Update release notes for 7.6-rc1 (#12779)

sdwheeler · Copilot · web-flow · commit 1b6218fe5580 · 2026-02-20T10:27:39.000-06:00
* Update release notes for 7.6-rc1

* Update PSReadLine release notes for 2.4.5

* Apply suggestions from code review

Co-authored-by: Copilot &lt;175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com&gt;

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot &lt;175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com&gt;
diff --git a/reference/7.6/PSReadLine/About/about_PSReadLine.md b/reference/7.6/PSReadLine/About/about_PSReadLine.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 description: PSReadLine provides an improved command-line editing experience in the PowerShell console.
 Locale: en-US
-ms.date: 08/18/2025
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 online version: https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/psreadline/about/about_psreadline?view=powershell-7.6&WT.mc_id=ps-gethelp
 schema: 2.0.0
 title: about_PSReadLine
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ PowerShell console.
 There have been many updates to PSReadLine since the version that ships in
 Windows PowerShell 5.1.
 
+- v2.4.5 first shipped in PowerShell 7.6.0-rc.1
 - v2.3.6 first shipped in PowerShell 7.4.7 and 7.5.0
 - v2.3.5 first shipped in PowerShell 7.4.2 and 7.5.0-preview.3
 - v2.3.4 first shipped in PowerShell 7.4.0-rc.1
diff --git a/reference/7.6/PSReadLine/About/about_PSReadLine_Release_Notes.md b/reference/7.6/PSReadLine/About/about_PSReadLine_Release_Notes.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 description: This article contains the list of changes for each released version of PSReadLine.
 Locale: en-US
-ms.date: 01/18/2026
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 online version: https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/psreadline/about/about_psreadline_release_notes?view=powershell-7.6&WT.mc_id=ps-gethelp
 schema: 2.0.0
 title: about_PSReadLine_Release_Notes
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@ title: about_PSReadLine_Release_Notes
 This is a summary of changes to the **PSReadLine** module. For a full list of
 changes, see the **PSReadLine** [ChangeLog][01].
 
-- Current preview: v2.4.4-beta4
-- Current stable release: v2.3.6
+- Current stable release: v2.4.5
 
 ## Long description
 
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@ changes, see the **PSReadLine** [ChangeLog][01].
 There have been many updates to PSReadLine since the version that ships in
 Windows PowerShell 5.1.
 
+- v2.4.5 shipped in PowerShell 7.6.0-rc.1
 - v2.3.6 shipped in PowerShell 7.4.7 and 7.5.0
 - v2.3.5 shipped in PowerShell 7.4.2 and 7.5.0-preview.3
 - v2.3.4 shipped in PowerShell 7.4.0-rc.1
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ Windows PowerShell 5.1.
 - v2.0.4 shipped in PowerShell 7.0.11
 - v2.0.0 ships in Windows PowerShell 5.1
 
+### 2.4.5 - 2025-10-22
+
+- Replace `DOTNET_SKIP_FIRST_TIME_EXPERIENCE` with `DOTNET_NOLOGO`
+- Add the **ScreenReaderModeEnabled** property to formatting so it's displayed
+  in the default formatting for `Get-PSReadLineOption`.
+- Fix a null reference exception when showing parameter help
+
 ### 2.4.4-beta4 - 2025-08-28
 
 - Added screen reader support to PSReadLine - The new render implementation
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-alpine.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-alpine.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: How to install PowerShell on Alpine Linux
-ms.date: 02/04/2026
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 title: Install PowerShell on Alpine Linux
 ---
 # Install PowerShell on Alpine Linux
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ to the package depends on the version of PowerShell you want to install.
 
 - PowerShell 7.4 (LTS) - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.4.13/powershell-7.4.13-linux-musl-x64.tar.gz`
 - PowerShell 7.5 - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell-7.5.4-linux-musl-x64.tar.gz`
-- PowerShell 7.6-preview - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-linux-musl-x64.tar.gz`
+- PowerShell 7.6-preview - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-7.6.0-rc1-linux-musl-x64.tar.gz`
 
 Then, in the terminal, execute the following shell commands to install PowerShell 7.4:
 
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-debian.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-debian.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: How to install PowerShell on Debian Linux
-ms.date: 02/04/2026
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 title: Install PowerShell on Debian
 ---
 # Install PowerShell on Debian
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ The link to the current version is:
 - PowerShell 7.5 universal package for supported versions of Debian
   - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell_7.5.4-1.deb_amd64.deb`
 - PowerShell 7.6-preview universal package for supported versions of Debian
-  - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-preview_7.6.0-preview.6-1.deb_amd64.deb`
+  - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-preview_7.6.0-rc1-1.deb_amd64.deb`
 
 The following shell script downloads and installs the current release of PowerShell. You can
 change the URL to download the version of PowerShell that you want to install.
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-powershell-on-macos.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-powershell-on-macos.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: How to install PowerShell on macOS
-ms.date: 12/15/2025
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 title: Install PowerShell on macOS
 ---
 
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ install package from the [releases][11] page onto your Mac. The links to the cur
   - Arm64 processors - [powershell-7.5.4-arm64.pkg][20]
   - x64 processors - [powershell-7.5.4-osx-x64.pkg][22]
 - PowerShell 7.6-preview
-  - Arm64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-arm64.pkg][24]
-  - x64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-x64.pkg][26]
+  - Arm64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-arm64.pkg][24]
+  - x64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-x64.pkg][26]
 
 There are two ways to install PowerShell using the Direct Download method.
 
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ versions are:
   - Arm64 processors - [powershell-7.5.4-osx-arm64.tar.gz][21]
   - x64 processors - [powershell-7.5.4-osx-x64.tar.gz][23]
 - PowerShell 7.6-preview
-  - Arm64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-arm64.tar.gz][25]
-  - x64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-x64.tar.gz][27]
+  - Arm64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-arm64.tar.gz][25]
+  - x64 processors - [powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-x64.tar.gz][27]
 
 Use the following commands to install PowerShell from the binary archive. Change the download URL to
 match the version you want to install.
@@ -316,9 +316,9 @@ support those methods.
 [21]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell-7.5.4-osx-arm64.tar.gz
 [22]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell-7.5.4-osx-x64.pkg
 [23]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell-7.5.4-osx-x64.tar.gz
-[24]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-arm64.pkg
-[25]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-arm64.tar.gz
-[26]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-x64.pkg
-[27]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-7.6.0-preview.6-osx-x64.tar.gz
+[24]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-arm64.pkg
+[25]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-arm64.tar.gz
+[26]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-x64.pkg
+[27]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-7.6.0-rc1-osx-x64.tar.gz
 [28]: https://specifications.freedesktop.org/basedir/latest/
 [29]: https://support.apple.com/102445
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-powershell-on-windows.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-powershell-on-windows.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: How to install PowerShell on Windows
-ms.date: 12/17/2025
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 title: Install PowerShell on Windows
 ---
 # Install PowerShell on Windows
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ Latest stable release:
 
 Latest Preview release:
 
-- [PowerShell-7.6.0-preview.6-win-x64.msi][19]
-- [PowerShell-7.6.0-preview.6-win-x86.msi][20]
-- [PowerShell-7.6.0-preview.6-win-arm64.msi][18]
+- [PowerShell-7.6.0-rc1-win-x64.msi][19]
+- [PowerShell-7.6.0-rc1-win-x86.msi][20]
+- [PowerShell-7.6.0-rc1-win-arm64.msi][18]
 
 Once downloaded, double-click the installer file and follow the prompts.
 
@@ -296,9 +296,9 @@ can't support those methods.
 [15]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/PowerShell-7.5.4-win-x64.zip
 [16]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/PowerShell-7.5.4-win-x86.msi
 [17]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/PowerShell-7.5.4-win-x86.zip
-[18]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/PowerShell-7.6.0-preview.6-win-arm64.msi
-[19]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/PowerShell-7.6.0-preview.6-win-x64.msi
-[20]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/PowerShell-7.6.0-preview.6-win-x86.msi
+[18]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/PowerShell-7.6.0-rc1-win-arm64.msi
+[19]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/PowerShell-7.6.0-rc1-win-x64.msi
+[20]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/PowerShell-7.6.0-rc1-win-x86.msi
 [21]: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/latest
 [22]: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9MZ1SNWT0N5D
 [23]: microsoft-update-faq.yml
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-rhel.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-rhel.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: Information about installing PowerShell on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
-ms.date: 02/04/2026
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 title: Installing PowerShell on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
 ---
 # Installing PowerShell on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ The link to the current version is:
 - PowerShell 7.5.4 universal package for supported versions of RHEL
   - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell-7.5.4-1.rh.x86_64.rpm`
 - PowerShell 7.6-preview universal package for supported versions of RHEL
-  - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-preview-7.6.0-preview.6-1.rh.x86_64.rpm`
+  - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-preview-7.6.0-rc1-1.rh.x86_64.rpm`
 
 The following shell script downloads and installs the current preview release of PowerShell. You can
 change the URL to download the version of PowerShell that you want to install.
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-ubuntu.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/install/install-ubuntu.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 description: Information about installing PowerShell on Ubuntu
-ms.date: 02/04/2026
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 title: Installing PowerShell on Ubuntu
 ---
 # Installing PowerShell on Ubuntu
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ The link to the current version is:
 - PowerShell 7.5 universal package for supported versions of Ubuntu
   - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.5.4/powershell_7.5.4-1.deb_amd64.deb`
 - PowerShell 7.6-preview universal package for supported versions of Ubuntu
-  - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-preview.6/powershell-preview_7.6.0-preview.6-1.deb_amd64.deb`
+  - `https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell/releases/download/v7.6.0-rc1/powershell-preview_7.6.0-rc1-1.deb_amd64.deb`
 
 The following shell script downloads and installs the current preview release of PowerShell. You can
 change the URL to download the version of PowerShell that you want to install.
diff --git a/reference/docs-conceptual/whats-new/What-s-New-in-PowerShell-76.md b/reference/docs-conceptual/whats-new/What-s-New-in-PowerShell-76.md
@@ -1,33 +1,30 @@
 ---
 title: What's New in PowerShell 7.6
 description: New features and changes released in PowerShell 7.6
-ms.date: 12/17/2025
+ms.date: 02/20/2026
 ---
 
 # What's New in PowerShell 7.6
 
-PowerShell 7.6-preview.6 includes the following features, updates, and breaking changes. PowerShell
-7.6 is built on .NET 10.0.0 GA release.
-
+PowerShell 7.6-rc1 includes the following features, updates, and breaking changes. PowerShell
+7.6 is built on .NET 10.0.
 
 For a complete list of changes, see the [CHANGELOG][log] in the GitHub repository.
 
 ## Updated modules
 
-PowerShell 7.6-preview.6 includes the following updated modules:
+PowerShell 7.6-rc1 includes the following updated modules:
 
-- **Microsoft.PowerShell.PSResourceGet** v1.2.0-preview5
-- **PSReadLine** v2.4.4-beta4
+- **Microsoft.PowerShell.PSResourceGet** v1.2.0-rc3
+- **PSReadLine** v2.4.5
 - **Microsoft.PowerShell.ThreadJob** v2.2.0
-- **ThreadJob** v2.1.0
-
-The **ThreadJob** was renamed to **Microsoft.PowerShell.ThreadJob** module. There is no difference
-in the functionality of the module. To ensure backward compatibility for scripts that use the old
-name, the **ThreadJob** v2.1.0 module is a proxy module that points to the
-**Microsoft.PowerShell.ThreadJob** v2.2.0.
 
 ## Breaking Changes
 
+- The **Microsoft.PowerShell.ThreadJob** replaces the **ThreadJob** module. The `Start-ThreadJob`
+  cmdlet hasn't changed, so there shouldn't be an impact unless you have scripts that use the module
+  qualified name. If you are using the module qualified name, update the name to
+  `Microsoft.PowerShell.ThreadJob\Start-ThreadJob`.
 - Fix `WildcardPattern.Escape` to escape lone backticks correctly ([#25211][25211]) (Thanks
   @ArmaanMcleod!)
 - Convert `-ChildPath` parameter to `string[]` for `Join-Path` cmdlet ([#24677][24677]) (Thanks
