PowerShell / PowerShell/PowerShell
PS7-packaged: pwsh not discoverable in SYSTEM / LocalSystem context
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Description
Summary
When PowerShell 7 is installed as an MSIX package, pwsh is not available in non-interactive system contexts. MSIX packages register per-user only — the SYSTEM account and other service identities cannot locate or invoke pwsh.
Affected scenarios
- Scheduled tasks running as SYSTEM
- Windows Services running as LocalSystem or a service account
- MDM-deployed scripts (Intune, ConfigMgr)
- Deployment agents and automation pipelines running in non-interactive contexts
Repro
From an elevated prompt:
psexec -s -i pwsh.exe
Expected: PowerShell 7 launches.
Actual: The system cannot find the file specified.
Context
This is a known architectural constraint of MSIX packaging. We are working with the relevant Windows engineering teams on a resolution. We have internal tracking for this work and will update this issue as progress is made.
This is a blocker for the PS7 inboxing initiative.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the elevated psexec -s -i pwsh.exe reproduction and the issue's description of MSIX per-user registration. Investigate how PowerShell 7 is packaged and discovered in SYSTEM, LocalSystem, service-account, and other non-interactive contexts. Done means pwsh launches successfully in those affected scenarios.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- powershell
- Domain
- cli, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100