How to Fix The Term Install-Module is not Recognized as the Name of a Cmdlet in Windows Server

Problem

You trying to install a PowerShell module with Install-Module command and got this error message:

Install-Module : The term ‘Install-Module’ is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

PS C:\> Install-Module MSOnline
Install-Module : The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or
operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try
again.
At line:1 char:1
+ Install-Module MSOnline
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (Install-Module:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Root cause:

The Install-Module cmdlet is used to get and install the new module from PowerShell Gallery. And this cmdlet is part of PowerShell 5 or later. You can check the installed version of the PowerShell with: $PSVersionTable.

PS C:\> $PSVersionTable

Name                           Value
----                           -----
PSVersion                      4.0
WSManStackVersion              3.0
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.34014
BuildVersion                   6.3.9600.17400
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0}
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.2

The PSVersion value in the output denotes the current PowerShell version. In earlier operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2012, etc., we’ve PowerShell 4 installed by default unless it’s updated.

Solution for install-module is not recognized Error:

It turns out I was running in Windows Server 2012 with PowerShell version 4.0, which doesn’t support the “Install-Module” cmdlet. So, to resolve this error, we have to update the PowerShell through Windows Management Framework 5.1.

Windows Management Framework 5.1: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54616

Select the relevant package for your operating system, download, and install. The installation prompted me to reboot. After the restart, it worked and the error “Install-Module: The term ‘Install-Module’ is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet” is no more.

And the Windows PowerShell version is upgraded to PowerShell 5.

PS C:\Users\Administrator> $PSVersionTable

Name                           Value
----                           -----
PSVersion                      5.1.14409.1005
PSEdition                      Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}
BuildVersion                   10.0.14409.1005
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.34014
WSManStackVersion              3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1


PS C:\Users\Administrator> Get-Command install-module

CommandType     Name                                               Version    Source
-----------     ----                                               -------    ------
Function        Install-Module                                     1.0.0.1    PowerShellGet