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Move-Item

Move or rename files, directories, registry keys, and other PowerShell data items. This command can only be run through PowerShell. More information: https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/move-item.

  • Rename a file or directory when the target is not an existing directory:

Move-Item {{path\to\source}} {{path\to\target}}

  • Move a file or directory into an existing directory:

Move-Item {{path\to\source}} {{path\to\existing_directory}}

  • Rename or move file(s) with specific name (do not treat special characters inside strings):

Move-Item -LiteralPath "{{path\to\source}}" {{path\to\file_or_directory}}

  • Move multiple files into an existing directory, keeping the filenames unchanged:

Move-Item {{path\to\source1 , path\to\source2 ...}} {{path\to\existing_directory}}

  • Move or rename registry key(s):

Move-Item {{path\to\source_key1 , path\to\source_key2 ...}} {{path\to\new_or_existing_key}}

  • Do not prompt for confirmation before overwriting existing files or registry keys:

mv -Force {{path\to\source}} {{path\to\target}}

  • Prompt for confirmation before overwriting existing files, regardless of file permissions:

mv -Confirm {{path\to\source}} {{path\to\target}}

  • Move files in dry-run mode, showing files and directories which could be moved without executing them:

mv -WhatIf {{path\to\source}} {{path\to\target}}