How to keep the shell window open after running a PowerShell script?

I have a very short PowerShell script that connects to a server and imports the AD module. I'd like to run the script simply by double clicking, but I'm afraid the window immediately closes after the last line.

How can I sort this out?

You basically have 3 options to prevent the PowerShell Console window from closing, that I describe in more detail on my blog post.

1. One-time Fix: Run your script from the PowerShell Console, or launch the PowerShell process using the -NoExit switch. e.g. PowerShell -NoExit "C:\SomeFolder\SomeScript.ps1"
2. Per-script Fix: Add a prompt for input to the end of your script file. e.g. Read-Host -Prompt "Press Enter to exit"
3. Global Fix: Change your registry key by adding the -NoExit switch to always leave the PowerShell Console window open after the script finishes running.

Registry Key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\powershell.exe\shell\open\command
Description: Key used when you right-click a .ps1 file and choose Open With -> Windows PowerShell.
Default Value: "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" "%1"
Desired Value: "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" "& \"%1\""

Registry Key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Microsoft.PowerShellScript.1\Shell\0\Command
Description: Key used when you right-click a .ps1 file and choose Run with PowerShell (shows up depending on which Windows OS and Updates you have installed).
Default Value: "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" "-Command" "if((Get-ExecutionPolicy ) -ne 'AllSigned') { Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Bypass }; & '%1'"
Desired Value: "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -NoExit "-Command" "if((Get-ExecutionPolicy ) -ne 'AllSigned') { Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Bypass }; & \"%1\""

See my blog for more information and a script to download that will make the registry change for you.

Errr... I should have known:

powershell -noexit <path\script> 

and that's all there's to it :)

The solution below prevents the script from closing when running Powershell ISE and allows the script to close otherwise.

# If running in the console, wait for input before closing.
if ($Host.Name -eq "ConsoleHost")
{
    Write-Host "Press any key to continue..."
    $Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey("NoEcho,IncludeKeyUp") > $null
}

In my own case, I wanted to add powershell to context menu on windows 7. That is right clicking on a folder or inside a folder to get a menu to launch Powershell window without it closing after launch. The answers here helped me do just that and I want to share it here incase it helps someone else.

• Launch registry editor by pressing WIN + R type regedit.exe and hit enter
• Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
• Right click on shell and create a key give it a name e.g PowershellHere
• On the right pane, double click on Default and provide a descriptive name e.g Powershell Here
• Right click on the PowershellHere key you created earlier and create a new key and name it "command" please make sure you name it exactly so but without the quotes.
• On the right pane, double click on Default and then type the command below
• C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\PowerShell.exe -noexit -Command CD '"%1"' -noexit flag makes sure that the Powershell windows does not close again immediately after launch '"%1"' flag represents the folder you right clicked -Command CD '"%1"' will ensure the Powershell changes into the right clicked directory.

  To make the right click work inside a folder meaning right clicking an empty space inside a folder, repeat the steps but this time, the registry location is:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
And the command is:
C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\PowerShell.exe -noexit

> Tested on windows 7 ultimate sp1 but I think I might work for later versions of Windows as well

Just add pause on a new line at the bottom of the script, as in a batch file.

You can add pause at the end of your script if you just want the window to stay open, or you can add powershell if you want to be able to run commands afterwards (obviously don't do the second option if anyone else will use your code).