There are several boring and redundant tasks you need to do on your Windows system during the day. For instance, renaming apps, moving files and folders, administration, database management, and reinstalling apps. A lot of these jobs can all be mundane when there are more important things (even gaming) to do. But wouldn’t you like an easier way to do things? If you are like me, you’re looking for ways to boost your productivity. PowerShell on Windows is a powerful CLI utility on Windows that can be utilized to automate several unexciting tasks.

5 The PowerShell CLI is faster

Working through the GUI takes too long

Virtually any task you want to accomplish on Windows can be done more quickly using the PowerShell CLI environment. For example, when I need to uninstall or reinstall Windows 11 apps, I find the process via Settings or Control Panel takes too long. Instead, it’s possible to run a simple command or two to reinstall apps.

PowerShell is also faster to manage system hardware. Like running a script for disk space monitoring. Or perhaps system admin work such as viewing and managing user accounts. Whatever the boring and redundant job you need to do, working through the PowerShell CLI will typically get it done more efficiently than clicking through the GUI.

4 Managing apps

Faster app management

You can do a lot of work with apps using PowerShell. For example, there are times when the Microsoft Store doesn’t allow me to install apps or games, OneDrive isn’t working, or the Settings app itself freezes up. Reinstalling Windows apps via the CLI is faster and more effective than going through the user interface. It typically only takes running a couple of commands or custom scripts to reinstall Windows apps.

In addition, it can be simpler to use PowerShell to update apps on a system by checking all sources, including the Microsoft Store, Chocolaty, and Winget all in one fell swoop.

3 Moving files is easier

Dragging and dropping all day is tiresome

No one likes moving files and folders from one directory to another using a mouse. Using that method via the File Explorer GUI is inefficient and clunky, and it takes too much time. Instead, I can move files to different directories using the Move-item cmdlet. It copies files you choose to different locations and automatically deletes the original file from the source folder. This simple cmdlet alone makes this mundane task quick and easy.

2 It works with Task Scheduler

Helps to run PowerShell scripts consistently

Whatever script you are using to accomplish tasks, it’s a good idea to copy it into Notepad and save it as a .ps1 file. To make things easy, I store them in a single directory that’s easy to access. Once I have the scripts, I launch the Task Scheduler utility and create a new basic task following the wizard. For the Protgram/Script field, I point to my script files, add arguments if needed and set a schedule for the task to run.

1 System maintenance tasks

Redundant system maintenance tasks can be automated

Whether you are an IT admin, enthusiast, or casual user, you use PowerShell to get system maintenance tasks done faster. Maybe it is generating a system report, viewing user accounts, or running device checks. Virtually everything can be done using cmdlets and custom scripts. If you want to take things up a notch, you can use third-party modules for coding, permissions, SQL database queries, and more.

Using PowerShell to tackle boring tasks

PowerShell is known for its automation capabilities. It allows you to quickly do hundreds of monotonous tasks to save time and improve productivity. I use PowerShell because many times (depending on the task) it’s just easier to get the job done. While the user interface is a helpful way to see what you are doing on your PC, it is inefficient compared to the CLI.

It improves productivity and makes my workflow easier to manage. In addition to getting things done more quickly, you can use built-in cmdlets or write your own script, which is especially useful for IT admins who have multiple systems to complete tasks on. Also, don’t forget about third-party modules, which can make the most daunting tasks easier to do.