Run a PowerShell Script Using Windows Task Scheduler – Complete Guide

Last updated: Nov 24, 2024

For several years now, PowerShell has been the go-to scripting language for Windows. Knowing how to run a PowerShell script through the Windows Task Scheduler can greatly enhance your ability to automate tasks. In this guide, I'll walk you through the process of scheduling and running a PowerShell script using the Windows Task Scheduler.

Create a PowerShell script

For our example: c:\Path\PScript.ps1.

Path of the PowerShell script displayed in File Explorer

Create a task

Open Windows Task Scheduler:

Opening the Task Scheduler with the Run dialog using taskschd.msc

Right-click on the Task Scheduler Library and select Create Task… to create a new task:

Creating a new task in the Task Scheduler by selecting Create Task

Give the task a name (e.g. My_Task), select the user under which the task will run (e.g. NT AUTORITY\SYSTEM) and check the box to hide the task:

Configuring a task in Task Scheduler with NT AUTHORITY System, highest privileges, and hidden options

Selecting the SYSTEM account in the Windows Task Scheduler for task configuration

In the Actions tab, click on New…:

Adding a new action in the Windows Task Scheduler task configuration

Set the New Action as follows:
- Program/script: powershell.exe
- Add arguments: -Noninteractive -Noprofile -ExecutionPolicy bypass -Command "& 'C:\Path\PScript.ps1'"

Configuring a PowerShell script action in the Windows Task Scheduler