Issue with path containing [ and ( when using -Path

Question

I try to write a script with PowerShell to move 3 folders. I\'ve got some issue due to the different [] and () in my path. I can\'t change the path

Answer 1

I found through tab completion that you can escape the square brackets with backquotes:

test-path '.\a`[hi`]\'
move-item '.\a`[hi`]\' foo
set-location '.\a`[hi`]\'

Answer 2

Use -LiteralPath instead

When you use -Path with the Item/ChildItem provider cmdlets, PowerShell treats the argument as a potential wildcard pattern!

Since [A-Z] is a wildcard pattern construct, the file system globber won't actually resolve file(s) with a literal [ or ] in the name.

Using -LiteralPath will supress any attempt to expand wildcards:

Test-Path -LiteralPath "D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley\Mods\[TMX] IF2 Red Shed"

Remember to quote paths with spaces as well!

Move-Item -LiteralPath 'C:\path with [wildcards]\in\the\name.ext' -Destination 'C:\Destination\path\'