PowerShell Commands

New-Item

New-Item [[-Path*] <String[]>] [-Confirm] [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-Force] [-ItemType <String>] -Name* <String>[-UseTransaction] [-Value <Object>] [-WhatIf] [<CommonParameters>]
New-Item [-Path*] <String[]> [-Confirm] [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-Force] [-ItemType <String>][-UseTransaction] [-Value <Object>] [-WhatIf] [<CommonParameters>]

The New-Item cmdlet creates a new item and sets its value. The types of items that can be created depend on the location of the item. For example, in the file system, New-Item creates files and folders. In the registry, New-Item creates registry keys and entries. New-Item can also set the value of the items that it creates. For example, when it creates a new file, New-Item can add initial content to the file.

Parameters

-Confirm [<SwitchParameter>]

  • Default value is False
  • Accepts pipeline input False

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

-Credential <PSCredential>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies a user account that has permission to perform this action. The default is the current user.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01, or enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by the Get-Credential cmdlet. If you type a user name, this cmdlet prompts you for a password.

This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with Windows PowerShell.

-Force [<SwitchParameter>]

  • Default value is False
  • Accepts pipeline input False

Forces this cmdlet to create an item that writes over an existing read-only item. Implementation varies from provider to provider.

-ItemType <String>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the provider-specified type of the new item. Starting in Windows PowerShell 5.0, you can create symbolic links by specifying SymbolicLink as the value of this parameter.

-Name <String>

  • This value is required
  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the name of the new item.

You can specify the name of the new item in the Name or Path parameter value, and you can specify the path of the new item in Name or Path value.

-Path <String[]>

  • This value is required
  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the path of the location of the new item. Wildcard characters are permitted.

You can specify the name of the new item in Name , or include it in Path .

-UseTransaction [<SwitchParameter>]

  • Default value is False
  • Accepts pipeline input False

Includes the command in the active transaction. This parameter is valid only when a transaction is in progress.

-Value <Object>

  • Default value is None
  • Accepts pipeline input ByPropertyName

Specifies the value of the new item. You can also pipe a value to New-Item .

-WhatIf [<SwitchParameter>]

  • Default value is False
  • Accepts pipeline input False

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

<CommonParameters>

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug,ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, WarningVariable,OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Inputs
System.Object
You can pipe a value for the new item to this cmdlet.
Outputs
System.Object
This cmdlet returns the item that it creates.
Examples
  1. Create a file in the current directory:
    PS C:\> New-Item -Path . -Name "testfile1.txt" -ItemType "file" -Value "This is a text string."
    

    This command creates a text file that is named testfile1.txt in the current directory. The dot (.) in the value of the Path parameter indicates the current directory. The quoted text that follows the Value parameter is added to the file as content.

  2. Create a directory:
    PS C:\> New-Item -Path "c:\" -Name "logfiles" -ItemType "directory"
    

    This command creates a directory named Logfiles in the C: drive. The ItemType parameter specifies that the new item is a directory, not a file or other file system object.

  3. Create a profile:
    PS C:\> New-Item -Path $profile -ItemType "file" -Force
    

    This command creates a Windows PowerShell profile in the path that is specified by the $profile variable.

    You can use profiles to customize Windows PowerShell. $Profile is an automatic (built-in) variable that stores the path and file name of the CurrentUser/CurrentHost profile. By default, the profile does not exist, even though Windows PowerShell stores a path and file name for it.

    In this command, the $profile variable represents the path of the file. ItemType parameter specifies that the command creates a file. The Force parameter lets you create a file in the profile path, even when the directories in the path do not exist. Windows PowerShell creates them.

    After you use this command to create a profile, you can enter aliases, functions, and scripts in the profile to customize your shell.

    For more information, see about_Automatic_Variables and about_Profiles.

  4. Create a directory in a different directory:
    PS C:\> New-Item -ItemType "directory" -Path "c:\ps-test\scripts"
    

    This command creates a new Scripts directory in the C:\PS-Test directory.

    The name of the new directory item, Scripts, is included in the value of Path parameter, instead of being specified in the value of Name . As indicated by the syntax, either command form is valid.

  5. Create multiple files:
    PS C:\> New-Item -ItemType "file" -Path "c:\ps-test\test.txt", "c:\ps-test\Logs\test.log"
    

    This command creates files in two different directories. Because Path takes multiple strings, you can use it to create multiple items.

Additional Notes
 New-Item * is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your 
 session, type `Get-PsProvider`. For more information, see about_Providers.

 *

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. It is attributed to Microsoft Corporation and can be found here.

PowerShell Commands