# Making It Yours

Why a script will or will not run, your profile, short names, a prompt in your colors, and installing apps and modules.

Updated: November 10, 2026

## [Running Scripts](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/powershell-running-scripts)

1. [Why a Script Won't Run: The Execution Policy](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-execution-policy) (Apprentice): PowerShell's execution policy decides which script files may run; Get-ExecutionPolicy -List shows who set it, RemoteSigned for your own account lets your scripts run, and Unblock-File clears a downloaded script you've read and trust.

## [Your Setup](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/powershell-your-setup)

1. [Your Profile](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-profile) (Apprentice): Your profile is a script PowerShell runs every time it starts, at the path in $PROFILE, so the variables, short names and settings you put in it are ready in every window, and dot-sourcing it loads a change into the window you're in.
2. [Aliases and Small Functions](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-aliases-and-small-functions) (Apprentice): Set-Alias gives a command a short name of your own, and when the job needs a parameter's value or more than one step, a small function does it instead; both go in your profile so they're there in every window.
3. [A Prompt in Your Colors](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-custom-prompt) (Journeyman): PowerShell's prompt is a function named prompt that runs before every command you type, so you can write your own that shows the folder's name, the time and colors from $PSStyle, and keep it in your profile.

## [Installing](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/powershell-installing)

1. [Installing Apps and Modules: winget and the PowerShell Gallery](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-installing-tools) (Apprentice): winget finds, installs and updates Windows apps by name, and the PowerShell Gallery does the same for modules, PowerShell's add-on commands, with Find-PSResource and Install-PSResource; because anyone can publish a module, check who made one before you install it.

## [Exercise: Your Toolkit, Version 1](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/exercise-powershell-your-toolkit-v1)

1. [Exercise: Your Toolkit, Version 1](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/exercise-powershell-your-toolkit-v1) (Apprentice): Build the first version of your own PowerShell toolkit, a file with an alias, three small functions and a prompt in your colors, answer five questions about running scripts and installing tools, and let a Pester check try every shortcut for real.

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/chapters/powershell-making-it-yours