PowerShell shows lots of text and closes after a few seconds.

Troubleshooting PowerShell: Resolving Unexpected Text Output and Auto-Closing Windows

PowerShell is a powerful tool for system administration and scripting, but it can sometimes present challenges for users unfamiliar with its behavior. One common issue occurs when opening PowerShell results in an immediate appearance of a large, unintelligible block of text, followed by the window closing seconds later. For many users, this can be confusing and frustrating, especially if they are not technically inclined.

Understanding the Issue

Typically, this scenario manifests when PowerShell encounters a problem during startup, such as a corrupted profile, a misconfigured script, or lingering errors from previous sessions. The initial large text block is often an error message or diagnostic information generated by PowerShell or associated startup scripts. Since the window closes automatically, users have little time to read or understand the message, making troubleshooting difficult.

Visual Reference

You can see an example of such a situation here: Image Link. The screenshot depicts a rugged text display followed by the immediate closure of the PowerShell window.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

1. Open PowerShell Manually with Command Prompt

To prevent the window from closing instantly and to view error messages:

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter to open Command Prompt.
• In the Command Prompt window, type powershell and press Enter.

• This method keeps the window open after execution, allowing you to read any messages or errors.

• Check for Startup Scripts or Profiles

PowerShell executes scripts during startup, which can sometimes cause errors:

• Navigate to your PowerShell profile folder:
  %USERPROFILE%\Documents\PowerShell\
• Look for files like profile.ps1. If present, try to disable or rename them temporarily:
  rename-item profile.ps1 profile_backup.ps1

• Restart PowerShell to see if the issue persists.

• Run PowerShell without Profiles

To start PowerShell without executing startup scripts:

• Open Command Prompt.
• Enter: powershell -NoProfile

If this opens normally, your profile script may contain errors causing the problem.

1. Scan System for Errors

If errors persist, run system scans:

• Use System File Checker:
  sfc /scannow