How to Redirect the Output of a PowerShell to a File During its Execution

PowerShell commands or functions can be redirected or exported to a file. This data is stored in a file for later use. When a PowerShell output is redirected, it saves the data and creates a new file. Moreover, PowerShell has several commands that can be used to redirect the output to a file, which includes the “Redirect operator >” or the “Out-File” command.

This tutorial will cover a guide to resolve the mentioned problem.

How to Redirect PowerShell Output to a File During Execution?

Here, we have enlisted the major approaches to fix the mentioned query:

• Redirect operator “>”.
• Out-File cmdlet.

Method 1: Redirecting the Output of a PowerShell Using the Redirect Operator “>”

The Redirect operator “>” in PowerShell is utilized to redirect the output to a text file. It is very useful for storing the important configurations of the PowerShell.

In PowerShell, a single “>” redirect operator sends output to a text file and creates it. However, when double “>>” redirect operators are used, they only append the existing text.

Example:

In the given example, we will redirect the output of the “Systeminfo” cmdlet to a text file:

In the above code:

• “Systeminfo” command is used to get the system information.
• “>” single redirect operator is used here to redirect the PowerShell output to a new text file.
• In the end, we have given a file path and name where the output will be stored.

Verification

Let’s verify the performed output redirection operation using the “Get-Content” command and specifying the file path as follows:

The output confirms that the PowerShell output was redirected to a file.

Method 2: Redirecting the Output of a PowerShell Using “Out-File” Cmdlet

Another cmdlet can be used for the stated query. is the “Out-File” cmdlet. This cmdlet not only redirects the output of the PowerShell to a file, but it creates a new text file.

Example

In this example, first, use the “Get-Date” cmdlet to retrieve the system date. Then, the pipeline “|” takes the output from the previous command and then gives it as input to the next command. In the end, specify the location of the output file:

Again, execute the “Get-Content” command for the verification:

It can be observed that the current date has been stored in the mentioned file.

Conclusion

There are two methods for redirecting PowerShell output to a file. The first is using the “Redirect operator >” and the second is utilizing the “Out-File” command. Both of the methods not only output PowerShell data to a file but it creates a new file. This post has elaborated several methods to output PowerShell data to a file.