Installing dbatools

I write about SQL Server automation often, and dbatools comes up frequently. Instead of rewriting install steps in every post, I’m putting them here once so I can just link back.

The full instructions are on the official site: dbatools.io/download. If you’re new to dbatools, follow those first—they’re always current. You should also check out their Getting Started page: dbatools.io/getting-started while you’re there since it has many great examples to give you ideas for your next automation project.

The process is simple. From an admin PowerShell session:

Install-Module dbatools -Scope CurrentUser

If you’re prompted about trusting the repository, say yes… it’s the official source. On older systems you may also need to explicitly trust PSGallery with:

Set-PSRepository -Name PSGallery -InstallationPolicy Trusted

Check that it worked:

Get-Command -Module dbatools

Keep it updated periodically with this command:

Update-Module dbatools

Note: If you get errors about script execution policy, you may need to allow PowerShell to run downloaded modules. The simplest way is:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

That lets you run modules you install from the Gallery while still keeping protections in place.

That’s all you need for most cases. For older Windows versions or locked-down environments, see alternate installation methods on the official download page.