Understanding Import-PSSession in PowerShell
Welcome back to Wahmans PowerShell blog! Today we’re diving into a powerful cmdlet that every PowerShell scripter should have in their toolbelt — Import-PSSession. Whether you’re managing remote systems or just exploring modules on a different computer, this cmdlet can make remote command access a breeze.
What does Import-PSSession do?
According to the Microsoft documentation, Import-PSSession “Imports commands from another session into the current session.” In practical terms, it means that you can connect to a remote session and use its available cmdlets and functions as if they were on your local machine. Magic, right?
Why do you need it?
If you’ve ever needed to manage Exchange Online or SharePoint Online, chances are you’ve used Import-PSSession to pull in the remote cmdlets required for administration. But its utility goes far beyond just Microsoft 365 — it’s a versatile tool for any remote PowerShell session.
Examples from Basic to Advanced
Example 1: Importing commands from a simple remote session
# Establish a remote session
$session = New-PSSession -ComputerName "Server01"
# Import commands from that session
Import-PSSession -Session $session
# Now you can use remote cmdlets like they are local!This is beginner-friendly — just initiate a remote session and import commands. Great for quick admin tasks.
Example 2: Importing only selected commands
# Connect and only import specific cmdlets
$session = New-PSSession -ComputerName "Server02"
Import-PSSession -Session $session -CommandName Get-Service, Restart-ServiceThis helps reduce clutter by only importing what you need.
Example 3: Import commands from an Exchange Online session
# Connect to Exchange Online (requires module installed)
$session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange -ConnectionUri https://outlook.office365.com/powershell-liveid/ -Credential (Get-Credential) -Authentication Basic -AllowRedirection
Import-PSSession -Session $session -DisableNameCheckingVery useful for Office365 administrators. Note that modern authentication and MFA need special handling.
Example 4: Using Import-PSSession with modules and session clean-up
# Connect to remote computer and import as a module
$session = New-PSSession -ComputerName "Server03"
$importedModule = Import-PSSession -Session $session -Module MyCustomRemoteModule
# Use imported module cmdlets here
Get-Command -Module $importedModule
# Clean up after you are done
Remove-PSSession $sessionThis shows a more advanced usage where the commands are grouped into a temporary module, helping with better organization and cleanup.
Conclusion
Import-PSSession is one of those cmdlets that quietly powers many enterprise tasks under the hood. Whether you’re an aspiring PowerShell scripter or an advanced automation engineer, mastering it will open up a world of remote management capabilities.
Happy scripting, and I will see you in the next post!
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