Boost Your Sitecore Productivity with Sitecore PowerShell Extension (SPE) – Basics

You are currently viewing Boost Your Sitecore Productivity with Sitecore PowerShell Extension (SPE) – Basics
  • Post category:SPE
  • Post last modified:October 29, 2025

In the fast-paced world of Sitecore development, efficiency and automation are key. Whether you’re managing content, deploying features, or performing maintenance tasks, the Sitecore PowerShell Extension (SPE) is a game-changer. The Sitecore PowerShell Extension is a robust scripting environment that integrates PowerShell into Sitecore, enabling users to perform complex operations with simple scripts.

SPE includes an Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE), command line interface, and support for scheduled tasks and remote execution. SPE empowers developers to automate content updates, bulk edits, audits, deployments, and more—saving time and reducing human error. With SPE, Sitecore becomes not just a CMS, but a fully scriptable platform.

Essential Sitecore PowerShell Commands

I’ve compiled a set of basic, essential PowerShell commands specifically for the beginner audience. These commands have been tested on a vanilla Sitecore 10.3.1 instance, making them straightforward to follow and execute in your local environment. This hands-on approach will help you quickly build confidence and accelerate your learning—so let’s dive into Sitecore PowerShell Extensions (SPE)!

Get Sitecore Item

# Retrieve a Sitecore item by Sitecore path
Get-Item /sitecore/content/Home

# Retrieve a Sitecore item by Sitecore path by specifying database name
Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"

# Retrieve a Sitecore item across all languages and versions
Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" -Language * -Version *

# Retrieve a Sitecore item with a specific language and version
Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" -Language en -Version 1

# Retrieve a Sitecore item by Item Id
Get-Item -Path "{Item Id}"

# Retrieve a Sitecore item by Item Id by specifying database name
Get-Item master: -ID "{Item Id}"

Get Sitecore Child Items

# Get Sitecore child items by Sitecore path
Get-ChildItem -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"

# Retrieve all descendant items using a Sitecore path
Get-ChildItem -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" -Recurse

# Get Sitecore child items by Sitecore path with one condition
Get-ChildItem -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" |
Where-Object { $_.TemplateName -eq "Sample Item" }

# Get top 10 items
Get-ChildItem -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" |
Where-Object { $_.TemplateName -eq "Sample Item" } |
Select-Object -First 10

# Get Sitecore child items by Sitecore Item Id
Get-ChildItem -Path "{Parent Item Id}"

Get Sitecore Item Fields & Values

# Get Sitecore Item field value
$item = Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"
$item.Title
$item.__Created #Standard field

# Get a list of names of non standard fields from item
Get-ItemField -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"

# Get a list of names of fields from item including standard fields
Get-ItemField -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" -IncludeStandardFields

Get the Standard Values item field

function Test-TemplateHasStandardValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
        [Sitecore.Data.Items.TemplateItem]$Template
    )

    $standardValuesItem = $Template.StandardValues
    if ($standardValuesItem -ne $null) {
        return $true
    } else {
        return $false
    }
}

$template = Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/templates/Sample/Sample Item"
$fieldName = "Title"
if (Test-TemplateHasStandardValues -Template $template) {
    
    $standardValuesItem = Get-Item -Path ($template.Paths.FullPath + "/__Standard Values")
    if ($standardValuesItem.Fields[$fieldName]) {
        Write-Host "Found field '$fieldName' in '__Standard Values' for template '$($template.Name)'."    
    }else{
        Write-Host "Field '$fieldName' was not found on the '__Standard Values' item."
    }
}
else{
    Write-Host "No '__Standard Values' item found for template '$($template.Name)'."
}

Get Search Index

# Get a list of all search indexes
Get-SearchIndex

# Get only specific index
Get-SearchIndex -Name sitecore_master_index

Get Sitecore Items via Sitecore Queries

# Sitecore Query
Get-Item master: -Query "/sitecore/content/Home//*[@@templatename='Sample Item']"

# Filter result along with other parameters if needed
Get-Item master: -Query "/sitecore/content/Home//*[@@templatename='Sample Item']" `
-Language en -Version 1

Get Sitecore Item Template

# Get template of particular item
Get-ItemTemplate -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"
 
# Get the template of particular item, including its full inheritance chain
Get-ItemTemplate -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" -Recurse `
| Format-Table Name, FullName -autosize

Get Renderings & Layouts

# Get all renderings on a page associated with the FinalLayout
$item = Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"
$defaultLayout = Get-LayoutDevice "Default"
Get-Rendering -Item $item -Device $defaultLayout -FinalLayout | Show-ListView

# Get layout on item
$item = Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"
Get-Layout -Item $item

# Get all layout devices associated with the item
$item = Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"
$layout = Get-Layout -Item $item
$layout.Device

# Get rendering parameter
$item = Get-Item -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home"
$itemRendering = Get-Rendering -Item $item -Placeholder "/main/centercolumn/content" -FinalLayout
Get-RenderingParameter -Rendering $itemRendering

Get Sitecore Item Workflow State

# Get workflow state of child items
Get-ChildItem -Path "master:/sitecore/content/Home" |
Where-Object { $_.TemplateName -eq "Sample Item" } |
ForEach-Object {
    if ($_ -and $_."__Workflow state") {
        Write-Host (Get-Item master: -ID $_."__Workflow state").Name
    }
}

Users & Roles

# Get current user 
Get-User -Current

# Get a specific user
Get-User -Identity "sitecore\admin"

# Get all users
Get-User -Filter *

# Get all users in a specific domain
Get-User -Filter "sitecore\*"

# Get User based on specific email address
Get-User -Filter * | Where-Object { $_.Profile.Email -eq "no_reply@sitecore.net"}

# Get a specific role
Get-Role -Identity "sitecore\Author"

Search Sitecore Items using Sitecore Content Search indexes

# Dynamic Linq Query approach
$props = @{
    Index = "sitecore_master_index"
    Where = 'TemplateName = @0 And Language=@1'
    WhereValues = "Sample Item", "en"
}

Find-Item @props

# Criteria Parameter approach
$criteria = @(
    @{Filter = "Equals"; Field = "_templatename"; Value = "Sample Item"},
    @{Filter = "Equals"; Field = "_language"; Value = "en"}
)
$props = @{
    Index = "sitecore_master_index"
    Criteria = $criteria
}

Find-Item @props

This blog introduces the basic commands to help you get started with Sitecore PowerShell Extensions (SPE). Once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals, be sure to explore the documentation linked below for a deeper dive into advanced SPE capabilities.

https://doc.sitecorepowershell.com

https://blog.najmanowicz.com/sitecore-powershell-console/

Happy Learning!!!

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