The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized

Question

I got this error The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. when I tried to install Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell module

PS C:\Users\system32> Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell
Install-Module : The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or
operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try
again.
At line:1 char:1
+ Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (Install-Module:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Why The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized in Windows Server 2012? How I can solve this problem?

Answer 1

The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet

The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized usually occurs if you are using a PowerShell version older than PowerShell 5.0.

Note: Install-Module runs on PowerShell 5.0 or later releases.

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How to get the current PowerShell Version?

To get the current PowerShell Version, you should run one of the below cmdlets:

host

$psversiontable

As above-shown, the PowerShell version is 4.0 that doesn't support the Install-Module cmdlet.

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Solving The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet

To solve The term 'Install-Module' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, you need to download and install Windows Management Framework 5.1 which includes Windows PowerShell 5.1.

What's Windows Management Framework 5.1?

Windows Management Framework 5.1 includes updates to Windows PowerShell, Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC), Windows Remote Management (WinRM), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

Supported Operating System

Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
• Windows 8.1
• Windows 7 SP1

Note: Windows Management Framework 5.1 requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or above.

Download Windows Management Framework 5.1

• Download Windows Management Framework 5.1.
• Select the corresponding version based on your operating system.
  
• In Windows Server 2012 R2, double click on the downloaded file to install Windows Management Framework 5.1 > Click on "Yes".
  
  
• Click on I Accept button to continue.
  
• Great, the installation is started now
  
• You will need to restart the server to complete the installation.
  

  Installing Windows Management Framework requires a server restart, and it will not be installed until the server rebooted.

• After restart, try now to run the 'Install-Module' cmdlet that should be now recognized and working properly.