---
title: Migrating from PowerShell 6 to 7.5: Breaking Changes/New Features
description: Migrate from PowerShell Core 6 to 7.5: breaking changes, features, and testing tips.
canonical: https://adamtheautomator.com/migrating-powershell-6-to-7-5/
---

# Migrating from PowerShell 6 to 7.5: Breaking Changes/New Features

> Migrate from PowerShell Core 6 to 7.5: breaking changes, features, and testing tips.

Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/migrating-powershell-6-to-7-5/

---

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# Migrating from PowerShell 6 to 7.5: Breaking Changes/New Features

        Published:28 October 2025 - 4 min. read

- PowerShell

          [](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/adam-bertram/)

            [Adam Bertram](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/adam-bertram/)

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Table of Contents

- Why PowerShell 7 Replaced Core 6
- Breaking Changes from Core 6Encoding Consistency
- Error View Changes
- Test-Connection Cmdlet Rewritten
- Web Cmdlets Proxy Behavior
- Performance Improvements
- New Features Since Core 6Parallel Processing
- Pipeline Chain Operators
- Null Coalescing Operators
- Out-GridView Returns
- Module Compatibility UpdatesNative Support Added
- Import Changes
- Installation and Side-by-Side BehaviorCritical Installation Notes for Windows
- Installation Steps
- Verify Installation
- Common Upgrade IssuesJSON Cmdlet Depth
- Experimental Features
- Module Path Updates
- Testing Your MigrationSyntax Analysis
- Module Compatibility
- Performance Comparison
- Making the Decision
- Next Steps

                XFacebookLinkedIn
                You adopted PowerShell Core 6 early. You moved scripts to .NET Core. You dealt with the compatibility issues. Now Microsoft wants you to upgrade again.

Here's why it matters: PowerShell Core 6 is no longer supported. Your scripts still run, but you're missing security patches, performance improvements, and features that make PowerShell 7.5 worth the upgrade.

The good news? Moving from Core 6 to 7.5 is easier than the jump from Windows PowerShell. Most scripts work unchanged. But "most" isn't "all," and the differences matter.

If this migration is part of a broader PowerShell skills refresh, compare [Udemy technical training courses for PowerShell, cloud, and security skills](https://trk.udemy.com/c/1454808/3193860/39854) before paying for another course library.

## Why PowerShell 7 Replaced Core 6

PowerShell Core 6 was the experiment. It proved PowerShell could run cross-platform but broke too many things. Enterprises complained. Scripts failed. Microsoft listened.

PowerShell 7 fixed the problems:

- Restored compatibility with more Windows PowerShell modules

- Improved .NET runtime performance

- Added back missing cmdlets

- Unified the PowerShell versioning (no more "Core" in the name)

PowerShell 7.5 (stable, non-LTS) is built on .NET 9 and is supported until May 12, 2026. PowerShell 7.4 (LTS) runs on .NET 8 and is supported until November 10, 2026. Check the [PowerShell support lifecycle](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/powershell-support-lifecycle) for complete details.

## Breaking Changes from Core 6

These changes will affect your scripts:

### Encoding Consistency

Since PowerShell 6, the default text encoding is [UTF-8 without BOM](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_character_encoding) for most text cmdlets. This hasn't changed in 7.5, but specify -Encoding explicitly when interoperability requires it:

# Both Core 6 and 7.5 default to UTF-8 without BOM
Get-Content file.txt | Out-File output.txt

# Specify encoding when working with legacy systems
Get-Content file.txt | Out-File output.txt -Encoding UTF8BOM

For complete encoding details, see [about_Character_Encoding](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_character_encoding).

### Error View Changes

PowerShell 7 introduced ConciseView as the [default error display](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/whats-new/differences-from-windows-powershell) and the new Get-Error cmdlet:

# PowerShell 7.5 - Cleaner error display by default
$ErrorView = 'ConciseView'  # This is the default

# Use Get-Error for detailed error information
Get-Error -Newest 5

Learn more about error handling in [about_Preference_Variables](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_preference_variables).

### Test-Connection Cmdlet Rewritten

The [Test-Connection](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/test-connection) cmdlet parameter names changed completely. The -ComputerName parameter from PowerShell 5.1 became -TargetName in Core 6+:

# Core 6 and 7.5 - Use -TargetName
Test-Connection -TargetName server01 -Count 2

# PowerShell 7.5 - Additional parameters available
Test-Connection -TargetName server01 -Count 2 -IPv4

See [Test-Connection documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/test-connection) for all parameters.

### Web Cmdlets Proxy Behavior

In PowerShell 7.0+, web cmdlets support proxy configuration via environment variables and explicit -Proxy parameter:

# PowerShell 7.5 - Honors proxy environment variables
$env:HTTP_PROXY = 'http://proxy:8080'
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://api.example.com'

# Or use explicit proxy
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://api.example.com' -Proxy 'http://proxy:8080'

Details in [Invoke-WebRequest documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/invoke-webrequest).

Quick Win: Chain Operators

Replace verbose if ($?) blocks with && and || operators to fail fast in CI/CD pipelines. Example: Build-Project && Deploy-Project

## Performance Improvements

PowerShell 7.x generally starts and runs faster than Core 6 due to .NET runtime improvements. Rather than rely on generic percentages, benchmark your scripts with Measure-Command on your hardware:

# Measure startup time
Measure-Command { pwsh -Command "exit" }

# Compare ForEach-Object performance
$data = 1..100000
Measure-Command {
    $data | ForEach-Object { $_ * 2 }
}

# Test parallel performance (new in PowerShell 7)
Measure-Command {
    $data | ForEach-Object -Parallel { $_ * 2 } -ThrottleLimit 5
}

## New Features Since Core 6

PowerShell 7.5 adds features that weren't in Core 6. See [What's New in PowerShell 7.5](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/whats-new/what-s-new-in-powershell-75) for complete list.

### Parallel Processing

ForEach-Object -Parallel was [introduced in PowerShell 7.0](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/whats-new/differences-from-windows-powershell) and didn't exist in Core 6:

# Core 6 - Sequential processing only
$servers = Get-Content servers.txt
$servers | ForEach-Object {
    Test-Connection -TargetName $_ -Count 1
}

# PowerShell 7.5 - Parallel execution
$servers | ForEach-Object -Parallel {
    Test-Connection -TargetName $_ -Count 1
} -ThrottleLimit 10

### Pipeline Chain Operators

Pipeline chain operators (&& and ||) let you fail fast in pipelines without verbose if ($?) blocks:

# Core 6 - Manual error checking
$result = Start-Service 'Spooler'
if ($?) {
    Write-Output "Service started"
}

# PowerShell 7.5 - Chain operators
Start-Service 'Spooler' && Write-Output "Service started"

Learn more: [about_Pipeline_Chain_Operators](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_pipeline_chain_operators)

### Null Coalescing Operators

Null coalescing operators (?? and ??=) reduce null-checking code:

# Core 6 - Verbose null checking
if ($null -eq $config) {
    $config = Get-DefaultConfig
}

# PowerShell 7.5 - Null coalescing assignment
$config ??= Get-DefaultConfig

Details: [about_Assignment_Operators](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_assignment_operators)

### Out-GridView Returns

Out-GridView is available again on Windows in PowerShell 7+. For cross-platform scenarios, use Out-ConsoleGridView from the ConsoleGuiTools module:

# PowerShell 7.5 on Windows
Get-Process | Out-GridView -Title "Select Process" -PassThru

# Cross-platform alternative
Install-Module ConsoleGuiTools -Scope CurrentUser
Get-Process | Out-ConsoleGridView

See [Out-GridView documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/out-gridview).

## Module Compatibility Updates

PowerShell 7.5 supports more modules than Core 6:

### Native Support Added

These modules now work with PowerShell 7 (version requirements vary):

- Active Directory (with RSAT, Windows only): Works with PowerShell 7.

- Exchange Online Management v3: Module version 2.0.4 and later are supported in PowerShell 7.0.3 and later.

- SharePoint Online Management Shell: Works with PowerShell 7, but requires using the -UseWindowsPowerShell parameter for compatibility.

- Microsoft Teams: Requires PowerShell 7.2 or later.

### Import Changes

Module importing provides better error messages:

# PowerShell 7.5 - Use compatibility mode for Windows-only modules
Import-Module SomeWindowsModule -UseWindowsPowerShell

Gotcha: JSON Depth Defaults

ConvertTo-Json defaults to Depth=2 (not 100!). Always set -Depth explicitly to prevent data truncation: $object | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 5

## Installation and Side-by-Side Behavior

### Critical Installation Notes for Windows

On Windows, [installing PowerShell 7](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows):

- Removes PowerShell Core 6.x and replaces its PATH entry

- Runs side-by-side with Windows PowerShell 5.1

- Upgrades any existing PowerShell 7.x installation

See [Installing PowerShell on Windows](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows) for details.

### Installation Steps

# Windows - Using winget
winget install --id Microsoft.PowerShell --exact

# Linux - Using package manager
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y powershell

# macOS - Using Homebrew
brew install --cask powershell

### Verify Installation

$PSVersionTable.PSVersion

## Common Upgrade Issues

### JSON Cmdlet Depth

[ConvertTo-Json](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/convertto-json) defaults to Depth=2 (warns when exceeded). [ConvertFrom-Json](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/convertfrom-json) defaults to Depth=1024:

# ConvertTo-Json defaults to depth 2 - set it explicitly
$object | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 5   # Prevents truncation

# ConvertFrom-Json handles deeply nested JSON (depth 1024)
$json | ConvertFrom-Json

Reference: [ConvertTo-Json documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.utility/convertto-json)

### Experimental Features

Core 6 experimental features changed in 7.5:

# List current experimental features
Get-ExperimentalFeature

# Enable specific features
Enable-ExperimentalFeature -Name PSCommandNotFoundSuggestion

### Module Path Updates

Check and update module paths:

# View PowerShell 7.5 module paths
$env:PSModulePath -split [IO.Path]::PathSeparator

## Testing Your Migration

Create a structured testing approach:

### Syntax Analysis

Install-Module -Name PSScriptAnalyzer -Force
Invoke-ScriptAnalyzer -Path "C:\Scripts" -Recurse

### Module Compatibility

$modules = 'Az', 'VMware.PowerCLI', 'ExchangeOnlineManagement'
$modules | ForEach-Object {
    try {
        Import-Module $_ -ErrorAction Stop
        Write-Output "$_ loaded successfully"
    } catch {
        Write-Warning "$_ failed: $_"
    }
}

### Performance Comparison

# Benchmark in both versions
Measure-Command { & "C:\Scripts\critical-script.ps1" }

## Making the Decision

The upgrade from Core 6 to PowerShell 7.5 is straightforward for most scripts. Start with development environments. Test critical scripts. Document required changes.

Remember:

- PowerShell Core 6 is no longer supported.

- PowerShell 7.4 LTS is supported until November 10, 2026.

- PowerShell 7.5 (non-LTS) is supported until May 12, 2026.

## Next Steps

- Review the PowerShell support lifecycle

- Download from the official installation guide

- Test with PSScriptAnalyzer

- Check What's New in PowerShell 7.5

- Review migration documentation

Your Core 6 investment wasn't wasted. It proved that PowerShell could go cross-platform. Now, PowerShell 7.5 delivers on that promise with better performance, compatibility, and support.

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