How do I create a profile in PowerShell 7.3.2?

Question

I am unable to create a profile in PowerShell 7.3.2.

When I run notepad $PROFILE, the notepad prompts to create this Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 nonexistent file yet I see no file with this name in C:\Users\1999q\Documents\PowerShell.

When I run New-Item -Path $PROFILE -Type File -Force OR New-Item $PROFILE.CurrentUserCurrentHost OR

if (!(Test-Path -Path $PROFILE)) {
  New-Item -ItemType File -Path $PROFILE -Force
}

I get the error New-Item: Could not find file 'C:\Users\1999q\Documents\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1'..

Moreover, Test-Path $PROFILE gives me False.

However, $PROFILE | Get-Member -Type NoteProperty | Format-List displays the following:

TypeName   : System.String
Name       : AllUsersAllHosts
MemberType : NoteProperty
Definition : string AllUsersAllHosts=C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\profile.ps1

TypeName   : System.String
Name       : AllUsersCurrentHost
MemberType : NoteProperty
Definition : string AllUsersCurrentHost=C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

TypeName   : System.String
Name       : CurrentUserAllHosts
MemberType : NoteProperty
Definition : string CurrentUserAllHosts=C:\Users\1999q\Documents\PowerShell\profile.ps1

TypeName   : System.String
Name       : CurrentUserCurrentHost
MemberType : NoteProperty
Definition : string CurrentUserCurrentHost=C:\Users\1999q\Documents\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

I am unable to comprehend what exactly is going on, can anyone help me with this issue?

Did you remember to save the file? FWIW the `$PROFILE` path strings exist regardless of whether the file exists on disk or not, there's nothing weird or wrong in the files not existing on disk — Mathias R. Jessen, Feb 23 '23 at 10:52
When I edit the file with `notepad $PROFILE` and try to "save" or "save as", it says file not found for Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1. — iCantFindaGoodUsername, Feb 23 '23 at 14:50
`New-Item -ItemType File -Path $PROFILE -Force` should work. If it doesn't, there could be a permission issue. Check permissions of the parent folder. — zett42, Feb 23 '23 at 19:34
Thanks! The issue's resolved. I am able to save the file if I run notepad / vscode as administrator. — iCantFindaGoodUsername, Feb 24 '23 at 17:42

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 07 '23 at 20:24

1

Steps to attempt

Run in admin shell
- notepad $Profile
If fails, in admin shell
- New-Item -ItemType File -Path $PROFILE -Force
- notepad $Profile
If fails (unlikely) still in admin shell
- Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
- Go to step 1

answered Jun 07 '23 at 20:24

ΩmegaMan

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How do I create a profile in PowerShell 7.3.2?

1 Answers1