How to Resolve UnauthorizedAccess Error for PowerShell Scripts in Windows 11

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Problem

You’re trying to run a PowerShell script (let’s call it MyScript.ps1) in Windows 11, and you encounter an error similar to the following:

At line:1 char:1
+ .\MyScript.ps1
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : SecurityError: (:) [], PSSecurityException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnauthorizedAccess

This error is caused by PowerShell’s script execution policies, which restrict the running of PowerShell scripts as a security measure.

Solution

Step 1: Check the Current Execution Policy

  1. Open PowerShell as an Administrator.
  • Search for “PowerShell” in the Start Menu, right-click on it, and choose “Run as administrator”.
  1. Check Execution Policy.
  • Enter the command Get-ExecutionPolicy and hit Enter.
  • Take note of the current policy setting. If it’s set to Restricted, scripts will not be allowed to run.

Step 2: Change the Execution Policy

  1. Choose a Policy Setting.
  • The execution policy options include Restricted, AllSigned, RemoteSigned, and Unrestricted.
  1. Change the Policy.
  • To set it to Unrestricted (less secure but allows any script to run), enter
  • Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
  • To set it to RemoteSigned (recommended for most users), enter
  • Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

Step 3: Run the Script Again

  1. Navigate to the Script Location.
  • Use cd path/to/script to move to the directory containing MyScript.ps1.
  1. Execute the Script.
  • Run the script again with .\MyScript.ps1.

Step 4: Revert the Policy (Optional)

  1. Revert to Original Policy.
  • If you changed the execution policy to run the script, consider reverting it back to its original setting for security reasons.
  • Use Set-ExecutionPolicy followed by the original policy you noted in Step 1.

Key Points to Remember

  • Make sure you have administrative rights to change the execution policy.
  • Always be conscious of security implications when changing these settings.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the UnauthorizedAccess error and successfully run your PowerShell script.