  Artificial Intelligence and PowerShell should be a good thing to help hard-pressed Microsoft 365 tenant administrators cope with common tasks. The early signs are there with Copilot in the Microsoft 365 admin center. However, the current state of the art depends on what’s gone before and can’t handle the kind of complex automation that tenants sometimes need, like generating a licensing report from Entra ID, product information, and license costs.
• Launching Start Menu apps using PowerShell
  Sometimes, you want to run a few applications as a different (Admin) user on your system. Usually, I do that by (Shift) Right-clicking applications, etc... In this small blog post, I will show you a simple way to start multiple applications using PowerShell, making life somewhat easier ;-)
• Identify and Block Sign-in for Shared Mailboxes in Microsoft 365
  Shared and resource mailboxes in Microsoft 365 are designed for collaboration, not for direct sign-ins. However, if sign-in remains enabled, attackers could exploit these accounts to bypass security policies, send unauthorized emails, or access confidential data—posing a serious compliance and security risk.
• New MiToken Graph PowerShell module for multi-tenant apps
  Connect to multi-tenant apps using a managed identity using Microsoft Graph PowerShell with the MiToken PowerShell module.
• Human Readable File Sizes in PowerShell
  Simple way to humanize a file size in powershell

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• PSScriptTools v3.0.0
  A set of PowerShell functions you might use to enhance your own functions and scripts or to facilitate working in the console. Most should work in both Windows PowerShell and PowerShell 7, even cross-platform.
• AiLogging v 2.0.5
  Helper module for PowerShell developers that allows easy logging of script activity to Azure Application Insights

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell 20 Basic Commands and Their Uses - Izoate Tech
  Learn the 20 basic PowerShell commands for beginners to manage files, processes, and system tasks efficiently with this easy-to-follow guide.
• Automating Excel with PowerShell: Practical Tips from a Microsoft MVP
  Doug Finke, a 16-time Microsoft MVP and author of "PowerShell for Developers", demonstrates how to streamline Excel report creation using his widely popular PowerShell module, ImportExcel, with over 11 million downloads. Doug shares straightforward methods for automating Excel tasks—from formatting and filtering data, to generating conditional formats, pivot tables, and charts—saving you valuable time and effort. You'll also get practical examples for combining data from multiple sources, quickly reorganizing spreadsheets, and troubleshooting common Excel automation challenges.

Community

• How to Build an IT Career from the Ground Up with Kevin Apolinario (KevTech)
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome Kevin of KevTech IT Support, a well-known mentor and educator in the IT community. With a background in fast food and law enforcement, Kevin shares his inspiring journey into IT and how he leveraged mentorship, home labs, and community engagement to build a thriving career. We dive into help desk fundamentals, breaking into IT, career development, and Kevin helps give you a map to career success.Key topics in this episode include:

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Mastering Active Directory Hygiene: Automating SIDHistory Cleanup with CleanupMonster
  Security Identifier (SID) History is a useful mechanism in Active Directory (AD) migrations. It allows users and groups in a new domain to retain access to resources that still rely on permissions from the old domain. However, once migrations are completed, these historical SIDs can become clutter, posing both security and administrative challenges.
• SharePoint Online PowerShell Module Gets Modern Authentication
  Microsoft has announced that the SharePoint Online PowerShell module will be upgraded from the very old and now obsolete IDCRL protocol to use modern (OAuth) authentication in versions released from March 28, 2025. The update to OAuth should not affect scripts, but it’s always wise to test in case your use of the module is an edge case that Microsoft doesn’t test.
• EntraFIDOFinder now with over 50 new keys!
  I guess I should be careful what I ask for now.. Not sure if you saw, but when Microsoft first made this update it blew up my repo with over 100 issues due to all the changes and I assumed Microsoft had changed how they formatted their website, but they hadn’t.
• Ensure a Function Should be Invoked
  it’s been a long time since I’ve written; I know. I still use PowerShell at every opportunity; I just don’t write about it like I used to. An average of a post per week for nine years, which is what I managed previously, wasn’t always something I planned to maintain.
• ShellGPT for PowerShell: AI assistant with local Ollama support
  In this guide, I’ll walk through installing ShellGPT (shell_gpt) – a command-line AI assistant – on PowerShell using a local Ollama LLM. This approach lets you use AI in your terminal without relying on cloud APIs, which is great for privacy. This review highlights the use of ShellGPT on Windows through PowerShell. If you are using Mac or Linux, check out our earlier review of ShellGPT.
• How to update multiple Hyper-V VMs offline
  In environments with multiple VMs running the same Windows version, powering down the Hyper-V VMs during a maintenance window is usually the most efficient way to update them offline. This involves mounting the virtual disk and installing updates through PowerShell. This approach also benefits VMs that have been powered off for an extended period. Instead of starting them in an outdated and potentially vulnerable state, you can apply critical security updates in advance.
• How To Extract Mailboxes From EDB File
  Sponsored – Exchange Server Database (EDB) files consist of the emails, contacts, notes, calendar, and other crucial mailbox items. Several reasons may prompt you to extract these mailboxes from EDB file.
• Reinventing PowerShell in C/C++ – SCRT Team Blog
  Reinventing PowerShell in C/C++: Bypassing Security FeaturesThe article demonstrates creating a full PowerShell console using native C/C++ code, bypassing security features like AMSI and Constrained Language Mode.
• Windows Server Core – Command Line Only Administration
  Run Windows Server Core in 2025—CLI setup, roles, remote ops, FAQs. Full guide for IT pros. Master it now!

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Auto Archive Inactive Teams in Microsoft Teams
  Each project in an organization follows a lifecycle, including start, execution, and completion. However, even after a project ends, the corresponding team often remains in the execution phase, leading to a growing number of inactive teams in Microsoft Teams.
• Dynamics 365 F&O IAM PowerShell Module
  Over the years I’ve written many an integration with identity sources. Dynamics 365 F&O though is one that has come up a number of times. With that in mind I’ve written a PowerShell Module to expose and simplify integration with Dynamics 365 F&O for Users and Roles.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Inside IT Automation | E20
  Microsoft MVP Doug Finke talks about the state of AI and PowerShell

Community

• Exploring PowerShell for Physical Security and Automation with Cody Paternostro
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome Cody Paternostro, a rising star in PowerShell automation, to discuss his unique journey into IT, the power of persistence in learning, and his work on RemotePro, a sophisticated PowerShell-based security camera management tool. Cody shares how he transitioned from food delivery to IT, leveraged PowerShell to streamline operations in physical security, and how asking the right questions helped accelerate his growth.
• PowerShell Community Award Nominations
  Nominate a deserving community member today! Submissions close April 3, 2025, at 5 PM ET

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

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

Announcements!

• Announcing Microsoft Desired State Configuration v3.0.0
  This post announces the release of Microsoft Desired State Configuration v3.0.0. We discuss the features and benefits of DSC and how it differs from PowerShell DSC.
• PowerShell Community Award Nominations
  Nominate a deserving community member today! Submissions close April 3, 2025, at 5 PM ET

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Get started with Microsoft Desired State Configuration v3.0.0
  This post show you how to install DSC v3.0.0 and get started using the dsc command.
• Authoring Enhancements in Microsoft Desired State Configuration v3.0.0
  This is the third post in a multi-part series about the new release of DSC. Microsoft Desired State Configuration (DSC) v3.0.0 provides powerful feature that enhance the authoring experience. Shell completion Schema-based validation Support for modern DSLs like Azure Bicep DSC command completer The completer command returns a shell script that, when executed, registers completions
• PowerShell: The new Entra ID Module
  The new PowerShell Entra ID Module is a powerful tool designed to streamline the management and automation of Microsoft Entra resources.
• SharePoint Online PowerShell Module Gets Modern Authentication
  Microsoft has announced that the SharePoint Online PowerShell module will be upgraded from the very old and now obsolete IDCRL protocol to use modern (OAuth) authentication in versions released from March 28, 2025. The update to OAuth should not affect scripts, but it’s always wise to test in case your use of the module is an edge case that Microsoft doesn’t test.
• Optimize and customize Windows 11 with PowerShell and Winhance
  Winhance is a PowerShell utility for optimizing and customizing Windows 11. It enables users to remove unwanted software, prevent reinstallation, and enhance system privacy and performance settings.
• How to Check Who Deleted Emails from Shared Mailbox in Microsoft 365
  With multiple users having access to Microsoft 365 shared mailboxes, the risk of important emails disappearing is a real challenge. A single missing email can disrupt client interactions or halt progress in collaborative projects. Therefore, this blog will show you how to monitor shared mailbox email deletion to identify who…
• Practical Graph: Nag Users to Upgrade to a Strong Authentication Method
  Convincing people to use MFA is one challenge. Convincing them to use a stronger authentication method than SMS is another. This article explains how to use PowerShell to find people still using SMS for MFA and send email to ask them to upgrade their authentication method.
• How to manage most Rest APIs with just a few PowerShell functions
  A cmdlet around the endpoint, or a cmdlet per method? Disclaimer: every REST API works different, so this script should be an example of how you can build a function for each REST API. Nowadays there are more and more Rest APIs that we can use instead of Cmdlets (which use the Rest API in … Continue reading How to manage most Rest APIs with just a few PowerShell functions

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Get-MacInfo 2.0.1
  A macOS version of the Get-ComputerInfo module

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Find retiring Azure features and address them safely en masse with PowerShell
  See how to find which of your Azure resources will be impacted by upcoming Azure retirements. I also show an approach to targeting updating specific Azure resources, allowing you to more safely modify resources en masse, such as by environment, with PowerShell and the Az PowerShell module. There are other ways to do this as well; this is just one workflow I often use.
• PowerShell: Summarizing YouTube transcripts with AI
  In this video, 16-time Microsoft MVP Doug Finke demonstrates the PSAI PowerShell module to summarize Scott Hanselman’s NDC London 2025 AI keynote.

Announcements!

• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.26.1 Remains Flawed
  The developers rushed out Version 2.26.1 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK to fix some obvious issues. Alas, problems persist in PowerShell SDK cmdlets, including licensing failures and an issue that prevents the Connect-MgGraph cmdlet from being able to obtain an access token from Entra ID. My advice is to stay with V2.25 until Microsoft resolves the problems and generates a new stable version of the SDK.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• The not so simplified syntax of Where-Object in PowerShell
  PowerShell 3.0 introduced several notable improvements to its cmdlet library, with one of the most useful features in this release being the simplified syntax for the Where-Object cmdlet. This enhancement made filtering objects more efficient and user-friendly by introducing Property and Value parameters and a switch parameter for every comparison operator. This article explores how these changes work, their usefulness, and how to leverage them in your scripts.
• EntraFIDOFinder March Update
  We are in March, and looks like no new major changes. I may have to start sending this update out later in the week, as I’m wondering if Microsoft hasn’t updated their page yet. Some things I did notice were that a few of the YubiKey names slightly changed on the FIDO Alliance database
• Warp for Windows
  We have reviewed Warp's Mac and Linux versions multiple times, as it stands out as the top terminal application. The newly released Windows edition introduces AI-driven automation for PowerShell administrators.
• AI-powered Azure Function for querying Azure in natural language
  In this post, I introduce an AI-powered Azure Function that connects to the Azure OpenAI API. This Function allows you to execute queries in natural language to fetch Azure resource information without requiring a deep knowledge of the Azure Resource Graph Query Language (KQL).
• Retrieve End of Life information using PowerShell
  One of the things that I do when writing documents for customers is check if the products I advise or the customers use are still supported. The end-of-life date is essential, and in this blog post, I will show you how to retrieve that information quickly :)
• Practical Protection: Automating Inactive Account Blocking with PowerShell
  Inactive accounts aren’t glamorous, but they’re a real risk! In this episode of Practical Protection, we dive into the basics of inactive account blocking and share some PowerShell scripts to help automate this process.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Announcing AI Shell Preview 2
  We are pleased to share a new preview release of AI Shell!
• Create Entra ID Guest invite using PowerShell and Graph API
  It’s easy to create an Entra ID guest account using the interface. But as usual, the automation and bulk are the challenges. In Entra ID, there is the option to create bulk invitations, but I still find it limited.
• Dayforce PowerShell Module
  A foundational Dayforce PowerShell Module to query Employee data.

Community

• PowerShell as a Defender’s Secret Weapon with Michael Haag
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Michael Haag, Principal Threat Researcher at Splunk, to dive into PowerShell security, threat detection, and automation. Michael shares his journey from IT support to becoming a security expert, the role of PowerShell in modern cybersecurity, and his work on PowerShell Hunter and Atomic Red Team.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

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

Announcements!

• Microsoft Update changes for PowerShell 7
  This blog outlines the expected behavior of MU releases for PowerShell 7.
• v7.6.0-preview.3
  Start testing your scripts against the next gen now.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Terminal Chat now included in GitHub Copilot Free
  Windows Terminal Canary users can now use Terminal Chat with the GitHub Copilot Free plan! GitHub Copilot Free is limited to 50 chat messages per month. This includes the usage of Copilot in the CLI, VS Code, and Visual Studio.
• Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Runs into Choppy Waters
  A bunch of problems with V2.26 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK V2.26 make the software unusable. Not only did Microsoft do a horrible job of testing the new release before making it available to customers, but they also failed to communicate the level of change in the new SDK and how it could impact Azure Automation runbooks.
• Practical Graph: Creating SharePoint News Items from an RSS Feed
  This article explains how to use the SharePoint Pages API to create new site pages with the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK after reading information from an RSS feed. Parsing the RSS feed to find article details is just one of the challenges encountered and solved to accomplish the goal.
• Practical PnP: Automating Teams Creation using Templates
  In this installment of Practical PnP, Sean McAvinue dives into how PnP PowerShell can help to improve automated Teams provisioning using templates and preset structures.
• Using Warp as PowerShell terminal
  This week, after the official Windows release of Warp on February 26th, I saw many YouTube clips of the new Terminal app. I decided to try it and see what it does differently from my trusty Windows Terminal app. This blog post will show you my first impression of the application.
• 25 Years of Active Directory and my PowerShell experience managing it
  This week, on the 17th of February, Active Directory celebrated its 25th birthday :) I will share my experience managing it with PowerShell in this blog post.
• Understanding OAuth: Coding the authentication flow yourself vs using an SDK
  Dive into Microsoft Graph authentication with PowerShell. In this blog we explore OAuth flows, PKCE security, and token handling. Learn how to build a secure auth flow from scratch and why the SDK might still be the best choice for automation.
• Export All App Registrations with Certificates and Secrets in Microsoft Entra
  Imagine spending your afternoon sifting through dozens of app registrations in Entra ID to determine which ones are still active, and which are relics from past projects. As an admin, you know that applications use certificates and secrets for app registrations to securely authenticate—but many of these credentials persist
• How to stringify nested Json in PowerShell and back to a PSObject
  Stringify dynamic child properties in Json with PowerShell I had a fun one yesterday that I want to share here. We have a database at work (new job at InSpark), in the database we have a table in which we can create a row ourselves by making a request via a put method. The row … Continue reading How to stringify nested Json in PowerShell and back to a PSObject

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• supergenpass.ps1
  PowerShell script to generate passwords using SuperGenPass algorithm
• Warp, the intelligent terminal, now available on Windows
  Today, Warp’s AI-powered terminal is available on Windows. With this release, Warp’s agentic, modern, and collaborative experience is available to users of all major operating systems.

Community

• MS Graph and Stepping into Public Speaking with Morten Kristensen
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Morten Kristensen, an automation specialist and PowerShell enthusiast, to discuss his journey with PowerShell, his experience working with the Microsoft Graph API, and his recent leap into public speaking. Morten shares insights from his first-ever technical talk, the challenges of working with Graph API, and how he's navigating his professional growth.

Events

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025
  April 7-10, 2025 Bellevue, WA

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