How to Update SharePoint Online Management Shell? Quickly

Managing SharePoint Online through the management shell excites administrators. In the management shell, admins can perform their tasks without even logging into the SharePoint Interface. Using the SharePoint Online management shell, administrators can create document libraries, lists, assign permissions, redirect SharePoint site to new URL, and so on. But it didn’t work efficiently every time due to its version compatibility with SharePoint. Therefore, for a smooth and flawless experience with SharePoint Online, it is required to update SharePoint Online management shell.

In this write-up, we will dive deep into the reasons and the steps required to update your SharePoint Online management shell. So, let’s get started.

Overview of SharePoint Online Management Shell

The SharePoint Online management shell is a powerful administrative tool. It enables SharePoint administrators to manage various aspects of SharePoint Online environment. It overcomes the limitations of GUI and offers bulk operations and streamlined workflow.  This command-line interface is built upon the PowerShell. It provides a direct and efficient way to interact with all the SharePoint Online services.

From managing site collections and user permissions, the shell provides a comprehensive set of cmdlets. Using scripts in the SharePoint Online management shell helps a lot to automate repetitive tasks. Additionally, the shell provides options for advanced configurations. It includes fine-grained control over web parts, site features, and other settings. 

For instance, admins can manage external sharing settings, control deployment, and configure information management policies. Security management is also an area where the SharePoint Online management shell excels. Admins can use this shell to manage user permissions, enforce security policies, and audit access logs. Detailed permission management allows for the accurate control of who is eligible to access specific sites, lists, and documents. 

Reasons to Update SharePoint Online Management Shell

There are several reasons for updating your SharePoint Online management shell. Some of them are as follows.

1. Microsoft announces its updates regularly to introduce the latest PowerShell cmdlets.
2. SharePoint Online compatibility issues with the older versions of the management shell. The older versions didn’t support the current APIs for smooth functioning with SharePoint Online latest features.
3. SharePoint updates fix some identified bugs. So, if the SharePoint Online management shell is not up-to-date then it might cause an error in between the process.
4. Microsoft frequently updates SharePoint Online authentication methods. Sticking to the older version of the SharePoint Online management shell can lead to authentication issues.
5. It is not mandatory to always add some new PowerShell cmdlets and continue with the older ones. In some updates of SharePoint, Microsoft also deprecates some older PowerShell cmdlets.

Prerequisites for Upgrading SharePoint Online Management Shell

Before knowing going to discuss the steps for updating shell, find the essential prerequisites.

• Make sure you are having the admin rights to update PnP PowerShell.
• Ensure the .NET framework is at least 4.5 or latest.
• Windows version should be 2010 or the latest.

After fulfilling all of the prerequisites, you can move forward to update your SharePoint Online management shell.

Steps to Update SharePoint Online Management Shell

Follow the below 4 simple steps to update your SharePoint Online management shell efficiently.

Step 1. Identify SharePoint Online Management Shell Latest Version

Firstly, check the current version of your SharePoint management shell. If it is updated then do not be required to move further, else go to the next step.

Get-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell -ListAvailable | Select-Object Name,Version

Step 2. Uninstall Older Version

If the current version is different from the latest one. Now, uninstall it to avoid the upcoming issues with the updated version.

Uninstall-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell

Step 3. From the Official Site of the Microsoft Download the Latest Version of SharePoint Online Management Shell

It’s time to download the latest version of SharePoint Online management shell. Open the Microsoft Download Center and start downloading.

Step 4. Install the Downloaded Latest Version of SharePoint Online Management Shell into Your Machine

After downloading, install it using the below command.

Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell

Now, your SharePoint Online management shell has been updated.

Note:- If you are aware of the current version of the SharePoint Online management shell and do not want to download the latest version. You can simply execute the below command to upgrade your SharePoint Online management shell to the latest version.

Update-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell

Alternate Reason for SharePoint Online Management Shell Upgradation

Now you are aware of the steps that are required to update SharePoint Online management shell. There might be a situation of SharePoint tenant to tenant migration, due to which you are looking for a solution for updating the PnP PowerShell of SharePoint. If so, then you are not required to update it. You can use the Most Reliable SharePoint Migrator to complete your migration process.

This tool is rated by numerous Microsoft experts because of its impeccable features. It incorporates several advanced features to streamline the SharePoint migration process. You can use its Delta migration option which allows you to use SharePoint while executing the migration process.

You can migrate newly arrived data using this feature. If you want to analyze the process after its completion. Then, you can also export the reports from the tool.

Below are the steps of the tool that can complete the migration process.

1. Download, Install, and Activate.
2. Source and Destination Platforms selection.
3. Sites Selection.
4. Validation of both platforms.
5. Adding Sites and Users then start the migration.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to update SharePoint Online management shell. We have discussed the 4 steps that can simplify the process of updating the SharePoint Online management shell. Hence the query is resolved.