Microsoft released a new PowerShell version with some notable changes in the release notes. One of the more noticeable ones is the change to wget verbosity. This command has been replaced by -IncludePavilion, which will download all files within one directory and automatically add them to your current location on disk.
The “powershell wget download file” is a command-line tool that allows users to download files with an alternative PowerShell command. The tool can be used in Windows and Linux operating systems.
Do you need to download things from the internet yet despise clicking links over and again? If you have a profession that requires you to download data from the internet on a regular basis, you might consider automating the process. Why not use PowerShell to download files, similar to the PowerShell wget command?
Both Windows PowerShell and PowerShell come with the ability to download files. Knowing which cmdlets and.NET classes to use and how to utilize them is all it takes to use PowerShell to download files.
You’ll learn how to utilize PowerShell to download files from the web in this post.
Prerequisites
Because this is a learn-by-doing tutorial, there are a few requirements to guarantee that you can follow along with the examples. The fundamental needs are shown below.
- A PC with Windows 10 or higher installed. You’ll use this PC to execute the scripts/commands described in this tutorial.
- PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell 7.1 on Windows (recommended).
- Windows PowerShell 5.1 is already included in Windows 10.
- The files to be downloaded are hosted on a website.
- Consider utilizing the free Tele2 Speedtest site for non-authenticated file downloads.
- You may need to setup your HTTP file server if you want to test file downloads with authorisation. HFS by Rejetto is an example of a free HTTP file server.
Four Ways to Download Files from URLs with PowerShell
There are four ways to download files using PowerShell that do not need the use of third-party applications. These are the following:
- Invoke-WebRequest
- Invoke-RestMethod
- Start-BitsTransfer
- WebClient class for.NET.
The logic and components that make these four approaches function are the same regardless of which one you pick. A source URL referring to the file’s location as well as a destination path to store the downloaded files are required. If the webserver requires it, you must also input the credentials.
Each of these four ways is shown in the following sections. In the end, it’s up to you to determine which method you’d want to use while downloading files using PowerShell.
As a PowerShell wget replacement, use Invoke-WebRequest.
The Invoke-WebRequest cmdlet is the initial way to download files in PowerShell. Invoke-WebRequest, perhaps the most often used cmdlet in this article, can download HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP URLs.
The Invoke-WebRequest cmdlet may handle requests with credentials regardless of whether the originating site needs users to log in.
The syntax below demonstrates the minimal parameters necessary to obtain the desired result while Obtaining a File.
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri <source> -OutFile <destination>
The code below, for example, downloads a file named 10MB.zip from a website. The downloaded file is then saved to C:dload10MB.zip. To test, copy and paste the code below into your PowerShell session.
# The location of the source file $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’ # Save the file to this location. Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $source -OutFile $destination $destination = ‘c:dload10MB.zip’ #Download the file Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $source -OutFile $destination
After executing the code above in PowerShell, the following example displays the intended outcome. The file download was successful, as you can see.
Using Invoke-WebRequest to download a file
What if the source needs authorization before access is granted? The code below, for example, downloads a file from a private website that requires users to log in.
$source = ‘https://mirror.lzex.ml/100MB.zip’ $source = ‘https://mirror.lzex.ml/100MB.zip’ $source = ‘https ‘c:dload100MB.zip’ as $destination Invoke-WebRequest -Uri is a command that initiates a web request. -OutFile $source $destination
The download, however, failed owing to illegal access.
Unauthorized access caused the download to fail.
If authentication is necessary, use the -Credential argument to add a credential to the request. The first line of the code asks you for your credentials (username and password) and saves them in the $credential variable.
$credential = Get-Credential $source = ‘https://mirror.lzex.ml/100MB.zip’ $source = ‘https://mirror.lzex.ml/100MB.zip’ $source = ‘https ‘c:dload100MB.zip’ as $destination Invoke-WebRequest -Uri is a command that initiates a web request. -OutFile $source $destination -Credential $credential
When you execute the following code in PowerShell, you should see something similar to this. The Get-Credential cmdlet, as you can see, prompted a PowerShell credential request. Using the credential in conjunction with Invoke-WebRequest resulted in a successful download this time.
Authentication while Obtaining a File
Using the Get-Credential Cmdlet in PowerShell and all things credentials
When using Invoke-WebRequest, keep an eye out for parsing errors.
When using Invoke-WebRequest in Windows PowerShell, keep in mind that this cmdlet parses data using the Internet Explorer engine by default. When using Invoke-WebRequest on a machine that does not have Internet Explorer installed, the following error may occur.
You’ll need to re-run your command, this time include the -UseBasicParsing option.
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri <source> -OutFile <destination> -UseBasicParsing
You can get an error notice in Windows PowerShell saying that the response content can’t be processed because the Internet Explorer engine isn’t accessible or the first-launch setup for Internet Explorer isn’t complete. Replace UseBasicParsing with UseBasicParsing and try again.
The Invoke-WebRequest cmdlet employs just minimal parsing starting with PowerShell Core 6.0. As a result, the -UseBasicParsing option is no longer required.
Using the Invoke-RestMethod method
The Invoke-RestMethod cmdlet is used to invoke a RESTful web service using an HTTP or HTTPS request. This cmdlet is better suited for queries that use REST APIs like the Microsoft Graph API.
When it comes to downloading files straight from the web, Invoke-RestMethod is an excellent contender. Do not be deceived into thinking otherwise. There is not much difference between Using the Invoke-RestMethod method and Invoke-WebRequest when used for downloading files from a direct web link.
Obtaining a File Using the Invoke-RestMethod method
To download a file Using the Invoke-RestMethod method, use the syntax below. You’ll notice that the command uses the same parameters as Invoke-WebRequest.
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri <source> -OutFile <destination>
The file is downloaded from the URL value in the $source variable in the sample code below. The data is then stored to the $destination variable’s path.
$source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘ ‘c:dload10MB.zip’ as $destination -Uri Invoke-RestMethod -OutFile $source $destination
If the source needs authentication, the -Credential argument may be used to supply the credentials. The following example asks for credentials and saves them in the $credential variable. The -Credential argument receives the value of the $credential variable.
Furthermore, since the file link is an HTTP source rather than HTTPS, you are delivering an unencrypted authentication. For the most part, HTTP sources should be avoided for security reasons. If you must utilize an HTTP source, however, you must include the -AllowUnencryptedAuthentication option in your command.
$credential = Get-Credential $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘ ‘c:dload10MB.zip’ as $destination -Uri Invoke-RestMethod -OutFile $source $destination -Credential $credential -AllowUnencryptedAuthentication
Using the Start-BitsTransfer command
Start-BitsTransfer is a program that transfers data between client and server computers. This PowerShell cmdlet relies on the Windows operating system’s native Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS).
Because Start-BitsTransfer relies on BITS to function, it isn’t accessible on non-Windows machines. Start-BitsTransfer, on the other hand, reaps the advantages of BITS. These are some of the advantages:
- Awareness of network bandwidth and utilization.
- Handling of interruptions (resume, auto-resume, pause, etc.)
- As a background task, downloading many files.
- The ability to prioritize download jobs.
Obtaining a File
To download a file using Start-BitsTransfer in PowerShell, you must first select a source and destination. You simply need to alter the $source and $destination parameters in the script below to meet your needs.
$source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/100MB.zip’ $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/100MB.zip’ $source = ‘http:// ‘c:dload100MB.zip’ as $destination -Source Start-BitsTransfer -Destination $source $destination
The file is downloaded to the path c:dload100MB.zip, as seen in the example below.
Obtaining a File Using the Start-BitsTransfer command
Start-BitsTransfer downloads and saves the file to the current working directory if the destination is not provided. If you run Start-BitsTransfer from C:dload, for example, the file will download to the same directory.
Start-BitsTransfer provides a -Credential argument that takes a PSCredential object for downloads that need authentication.
Multiple Files to Download
To demonstrate Multiple Files to Download, you’ll need to create a CSV file with two columns. Name the file filelist.txt. The first column should contain the link to the source, while the second column must contain the destination path. The file contents would like the one below.
# origin, destination http://speedtest.tele2.net/1MB.zip,c:dload1MB.zip http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip,c:dload10MB.zip http://speedtest.tele2.net/100MB.zip,c:dload100MB.zip
Import-Csv is a PowerShell command for managing CSV files.
Use the command below to start the file download once the CSV file is ready. The program uses Import-Csv to import the CSV file and then gives the data to Start-BitsTransfer.
Start-BitsTransfer | Import-Csv.filelist.csv
To show how the code above works, look at the example below. As you can see, the download begins, and the status of the download is shown. During the download process, the PowerShell prompt is not accessible.
Begin downloading numerous files in a synchronous manner.
Let’s say you wish to start the download in the background. Simply add the -Asynchronous option at the end of the Start-BitsTransfer command to do this.
Start-BitsTransfer | Import-Csv.filelist.csv -Asynchronous
Initially, each job’s condition would indicate that it was connected. The task id for each file download is shown in the image below.
As a background task, begin downloading files.
Now that you’ve begun the download, you’ll want to make sure it’s finished. Use the Get-BitsTransfer cmdlet to examine the status of a download operation. The status of the download tasks has changed to Transferred, as you can see below.
Viewing the status of a file download task
Making Use of the WebClient and HttpClient Classes (.NET Framework)
Because PowerShell is built on.NET, it can take use of the platform’s capabilities. WebClient and HttpClient are two.NET classes that you may use in PowerShell to download files.
Start with When to utilize WebClient vs. HttpClient vs. HttpWebRequest if you want to learn more about these two.NET classes from a development and technical standpoint. You’ll learn how to utilize WebClient and HttpClient in PowerShell to download files from the web in the following section.
Obtaining a File using System.Net.WebClient
To utilize the WebClient class, you must create a System.Net.WebClient **type object. The $webClient object in the example below is the new System.Net.WebClient object. The DownloadFile() function is then used to begin the download of the file from the source.
Using Data Types Accelerators in PowerShell to Speed Up Coding
To test, copy and paste the code below into your PowerShell session. Unless there is an issue, you will not see any progress or output on the screen. The PowerShell prompt, on the other hand, will remain locked until the download is finished.
# Define the route to the source link and the path to the destination link. $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘ ‘c:dload10MB.zip’ as $destination # Make a new WebClient. $webClient = [System.Net.WebClient]::new; $webClient = [System.Net.WebClient]::new; $webClient () $webClient.DownloadFile($source, $destination) # Download the file
You may use the code below if the source needs authentication before the file can be downloaded. The first line asks for the credential, which is then saved in the $credentials variable. The file download request then includes the value of $credential.
# Inquire about the user name and password. Get-Credential $credentials $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’; $source = ‘ # Make a new WebClient with $destination = ‘c:dload10MB.zip’. $webClient = [System.Net.WebClient]::new; $webClient = [System.Net.WebClient]::new; $webClient () $webClient.Credentials = $webClient.Credentials = $webClient.Credentials = $webClient. $credentials # Get the file using $webClient.DownloadFile. ($source, $destination) $source, $destination) $source, $destination)
“We don’t advocate using the WebClient class for new work,” according to a Microsoft publication. Use the System.Net.Http.HttpClient class instead.”
The WebClient class seems to be outdated, and Microsoft recommends the HttpClient class as its instead. But don’t be concerned. The HttpClient class in PowerShell is used to download files from the web in the following section.
Obtaining a File using System.Net.Http.HttpClient
The System.Net.Http.HttpClient class, like the WebClient class, must be created first. The following code transfers the file from the $source to the $destination. To find out what each line of code does, look at the comments above it.
The code below is active, and you may try it in your PowerShell session by executing it.
# Choose a source and a destination. $destination = ‘c:dload10MB.zip’ $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’ # Make a download request for the HTTP client. $httpClient = New-Object System.Net.Http.HttpClient; $httpClient = New-Object System.Net.Http.HttpClient; $httpClient $httpClient.GetAsync($source) $response = $httpClient.GetAsync($source) $response. Wait() # Make a file stream that points to the output file’s location. $destination, [System.IO.FileMode]::Create, [System.IO.FileAccess]::Write) = $outputFileStream = [System.IO.FileStream]::new($destination, [System.IO.FileMode]::Create, [System.IO.FileAccess]::Write) # Download the file to the target file stream in real time. $response = $downloadTask Result. Content. $downloadTask = CopyToAsync($outputFileStream) Wait() # Terminate the file stream. $outputFileStream. Close()
In situations where Obtaining a File requires authentication, you need to add the credential to the HttpClient object. To include a credential to the file download request, create a new System.Net.Http.HttpClientHandler object to store the credentials.
To test, copy and paste the code below into PowerShell. It’s also possible to execute it as a PowerShell script. The code is stored as download-file.ps1 in our example.
# Choose a source and a destination. $destination = ‘c:dload10MB.zip’ $source = ‘http://speedtest.tele2.net/10MB.zip’ # Request credentials. Get-Credential $credentials # Create a download request for the HTTP client using credentials. $handler = New-Object System.Net.Http.HttpClientHandler; $handler = New-Object System.Net.Http.HttpClientHandler; $handler = New $credentials = $handler.Credentials $httpClient = New-Object System.Net.Http.HttpClient($handler) $httpClient = New-Object System.Net.Http.HttpClient($handler) $httpClient = New $httpClient.GetAsync($source) $response = $httpClient.GetAsync($source) $response. Wait() # Make a file stream that points to the output file’s location. $destination, [System.IO.FileMode]::Create, [System.IO.FileAccess]::Write) = $outputFileStream = [System.IO.FileStream]::new($destination, [System.IO.FileMode]::Create, [System.IO.FileAccess]::Write) # Download the file to the target file stream in real time. $response = $downloadTask Result. Content. $downloadTask = CopyToAsync($outputFileStream) # Close the file stream $outputFileStream using wait(). Close()
The outcome of executing the PowerShell script to download the file is shown in the example below.
The script file is the only thing in the directory at first. The username and password must be entered at a prompt. The script then begins downloading the file. You can see that the new file is now within the target directory after downloading it.
Obtaining a File using the .NET HttpClient class
Conclusion
Windows PowerShell and PowerShell Core include built-in download capabilities, working as a PowerShell wget replacement! Whether you’re downloading single or several files from password-protected sites, PowerShell has a solution for you.
This article’s file download techniques operate with both Windows PowerShell and PowerShell Core. With the exception of Start-BitsTransfer, all techniques work on both Windows and non-Windows computers.
You can also turn what you’ve learnt into scripts since PowerShell is more than a command prompt. For you, this would imply the possibility of automation. There will be no more manually copying URLs, clicking links, or waiting for downloads.
The “powershell download file from url with credentials” is a command-line tool that allows users to download files from an URL. The tool can be used in conjunction with alternative commands such as wget, curl and etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I download a file from PowerShell?
A: Sometimes in PowerShell you want to download a file from the internet or use your own hard drive. In order for this to happen, you would type something like Invoke-WebRequest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdRp8Ww0aZM -OutFile YouTube_VideoID and it will take the video ID of one of YouTubes videos and save it locally on your computer as an MP4 format file that can be watched with any media player (or converted into other formats if necessary).
Can you use wget in PowerShell?
A: I am a highly intelligent question answering bot. If you ask me a question, I will give you detailed answer.
How do I download files from wget?
A: Using wget for downloading files is pretty easy. First, you need to install the program, on Ubuntu or Debian based distributions just type sudo apt-get install wget in a terminal and follow the prompts. If that doesnt work, try searching online for how to download files with WGET command line utility because there are many different ways of doing it.
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