PowerShell 7 not available

[EnnexMB]

Prerequisites

• I have written a descriptive issue title.
• I have searched all open and closed issues to ensure it has not already been reported.
• I have read the troubleshooting guide.
• I am sure this issue is with the extension itself and does not reproduce in a standalone PowerShell instance.
• I have verified that I am using the latest version of Visual Studio Code and the PowerShell extension.
• If this is a security issue, I have read the security issue reporting guidance.

Summary

VS Code with the PowerShell extension is able to run PowerShell 5.1 code, but not PS 7 code, and does not allw me to switch to PS 7.

PowerShell Version

PS> $PSVersionTable 

Name                           Value
----                           -----
PSVersion                      5.1.22621.1778
PSEdition                      Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}
BuildVersion                   10.0.22621.1778
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.42000
WSManStackVersion              3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1

Visual Studio Code Version

PS> code --version
1.81.1
6c3e3dba23e8fadc360aed75ce363ba185c49794
x64

Extension Version

PS> code --list-extensions --show-versions | Select-String powershell 

ms-vscode.powershell@2023.6.0

Steps to Reproduce

1. Running in Windows 11 Pro 64.
2. Installed PowerShell 7 and VS Code. I'm able to run PS 7 directly in Windows, which brings up a window titled "PowerShell 7 (x64)".
3. In VS Code, installed the PowerShell extension.
4. In VS Code, I'm able to run Windows PowerShell 5.1, but PS 7 does not appear to be available.
5. I know VS Code is running PS 5.1 and not 7 because when I call Get-Content ... -AsByteStream, it doesn't recognize the parameter AsByteStream.
6. In VS Code, under "Get Started with PowerShell", there's an item, "Switch Sessions", which says, "To switch between PowerShell 7 and Windows PowerShell 5.1, use the menu: 'Open PowerShell Sessions Menu'" When I click on that button, I get a menu at the top that offers two versions of Windows PowerShell, but no PS 7, as shown in the attached display image.

Visuals

No response

Logs

1691799117-289d41fd-c657-4022-8f85-0e0dc89fe7521691799024611.zip

[andyleejordan]

How did you install PowerShell 7? Do you know its executable path? We have some logic to detect as many of the common installation paths as possible, but if it's installed elsewhere you can teach the extension about it with this setting: powershell.powerShellAdditionalExePaths.

[EnnexMB]

I installed it with the MSI.
I installed it to "C: \Program Files\_added\Microsoft\ PowerShell".
My $env:PATH includes "C:\Program Files\_added\Microsoft\PowerShell\7".

How can I find out where VS Code is currently looking for PS 7?

Should I add the setting powershell.powerShellAdditionalExePaths with the value "C: \Program Files\_added\Microsoft\ PowerShell"? Or should that have a "7" on the end of it? Or "7"?

[andyleejordan]

It should be the full path including the name of the executable, so if it's at C:\Program Files\_added\Microsoft\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe use that.

I think we've found the "issue" too and that's that we're definitely not checking that _added folder in our search logic, as it's a custom location!

And $env:PATH is not checked...though I suppose it could be a reasonable fallback if PowerShell isn't found at any of the "known" locations...I'll have to think about that.

[EnnexMB]

Okay, I added that setting, and the key for it now comes up in the sessions menu and I'm able to run the script with the parameter AsByteStream.

So PS 7 is now available to me in VS Code. Thank you.

I still would like to know how to find out what locations VS Code is looking in for PS 7.

[andyleejordan]

This is the search logic: https://github.com/PowerShell/vscode-powershell/blob/main/src/platform.ts

The success test cases here are bit more useful in understanding what that logic is doing:

vscode-powershell/test/core/platform.test.ts

Lines 78 to 450 in 24d6dcb

	successTestCases = [
	{
	name: "Windows 64-bit, 64-bit VSCode (all installations)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: true,
	isProcess64Bit: true,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files\\PowerShell\\6\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell\\6\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshMsixPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell (Store)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files\\PowerShell\\7-preview\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshPreviewMsixPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (Store)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell\\7-preview\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\SysWOW64\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshDailyPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell Daily",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	}
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\Program Files\\PowerShell": {
	"6": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"7-preview": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell": {
	"6": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"7-preview": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	[msixAppDir]: {
	"Microsoft.PowerShell_8wekyb3d8bbwe": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"Microsoft.PowerShellPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\SysWOW64\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	[pwshDailyDir]: {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	}
	},
	},
	{
	name: "Windows 64-bit, 64-bit VSCode (only Windows PowerShell)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: true,
	isProcess64Bit: true,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\SysWOW64\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\SysWOW64\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	},
	},
	{
	name: "Windows 64-bit, 32-bit VSCode (all installations)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: true,
	isProcess64Bit: false,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell\\6\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files\\PowerShell\\6\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshMsixPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell (Store)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell\\7-preview\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshPreviewMsixPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (Store)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files\\PowerShell\\7-preview\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\Sysnative\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\Program Files\\PowerShell": {
	"6": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"7-preview": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell": {
	"6": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"7-preview": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	[msixAppDir]: {
	"Microsoft.PowerShell_8wekyb3d8bbwe": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"Microsoft.PowerShellPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\Sysnative\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	},
	},
	{
	name: "Windows 64-bit, 32-bit VSCode (Windows PowerShell only)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: true,
	isProcess64Bit: false,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\Sysnative\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\Sysnative\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	},
	},
	{
	name: "Windows 32-bit, 32-bit VSCode (all installations)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: false,
	isProcess64Bit: false,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell\\6\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshMsixPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell (Store)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell\\7-preview\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: pwshPreviewMsixPath,
	displayName: "PowerShell Preview (Store)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PowerShell": {
	"6": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"7-preview": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	[msixAppDir]: {
	"Microsoft.PowerShell_8wekyb3d8bbwe": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	"Microsoft.PowerShellPreview_8wekyb3d8bbwe": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	},
	},
	{
	name: "Windows 32-bit, 32-bit VSCode (Windows PowerShell only)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: false,
	isProcess64Bit: false,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0": {
	"powershell.exe": "",
	},
	},
	},
	{
	name: "Windows (dotnet)",
	platformDetails: {
	operatingSystem: platform.OperatingSystem.Windows,
	isOS64Bit: true,
	isProcess64Bit: true,
	},
	environmentVars: {
	"USERNAME": "test",
	"USERPROFILE": "C:\\Users\\test",
	"ProgramFiles": "C:\\Program Files",
	"ProgramFiles(x86)": "C:\\Program Files (x86)",
	"windir": "C:\\WINDOWS",
	},
	expectedPowerShellSequence: [
	{
	exePath: "C:\\Users\\test\\.dotnet\\tools\\pwsh.exe",
	displayName: ".NET Core PowerShell Global Tool",
	supportsProperArguments: false
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x64)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	{
	exePath: "C:\\WINDOWS\\SysWOW64\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\powershell.exe",
	displayName: "Windows PowerShell (x86)",
	supportsProperArguments: true
	},
	],
	filesystem: {
	"C:\\Users\\test\\.dotnet\\tools": {
	"pwsh.exe": "",
	},
	},
	},
	];

[EnnexMB]

Oh, that's a lot of code for what I thought was a simple question! I thought maybe there'd be a variable like $env:PATH that would tell me all the places VS Code was looking for PS. But I guess it's not needed often enough to justify that.

Anyway, my problem is solved. Thank you.

[andyleejordan]

There are a lot of places PowerShell can be found, over a lot of different versions/platforms/architectures, with lots of edge cases! Glad I was able to help. Cheers!