Improve your Windows PowerShell prompt with oh-my-posh

The default Windows PowerShell prompt is functional but plain. With a few tools you can get a modern terminal with git status, icons, and themes — without leaving PowerShell.

What you need

• Windows Terminal (Microsoft Store)
• PowerShell (Microsoft Store)
• Scoop — a command-line installer for Windows

1. Install Scoop

Make sure PowerShell 5+ and .NET Framework 4.5+ are installed, then run:

iwr -useb get.scoop.sh | iex

If you hit an execution-policy error, enable scripts for your user:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -scope CurrentUser

2. Install a few useful packages

scoop install curl sudo jq

3. Install a Nerd Font

Glyphs (git branch, folder, OS icons) need a patched font. Grab one — e.g. FuraCode — from Nerd Fonts, then install it. In Windows Terminal, set the PowerShell profile font to the Nerd Font (e.g. "FuraCode Nerd Font").

4. Install oh-my-posh and pick a theme

scoop install oh-my-posh

Then load a theme from your PowerShell profile ($PROFILE):

# in $PROFILE
oh-my-posh init pwsh --config "$env:POSH_THEMES_PATH\paradox.omp.json" | Invoke-Expression

Reload the shell and you'll have a themed prompt with git and path segments.

5. Nice extras

• PSReadLine — history-based autosuggestions and better editing.
• Terminal-Icons — file/folder icons in ls output.
• fzf + PSFzf — fuzzy history and file search.

Install-Module PSReadLine -Force
Install-Module Terminal-Icons -Force
scoop install fzf
Install-Module PSFzf -Force

Add the imports to $PROFILE, restart, and your PowerShell feels like a proper modern terminal.