How to Convert PowerShell File to an Executable File

We can invoke PowerShell scripts (PS1) in many different ways, but they all have one downfall, we cannot simply run them like a standard Windows executable program (EXE). We want to prevent editing the code in a script or make it easier for our users to run scripts.

So it is time to learn how to convert a PS1 to an EXE. This article will discuss using the PS1 to the EXE module and properly converting PowerShell files to executable files.

Use PSEXE Utility to Convert PS1 to EXE in PowerShell

PS2EXE is a free, open-source Windows PowerShell module that does not convert the PowerShell script to another language.

Instead, it encapsulates the PowerShell script with a lightweight PowerShell host written in the C# language and compiles the dynamically generated C# code in memory to an executable file.

Install the PSEXE Module in PowerShell

Since PS2EXE uses the module to convert our script to an executable, we need to install it from the PowerShell Gallery. Follow the instructions to install the PS2EXE utility module.

1. Open a PowerShell console as an administrator.

2. Run the Install-Module cmdlet to download and install the module from the PowerShell Gallery.

   Install-Module ps2exe
   

3. Type Y and press Enter once we see the prompt about an untrusted repository. Don’t worry; this message is harmless.

   Untrusted repository
   You are importing the modules from an untrusted location. If you trust this location, change its InstallationPolicy by running the Set-PSRepository command. Are you certain you want to install the modules from the 'PSGallery'?
   [Y] Yes [N] No  [?] Help (default is "N"): Y
   

Convert PS1 to EXE Using PowerShell

Converting a single Windows PowerShell script to an executable file via the command line requires a single line using the main PS2EXE command (Invoke-PS2EXE). The command is then followed by the script’s path to convert and the path to the executable file that we would like to create.

## Use the cmdlet
Invoke-PS2EXE .\test.ps1 .\sample.exe

## Using the alias
ps2exe .\test.ps1 .\sample.exe

We can now run sample.exe, which will invoke the code defined in the source.ps1 script. If we did not use the NoConsole parameter while converting our script, a PowerShell console would appear when running the sample.exe file.

Hide the Console

In the previous example, when running sample.exe, a typical PowerShell console will appear. Most of the time, we don’t want to see this.

We can use the NoConsole parameter when creating the EXE to prevent that.

Invoke-ps2exe "D:\PS\Script.ps1" "D:\PS\Sample.exe" -noConsole