Skip to main content
TopMiniSite

Back to all posts

How to Set File Name to Default When Downloaded With Powershell?

Published on
3 min read
How to Set File Name to Default When Downloaded With Powershell? image

Best PowerShell Scripts to Buy in October 2025

1 Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Fourth Edition: Covers Windows, Linux, and macOS

Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Fourth Edition: Covers Windows, Linux, and macOS

BUY & SAVE
$39.99
Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Fourth Edition: Covers Windows, Linux, and macOS
2 Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches, Second Edition: Write and organize scripts and tools

Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches, Second Edition: Write and organize scripts and tools

BUY & SAVE
$47.34 $59.99
Save 21%
Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches, Second Edition: Write and organize scripts and tools
3 PowerShell for Sysadmins: Workflow Automation Made Easy

PowerShell for Sysadmins: Workflow Automation Made Easy

  • STREAMLINE TASKS WITH POWERSHELL'S AUTOMATION CAPABILITIES.
  • PRACTICAL TIPS FOR SYSADMINS IN AN EASY-TO-READ FORMAT.
  • ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY WITH CLEAR, STEP-BY-STEP WORKFLOWS.
BUY & SAVE
$23.99 $39.99
Save 40%
PowerShell for Sysadmins: Workflow Automation Made Easy
4 Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches

Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches

BUY & SAVE
$49.71
Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches
5 Beginner’s Guide to PowerShell Scripting: Automate Windows Administration, Master Active Directory, and Unlock Cloud DevOps with Real-World Scripts and Projects

Beginner’s Guide to PowerShell Scripting: Automate Windows Administration, Master Active Directory, and Unlock Cloud DevOps with Real-World Scripts and Projects

BUY & SAVE
$0.99
Beginner’s Guide to PowerShell Scripting: Automate Windows Administration, Master Active Directory, and Unlock Cloud DevOps with Real-World Scripts and Projects
6 Windows PowerShell in Action

Windows PowerShell in Action

  • NEW IN BOX: ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT OF UNBOXING A FRESH PRODUCT!
  • COMPLETE PACKAGE: COMES WITH ALL ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES INCLUDED!
  • READY TO USE: HASSLE-FREE SETUP WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED INSIDE!
BUY & SAVE
$59.99
Windows PowerShell in Action
7 Windows PowerShell 2 For Dummies

Windows PowerShell 2 For Dummies

BUY & SAVE
$21.00 $33.99
Save 38%
Windows PowerShell 2 For Dummies
8 Windows PowerShell Step by Step

Windows PowerShell Step by Step

BUY & SAVE
$48.61 $59.99
Save 19%
Windows PowerShell Step by Step
9 PowerShell for Beginners: Learn PowerShell 7 Through Hands-On Mini Games

PowerShell for Beginners: Learn PowerShell 7 Through Hands-On Mini Games

BUY & SAVE
$22.39 $54.99
Save 59%
PowerShell for Beginners: Learn PowerShell 7 Through Hands-On Mini Games
+
ONE MORE?

To set the file name to default when downloading with PowerShell, you can use the -OutFile parameter followed by the desired file name. If you do not specify a file name, PowerShell will default to using the original file name from the download URL. This allows you to retain the original file name without having to manually specify it each time you download a file using PowerShell.

How to default file name for downloads in PowerShell?

You can set the default file name for downloads in PowerShell by using the -OutFile parameter. Here's an example:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com/file.txt" -OutFile "downloaded_file.txt"

In this example, the -OutFile parameter specifies the name of the file that will be downloaded. You can replace "downloaded_file.txt" with any name you want for the downloaded file.

How to set automatic file naming in PowerShell downloads?

To set automatic file naming in PowerShell downloads, you can use the following script:

$url = "https://www.example.com/examplefile.txt" $outputPath = "C:\Downloads"

$webClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient $fileName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileNameWithoutExtension($url) $fileExtension = [System.IO.Path]::GetExtension($url) $outputFile = "$outputPath\$fileName$fileExtension"

$webClient.DownloadFile($url, $outputFile)

In this script, you provide the URL of the file you want to download in the $url variable and the output path where you want to save the file in the $outputPath variable. The script will automatically extract the filename and extension from the URL and download the file with that name to the specified output path.

You can customize this script further by adding error handling, progress reporting, or other features depending on your specific requirements.

How to control file naming conventions in PowerShell downloads?

You can control file naming conventions in PowerShell downloads by using the following methods:

  1. Specify the file name when downloading a file: When using the Invoke-WebRequest cmdlet to download a file, you can specify the file name by using the -OutFile parameter. For example:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "http://example.com/file.txt" -OutFile "downloaded_file.txt"

  1. Rename the downloaded file after downloading: You can download the file with a default name and then rename it using the Rename-Item cmdlet. For example:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "http://example.com/file.txt" Rename-Item -Path "file.txt" -NewName "downloaded_file.txt"

  1. Add a timestamp or unique identifier to the file name: You can add a timestamp or a unique identifier to the file name to avoid overwriting existing files. For example:

$timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMddHHmmss" Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "http://example.com/file.txt" -OutFile "downloaded_file_$timestamp.txt"

By using these methods, you can control file naming conventions in PowerShell downloads and ensure that the downloaded files are named according to your requirements.