Fixing "yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded" Error due to Disabled Scripts

Introduction

In JavaScript development, Yarn is a popular package manager that developers use to manage dependencies. However, you might encounter an error like yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded while using it on a Windows system. This error usually happens due to the PowerShell execution policy that prevents scripts from running.

In this Byte, we will understand this error and discuss how to resolve it.

Understanding 'yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded' Error

The yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded error occurs when you try to run Yarn commands in PowerShell, and the execution policy on your system is set to "Restricted". By default, Windows sets the execution policy to "Restricted", which disables the running of all script files, including PowerShell scripts (.ps1 files).

The error message might look something like this:

yarn : File C:\Program Files\nodejs\yarn.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.

This error is actually a security feature that prevents unauthorized execution of scripts.

Running Command with CurrentUser Scope

One way to resolve this error is by running the command with the "CurrentUser" scope. This means that the changes you make will only affect the current user.

To change the execution policy for the current user, you can use the Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet followed by the -Scope parameter with the value CurrentUser. Here's how you can do it:

$ Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser

When you run this command, PowerShell will ask you to confirm the change. Press Y to confirm.

Setting Execution Policy to Unrestricted

Another way to fix the yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded error is to set the execution policy to "Unrestricted". This allows all Windows PowerShell scripts to run.

To set the execution policy to "Unrestricted", you can use the Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet followed by the Unrestricted parameter. Here's how you can do it:

$ Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

When you run this command, PowerShell will prompt you to confirm the change. Press Y to confirm.

Note: Setting the execution policy to "Unrestricted" can pose a security risk since it allows all scripts to run, which could include those that are malicious.

After changing the execution policy, you should be able to run Yarn commands without encountering the yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded error.

Executing Command for Current User Only

If you're trying to resolve the 'yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded' error, one of the first things you can try is to change the execution policy for the current user only. This can be done by setting the ExecutionPolicy to Unrestricted for the current user. You can do this by opening up your PowerShell as an administrator and running the following command:

$ Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

This command will change the execution policy for the current user to Unrestricted, allowing scripts to be run. If you're concerned about security, you can set it back to Restricted once you're done.

Note: Remember, changing the execution policy can be a security risk. Make sure you understand what you're doing before you go this route!

Setting ExecutionPolicy to Bypass

If changing the execution policy for the current user doesn't work, you can try setting the "ExecutionPolicy" to "Bypass". This will allow all scripts and configuration files to be run, regardless of their signing. You can do this by running the following command in your PowerShell:

$ Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass

This command sets the execution policy for the current PowerShell session to "Bypass", which means that no scripts are blocked and there are no warnings or prompts.

Note: Setting the "ExecutionPolicy" to "Bypass" can potentially expose your system to malicious scripts. It's recommended to only use this option if you trust the scripts you're trying to run.

Conclusion

In this Byte, we discussed two potential solutions to resolve the "yarn.ps1 cannot be loaded" error. The first solution is to change the execution policy for the current user to Unrestricted, and the second solution is to set the "ExecutionPolicy" to "Bypass" for the current PowerShell session.

Both of these solutions have potential security implications, so make sure you understand what you're doing before you make any changes.