PowerShell Closes After Running Script: How to Stop it

Discover expert resolutions that worked for others!

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

PowerShellis both a command-line shell and a scripting language. There’s no surprise that it’s preferred by many for tasks they want to run automatically. But some reported that PowerShell closes after running a script.

They wish to run a script and want PowerShell not to close immediately. This is a must for remotely logging into another server using the requested credentials when they run the script. Keep reading to find out the solutions!

How do I stop PowerShell from closing after running a script?

1. Initiate a remote connection

2. Use the Pause command

Why not try thePausecommand at the end of execution? It will immediately cause a new command interpreter to start and run in the background. All you have to do is execute the following command:cmd /c pause

This makes the PowerShell window wait until you decide to press the Enter key further.

3. Add a line to the end of your script

Another quick yet effective solution is to add a line like this to the end of your script:Read-Host -Prompt “Press Enter to exit”

This is guaranteed to work if PowerShell closes after running a script, and it works in PS-ISE. However, be careful that it accepts only theEnterkey.

4. Execute a PowerShell script locally to run on a remote computer

You may also try to create anopen.ps1, like the one you see here:powershell.exe -noexit c:remote.ps1

This calls the remote.ps1:Enter-PSSession -ComputerName YourExchangeServer -Credential Get-Credential

5. Use the Start-Sleep cmdlet

When faced with the problem of looking for a way to stopPowerShellfrom closing after running a script, another effective yet underrated PowerShell cmdlet:Start-Sleep -s 15

For those who don’t know, thisStart-Sleepcmdlet or the sleep alias suspends the activity in a script for a specified period. You can use it for many other tasks, such as pausing before repeating an operation or waiting to complete it.

It’s up to you to decide if it’s good enough for your case. Just remember to use theCtrl+Ckeyboard hotkeywhen you’re ready to break out ofStart-Sleep.

These are all the ways you can stop PowerShell from closing after running a script. And one of these should come in handy when facing the problem!

Before you leave, find out how toremove preinstalled apps via PowerShell, and free up the disk space.

Let us know which one worked for you in the comments section below.

PowerShell Closes After Running Script: How to Stop it#

How do I stop PowerShell from closing after running a script?#

1. Initiate a remote connection#

2. Use the Pause command#

3. Add a line to the end of your script#

4. Execute a PowerShell script locally to run on a remote computer#

5. Use the Start-Sleep cmdlet#