PackageUpdateInfo on PowerShell module PackageUpdateInfo

Overview

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PackageUpdateInfo helps you keep installed PowerShell modules up to date. It compares local module versions with versions from configured online repositories (for example PSGallery) and reports when newer versions are available.

What does PackageUpdateInfo do?

The module can:

Query locally installed modules.
Discover current online versions.
Compare versions with configurable sensitivity (major, minor, build, revision).
Show rich output including repository, release notes, author, and project links.
Export results for later import and fast startup workflows.

Why use PackageUpdateInfo?

Convenience

Quickly identify outdated modules without manually checking each one.
Export and import update information for offline or delayed review.
Run update checks in background jobs.
Use optional toast notifications on Windows.

Automation

Schedule update checks using your profile, scheduled tasks, or startup routines.
Enforce an update-check interval to reduce unnecessary repository queries.
Keep custom rules per module pattern for update sensitivity.
Reuse previously exported data for low-latency shell startup.

Flexibility

Include or exclude module name patterns.
Define rule scope and precedence with default and custom rules.
Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Supports Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7+.

Prerequisites

Windows PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell 7+.
PowerShellGet access to your target repository (for example PSGallery).
Optional: BurntToast module for toast notifications on Windows.

Installation

Install for all users (requires administrative rights):

Operational best practices

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This page describes recommended operating patterns for PackageUpdateInfo in interactive shells, profiles, and automation.

Start with default behavior

Reset settings before introducing custom tuning, especially on shared systems:

Set-PackageUpdateSetting -Reset

Inspect current configuration and rules:

Get-PackageUpdateSetting
Get-PackageUpdateRule -IncludeDefaultRule

Use update intervals to reduce noise

Get-PackageUpdateInfo respects UpdateCheckInterval. If the last effective check is still within the configured interval, the cmdlet returns early.

Set an interval that matches your environment:

Troubleshooting

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Use this guide when PackageUpdateInfo does not return expected results, skips checks, or fails to import and export data.

Get actionable diagnostics first

Run with verbose output:

Get-PackageUpdateInfo -Verbose

Validate settings and rules:

Get-PackageUpdateSetting
Get-PackageUpdateRule -IncludeDefaultRule

Check is skipped unexpectedly

Symptom:

You see a warning that update checks are skipped because the check interval is not expired.

Cause:

UpdateCheckInterval and recent LastCheck or LastSuccessfulCheck are preventing a new online check.

Resolution:

Legal Notice

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Information pursuant to Section 5 of the German Telemedia Act (TMG)

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Export-PackageUpdateInfo

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SYNOPSIS

Export PackageUpdateInfo to a data file

SYNTAX

__AllParameterSets

Export-PackageUpdateInfo [[-Path] <string>] -InputObject <Info[]> [-OutputFormat <string>]
 [-Encoding <string>] [-Force] [-Append] [-IncludeTimeStamp] [-PassThru] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm]
 [<CommonParameters>]

ALIASES

This cmdlet has the following aliases,

Get-PackageUpdateInfo

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SYNOPSIS

Get info about up-to-dateness for installed modules

SYNTAX

DefaultSet1 (Default)

Get-PackageUpdateInfo [-Name <string[]>] [-Repository <string[]>] [-ShowOnlyNeededUpdate]
 [-ShowToastNotification] [<CommonParameters>]

CurrentUser

Get-PackageUpdateInfo [-Name <string[]>] [-Repository <string[]>] [-ShowOnlyNeededUpdate]
 [-ShowToastNotification] [-CurrentUser] [<CommonParameters>]

AllUsers

Get-PackageUpdateInfo [-Name <string[]>] [-Repository <string[]>] [-ShowOnlyNeededUpdate]
 [-ShowToastNotification] [-AllUsers] [<CommonParameters>]

ALIASES

This cmdlet has the following aliases,

Import-PackageUpdateInfo

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

SYNOPSIS

Import PackageUpdateInfo from a data file

SYNTAX

__AllParameterSets

Import-PackageUpdateInfo [[-Path] <string>] [-ShowToastNotification] [-InputFormat <string>]
 [-Encoding <string>] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [<CommonParameters>]

ALIASES

This cmdlet has the following aliases,

Release notes v1.1.0.0

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Added

Command Get-PackageUpdateInfo
- Possibility to push ToastNotification for update infos with BurntToast module by specifying -ShowToastNotification switch
New dependency to module BurntToast

Updated

Add Description info on PackageUpdate.Info objects

Fixed

Command Get-PackageUpdateInfo
- In 1.0.2.0 ReleaseNotes and PublishDate of all modules were put into every PackageUpdate.Info. Used wrong variable. Fixed.
- Minor change in debug output on version comparison

Release notes v1.0.2.0

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

New: Add changelog ;-)
Upd: Command Get-PackageUpdateInfo
- add properties on output object
  - ProjectUri
  - IconUri
  - ReleaseNotes
  - Author
  - PublishedDate
Upd: Reformat code to meet codestyle OTBS - K&R(One True Brace Style variant)

Release notes v1.0.1.0 (Initial release)

Sat, 10 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Initial release

Added

Get-PackageUpdateInfo — Query all installed modules and display update status
Export-PackageUpdateInfo — Export update information to file
Import-PackageUpdateInfo — Import previously exported update information

About the Author

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hello to the World!

I’m Andreas Bellstedt — an IT professional with more than 20 years of experience across enterprise environments. Usually I am called Andi. I’m passionate about technology, but even more about applying it in a way that improves reliability, security, and operational efficiency.

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Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000