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PowerShell Error Action Preference

The error action preference is the default rule for how PowerShell handles a command error. It applies to every command that does not set its own rule.

Stop turns an error into a catchable stop

With Stop, a failing command stops and catch runs. The script then keeps going after catch.

$oldPreference = $ErrorActionPreference
$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
try { Get-Item "/definitely-not-here-xyz" } catch { "Caught: " + $_.Exception.Message }
$ErrorActionPreference = $oldPreference
"Preference: " + $ErrorActionPreference

Continue keeps the script going

With Continue, an error does not stop the script. The error message is sent away with 2>$null, so only the next line is shown.

$oldPreference = $ErrorActionPreference
$ErrorActionPreference = "Continue"
Get-Item "/definitely-not-here-xyz" 2>$null
$ErrorActionPreference = $oldPreference
"Still running"

SilentlyContinue hides the error

With SilentlyContinue, no error is shown and the script keeps going. The next line runs as normal.

$oldPreference = $ErrorActionPreference
$ErrorActionPreference = "SilentlyContinue"
Get-Item "/definitely-not-here-xyz"
$ErrorActionPreference = $oldPreference
"Still running"

Example

$oldPreference = $ErrorActionPreference
$ErrorActionPreference = "SilentlyContinue"
"Preference: " + $ErrorActionPreference
try { Get-Item "/definitely-not-here-xyz" -ErrorAction Stop } catch { "Caught: " + $_.Exception.Message }
Get-Item "/definitely-not-here-xyz"
$ErrorActionPreference = $oldPreference
"Done"

Key points

  • Error action preference: the default rule for how a command error is handled.
  • Stop: the rule that turns an error into a stopping error.
  • Continue: the rule that shows the error and keeps the script going.
  • SilentlyContinue: the rule that hides the error and keeps the script going.
  • -ErrorAction: a flag on one command that beats the preference for that command.

In this example, the preference is set to SilentlyContinue, the first command overrides it with Stop and is caught, the second command stays silent, and the old preference is restored before Done prints.

Note

Save the old preference and restore it after your change, so later commands keep their normal rule.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated

Exercise

Which preference value hides the error and keeps the script going?