Enter-PSSession in PowerShell - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Enter-PSSession

Start PowerShell

↓

Run Enter-PSSession

↓

Connect to remote computer

↓

Open interactive session

↓

Run commands on remote

↓

Exit session with Exit-PSSession

↓

Return to local prompt

This flow shows how Enter-PSSession starts an interactive remote session, lets you run commands remotely, then exit back to local.

Execution Sample

PowerShell

Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01
Get-Process
Exit-PSSession

Starts a remote session to Server01, runs Get-Process remotely, then exits back to local shell.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Evaluation	Result
1	Run Enter-PSSession -ComputerName Server01	Connects to Server01	Interactive remote session started
2	Run Get-Process	Executes on Server01	Lists processes running on Server01
3	Run Exit-PSSession	Ends remote session	Returns to local PowerShell prompt

💡 Exit-PSSession ends the remote session and returns control to local shell

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3
SessionState	Local	Remote(Server01)	Remote(Server01)	Local

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the prompt change after running Enter-PSSession?

Because Enter-PSSession opens an interactive remote session, the prompt changes to show you are connected to the remote computer (see execution_table step 1).

Are commands run after Enter-PSSession executed locally or remotely?

Commands run after Enter-PSSession are executed on the remote computer until you exit the session (see execution_table step 2).

How do you return to your local PowerShell prompt?

You run Exit-PSSession to end the remote session and return to local (see execution_table step 3).

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the session state after step 1?

A Local

B Remote(Server01)

C Disconnected

D Unknown

💡 Hint

Check variable_tracker row 'SessionState' after Step 1

At which step does the prompt return to local PowerShell?

A Step 3

B Step 2

C Step 1

D Never

💡 Hint

See execution_table step 3 where Exit-PSSession is run

If you run a command after Enter-PSSession but before Exit-PSSession, where does it run?

A Locally

B On both local and remote

C Remotely on Server01

D It does not run

💡 Hint

Refer to execution_table step 2 and key_moments about command execution context

Concept Snapshot

Enter-PSSession starts an interactive remote PowerShell session.
Commands run after it execute on the remote computer.
Prompt changes to show remote connection.
Use Exit-PSSession to return to local shell.
Useful for managing remote machines interactively.

Full Transcript

Enter-PSSession is a PowerShell command that lets you connect to another computer and run commands there as if you were sitting at that computer. When you run Enter-PSSession with a computer name, PowerShell opens a remote session and changes the prompt to show you are connected remotely. Any commands you type now run on that remote computer. When you are done, you type Exit-PSSession to close the remote connection and return to your local PowerShell prompt. This lets you manage remote computers easily and interactively.