Start-Process

Syntax

Start-Process
     [-FilePath] <String>
     [[-ArgumentList] <String[]>]
     [-Credential <PSCredential>]
     [-WorkingDirectory <String>]
     [-LoadUserProfile]
     [-NoNewWindow]
     [-PassThru]
     [-RedirectStandardError <String>]
     [-RedirectStandardInput <String>]
     [-RedirectStandardOutput <String>]
     [-WindowStyle <ProcessWindowStyle>]
     [-Wait]
     [-UseNewEnvironment]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Start-Process
     [-FilePath] <String>
     [[-ArgumentList] <String[]>]
     [-WorkingDirectory <String>]
     [-PassThru]
     [-Verb <String>]
     [-WindowStyle <ProcessWindowStyle>]
     [-Wait]
     [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Start-Process cmdlet starts one or more processes on the local computer. To specify the program that runs in the process, enter an executable file or script file, or a file that can be opened by using a program on the computer. If you specify a non-executable file, Start-Process starts the program that is associated with the file, similar to the Invoke-Item cmdlet.

You can use the parameters of Start-Process to specify options, such as loading a user profile, starting the process in a new window, or using alternate credentials.

Examples

Example 1: Start a process that uses default values

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "sort.exe"

This command starts a process that uses the Sort.exe file in the current folder. The command uses all of the default values, including the default window style, working folder, and credentials.

Example 2: Print a text file

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "myfile.txt" -WorkingDirectory "C:\PS-Test" -Verb Print

This command starts a process that prints the C:\PS-Test\MyFile.txt file.

Example 3: Start a process to sort items to a new file

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "Sort.exe" -RedirectStandardInput "Testsort.txt" -RedirectStandardOutput "Sorted.txt" -RedirectStandardError "SortError.txt" -UseNewEnvironment

This command starts a process that sorts items in the Testsort.txt file and returns the sorted items in the Sorted.txt files. Any errors are written to the SortError.txt file.

The UseNewEnvironment parameter specifies that the process runs with its own environment variables.

Example 4: Start a process in a maximized window

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "notepad" -Wait -WindowStyle Maximized

This command starts the Notepad process. It maximizes the window and retains the window until the process completes.

Example 5: Start Windows Powershell as an administrator

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "powershell" -Verb runAs

This command starts Windows PowerShell by using the Run as administrator option.

Example 6: Using different verbs to start a process

PS C:\> $startExe = New-Object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo -Args PowerShell.exe

PS C:\> $startExe.verbs

open

runas



# Starts a PowerShell process in a new console window.



PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "powershell.exe" -Verb open



# Starts a PowerShell process with "Run as Administrator" permissions.



PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "powershell.exe" -Verb runas

These commands show how to find the verbs that can be used when starting a process, and the effect of using the verbs to start the process.

The available verbs are determined by the file name extension of the file that runs in the process. To find the verbs for a process, create a System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo object for the process file and look in the Verbs property of the object. This example uses the PowerShell.exe file that runs in the PowerShell process.

The first command uses New-Object to create a System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo object for PowerShell.exe, the file that runs in the PowerShell process. The command saves the ProcessStartInfo object in the $startExe variable.

The second command displays the values in the Verbs property of the ProcessStartInfo object in the $startExe variable. The results show that you can use the Open and Runas verbs with PowerShell.exe, or with any process that runs a .exe file.

The third command starts a PowerShell process with the Open verb. The Open verb starts the process in a new console window.

The fourth command starts a PowerShell process with the RunAs verb. The RunAs verb starts the process with permissions of a member of the Administrators group on the computer. This is the same as starting Windows PowerShell by using the Run as administrator option.

Example 7: Specifying arguments to the process

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "$env:comspec" -ArgumentList "/c dir `"%systemdrive%\program files`""

PS C:\> Start-Process -FilePath "$env:comspec" -ArgumentList "/c","dir","`"%systemdrive%\program files`""

Both commands start the Windows command interpreter, issueing a dir command on the 'Program Files' folder. Because this foldername contains a space, the value needs surrounded with escaped quotes. Note that the first command specifies a string as ArgumentList. The second command a string array.

Required Parameters

Optional Parameters

Inputs

None

You cannot pipe input to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None, System.Diagnostics.Process

This cmdlet generates a System.Diagnostics.Process object, if you specify the PassThru parameter. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not return any output.

Notes

• This cmdlet is implemented by using the Start method of the System.Diagnostics.Process class. For more information about this method, see Process.Start Method in the MSDN library.

Related Links

• Debug-Process
• Get-Process
• Start-Service
• Stop-Process
• Wait-Process