VSC PowerShell. After npm updating packages .ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system

Question

I design websites in VSC and PowerShell is my default terminal.

After updating and deploying a website to firebase earlier, I was prompted to update firebase tools - which I did using npm. Immediately after I cannot run/access any firebase scripts wthout the folllowing error:

firebase : File C:\Users\mada7\AppData\Roaming\npm\firebase.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system. For more information, see about_Execution_Policies at https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170. At line:1 char:1

firebase + CategoryInfo : SecurityError: (:) [], PSSecurityException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnauthorizedAccess

I've spent a few hours searching around and can't find a solid answer the problem. Many threads are several years old and I find it bizarre I've not had this problem in the past year until today. I can still access firebase scripts if I set my default terminal to cmd.

Assuming the problem was related to firebase-tools I've carried on working but have now updated vue.js and get the error again when trying to run any vue commands in powershell:

vue : File C:\Users\mada7\AppData\Roaming\npm\vue.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system. For more information, see about_Execution_Policies at https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170. At line:1 char:1

vue + CategoryInfo : SecurityError: (:) [], PSSecurityException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : UnauthorizedAccess

VSCode Version: Version: 1.37.1 (user setup) Commit: f06011a Date: 2019-08-15T16:17:55.855Z Electron: 4.2.7 Chrome: 69.0.3497.128 Node.js: 10.11.0 V8: 6.9.427.31-electron.0 OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.18362 OS Version: Windows 10 Home Version - 1903 OS build - 18362.295

I've been reading around and seen many threads around permissions for scripts, but I haven't changed any - indeed the PowerShell scripts worked right up until I updated my packages. No other settings touched in the mean time. I don't want to be changing PowerShell settings unnecessarily.

Answer 1

Just delete firebase.ps1 file:

File C:\Users\<your account>\AppData\Roaming\npm\firebase.ps1

Answer 2

This is a powershell security policy, to fix it, run Powershell as administrator and run the following

PS C:\> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned 

If you don't want to run the command as an administrator but just for the current user, you can add a scope like below

PS C:\> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

The stricter the policy, the more secure your system becomes.

You can change RemoteSigned to other options like: Restricted, AllSigned, RemoteSigned, Unrestricted

Source: https://tecadmin.net/powershell-running-scripts-is-disabled-system/

Alternatively you can modify C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\powershell.config.json using a text editor and add or modify the following section.

{
   ....

   "Microsoft.PowerShell:ExecutionPolicy":  "RemoteSigned"
}

Answer 3

A little clarification: when you run PowerShell as Admin, in most cases you don't need to note a path. Just type:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

then press "A", then "Enter"