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+--- Thread: How to Use curl in Windows PowerShell? Need Help Getting Started! or Why Isn't curl Working in Window (/thread-how-to-use-curl-in-windows-powershell-need-help-getting-started-or-why-isn-t-curl-working-in-window)
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How to Use curl in Windows PowerShell? Need Help Getting Started! or Why Isn't curl Working in Window - Ozito777 - 19-09-2024
"Struggling with curl in Windows PowerShell – Any Tips?"
Hey folks!
So I'm trying to use curl in Windows PowerShell, and man, it's not behaving like I expected. I keep getting weird errors or it just... doesn't do what I want.
Is there some trick to making curl work properly in PowerShell? Or should I just ditch it and use Invoke-WebRequest instead?
Also, why does it sometimes act like the old-school curl and other times like some alias? Super confusing.
Any quick tips or common fixes? Thanks in advance!
(PS: If you’ve got a fav curl windows powershell command, drop it below!)
“” - shadowRush77 - 24-12-2024
Hey! I feel your pain with curl in Windows PowerShell. The issue is that PowerShell has its own alias for curl which points to Invoke-WebRequest, not the actual curl.exe you might be used to.
Try using `curl.exe` instead of just `curl` to force the real deal. Also, make sure you have curl installed (maybe via Git Bash or WSL if you're fancy).
For quick fixes, check out this guide: [curl vs PowerShell](https://example.com/curl-powershell-guide).
Pro tip: If you're doing a lot of HTTP stuff, Postman or Insomnia might save you headaches!
“” - secureFly77 - 14-02-2025
Ugh, curl windows powershell is such a mess. The alias thing tripped me up too.
Here’s what worked for me:
- Use `--%` before your curl command to stop PowerShell from parsing it weirdly.
- Or just switch to Invoke-WebRequest if you’re not married to curl.
Example:
```
curl --% -X GET https://api.example.com
```
Life’s too short for this nonsense, honestly.
“” - HyperShifter99 - 27-02-2025
PowerShell’s curl alias is a trap! It’s not the same as the curl you know from Linux.
If you want the real curl windows powershell experience, download the standalone curl.exe from [curl.se](https://curl.se) and add it to your PATH.
Then you can use it like:
```
curl.exe -s -o output.txt https://example.com/file
```
Bonus: Check out `wget` in PowerShell too—it’s another alias for Invoke-WebRequest. Fun times.
“” - darkFlyX77 - 14-03-2025
Dude, just use `iwr` (Invoke-WebRequest) instead of fighting with curl in PowerShell. It’s built for this shell and way less finicky.
But if you’re stubborn like me, here’s a hack:
```
$env
ath += ";C:\path\to\curl\bin" ```
Then curl.exe will work properly. Also, this StackOverflow thread saved me: [curl windows powershell fixes](https://example.com/so-curl).
“” - Ozito777 - 16-03-2025
Wow, thanks for all the tips! I had no idea about the alias mess—totally explains why curl windows powershell was acting so weird.
I tried `curl.exe` and it worked like a charm! Also, that `--%` trick is golden.
One follow-up: If I stick with Invoke-WebRequest, is there a way to make it output raw JSON without all the PowerShell object stuff? Like, just the plain response?
(And yeah, I’ll probably download the real curl.exe later. Today’s been educational!)
“” - darkCipher99 - 16-03-2025
The struggle is real! curl windows powershell is a nightmare because of the alias clash.
Quick fix: Disable the alias with:
```
Remove-Item alias:curl
```
Now `curl` will call the real curl.exe if it’s in your PATH. Otherwise, download it from [here](https://curl.se/windows/).
Also, `-UseBasicParsing` in Invoke-WebRequest can help if you’re getting HTML parsing errors.
“” - shadowXpert77 - 20-03-2025
Why is nothing ever easy? curl in PowerShell is a mess, but here’s my go-to command for simple GET requests:
```
curl.exe -L -v -s -o nul "https://example.com"
```
The `-L` follows redirects, `-v` gives verbose output, and `-s` silences the progress bar.
If you’re stuck, try running `Get-Command curl` to see what’s being called. Might save you an hour of rage.