Move-Item

SYNOPSIS

Moves an item from one location to another.

SYNTAX

Path (Default)

Move-Item [-Path] <String[]> [[-Destination] <String>] [-Force] [-Filter <String>] [-Include <String[]>]
 [-Exclude <String[]>] [-PassThru] [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

LiteralPath

Move-Item -LiteralPath <String[]> [[-Destination] <String>] [-Force] [-Filter <String>] [-Include <String[]>]
 [-Exclude <String[]>] [-PassThru] [-Credential <PSCredential>] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

DESCRIPTION

The `Move-Item` cmdlet moves an item, including its properties, contents, and child items, from one location to another location. The locations must be supported by the same provider. For example, it can move a file or subdirectory from one directory to another or move a registry subkey from one key to another. When you move an item, it is added to the new location and deleted from its original location.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Move a file to another directory and rename it

Move-Item -Path C:\test.txt -Destination E:\Temp\tst.txt

Example 2: Move a directory and its contents to another directory

Move-Item -Path C:\Temp -Destination C:\Logs

Example 3: Move all files of a specified extension from the current directory to another directory

Move-Item -Path .\*.txt -Destination C:\Logs

Example 4: Recursively move all files of a specified extension from the current directory to another directory

Get-ChildItem -Path ".\*.txt" -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination "C:\TextFiles"

The command uses the `Get-ChildItem` cmdlet to get all of the child items in the current directory (represented by the dot [.]) and its subdirectories that have a ".txt" file name extension. It uses the Recurse parameter to make the retrieval recursive and the Include parameter to limit the retrieval to ".txt" files.

The pipeline operator (`|`) sends the results of this command to `Move-Item`, which moves the text files to the "TextFiles" directory.

If files that are to be moved to "C:\Textfiles" have the same name, `Move-Item` displays an error and continues, but it moves only one file with each name to "C:\Textfiles". The other files remain in their original directories.

If the "Textfiles" directory (or any other element of the destination path) does not exist, the command fails. The missing directory is not created for you, even if you use the Force parameter. `Move-Item` moves the first item to a file called "Textfiles" and then displays an error explaining that the file already exists.

Also, by default, `Get-ChildItem` does not move hidden files. To move hidden files, use the Force parameter with `Get-ChildItem`.

> [!NOTE] > In Windows PowerShell 2.0, when using the Recurse parameter of the `Get-ChildItem` cmdlet, the > value of the Path parameter must be a container. > Use the Include parameter to specify the .txt file name extension filter > (`Get-ChildItem -Path .\ -Include .txt -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination C:\TextFiles`).

Example 5: Move registry keys and values to another key

Move-Item "HKLM:\software\mycompany\*" "HKLM:\software\mynewcompany"

Example 6: Move a directory and its contents to a subdirectory of the specified directory

Move-Item -LiteralPath 'Logs[Sept`06]' -Destination 'Logs[2006]'

The LiteralPath parameter is used instead of Path , because the original directory name includes left bracket and right bracket characters ("[" and "]"). The path is also enclosed in single quotation marks (' '), so that the backtick symbol (`) is not misinterpreted.

The Destination parameter does not require a literal path, because the Destination variable also must be enclosed in single quotation marks, because it includes brackets that can be misinterpreted.

PARAMETERS

-Credential

> [!NOTE] > This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. > To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, > use Invoke-Command (../Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/Invoke-Command.md).

Type: System.Management.Automation.PSCredential
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: Current user
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Destination

Specifies the path to the location where the items are being moved. The default is the current directory. Wildcards are permitted, but the result must specify a single location.

To rename the item being moved, specify a new name in the value of the Destination parameter.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: 1
Default value: Current directory
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as ` .txt`. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude * parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as `C:\Windows*`, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the `C:\Windows` directory.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Filter

Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem (../Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_FileSystem_Provider.md)provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards (../Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Wildcards.md). Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they are retrieved.

Type: System.String
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Force

Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation. Implementation varies from provider to provider. For more information, see about_Providers (../Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Providers.md).

Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as `" .txt"`. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include * parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as `C:\Windows*`, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the `C:\Windows` directory.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-LiteralPath

Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules (../Microsoft.Powershell.Core/About/about_Quoting_Rules.md).

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: LiteralPath
Aliases: PSPath, LP

Required: True
Position: Named
Default value: None
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-PassThru

Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases:

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Path

Specifies the path to the current location of the items. The default is the current directory. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type: System.String[]
Parameter Sets: Path
Aliases:

Required: True
Position: 0
Default value: Current directory
Accept pipeline input: True (ByPropertyName, ByValue)
Accept wildcard characters: False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: cf

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type: System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter
Parameter Sets: (All)
Aliases: wi

Required: False
Position: Named
Default value: False
Accept pipeline input: False
Accept wildcard characters: False

CommonParameters

This cmdlet supports the common parameters: -Debug, -ErrorAction, -ErrorVariable, -InformationAction, -InformationVariable, -OutVariable, -OutBuffer, -PipelineVariable, -Verbose, -WarningAction, and -WarningVariable. For more information, see about_CommonParameters.

INPUTS

System.String

You can pipe a string that contains a path to this cmdlet.

OUTPUTS

None or an object representing the moved item

When you use the PassThru parameter, this cmdlet generates an object representing the moved item. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

NOTES

This cmdlet will move files between drives that are supported by the same provider, but it will move directories only within the same drive. - Because a `Move-Item` command moves the properties, contents, and child items of an item, all moves are recursive by default. - This cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type `Get-PSProvider`. For more information, see about_Providers (../Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_Providers.md).