Allow modules to be updated from multiple systems... OneDrive

[tmmuessig]

Summary of the new feature / enhancement

As a user I want to be able to update modules that are stored in my profile (or a network share) from multiple computers. Many places/companies are migrating to being able to back up my profile to OneDrive, so my modules in stored in c:\Users\{UserName}\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Modules (for Windows PowerShell) and c:\Users\{UserName}\Documents\PowerShell\Modules (for PowerShell core) and this is great for documents, but not for modules.

If I install a module, let's use the Az module, on PC1 using Install-Module -Name Az I can update the module with no issues on PC1, but let's say I also use a different machine called PC2. On PC2, I have access to these modules because they are in my profile made available via OneDrive, and there is no issue in using them. However, there is an issue when try to run Update-Module Az we get the error "Module 'az' was not installed by using Install-Module, so it can't be updated", but the module was installed using Install-Module, just on PC1.

Proposed technical implementation details (optional)

What I would like to see implemented in Install-Module is the ability to mark this module as being able to update from any location, regardless of where it was originally installed with the Install-Module cmdlet. An example of this might look something like this:

Install-Module -Name Az -Scope CurrentUser -AllowUniversalUpdates
The "AllowUniversalUpdates" would then mark the module as being able to be updated from any machine, as long as the user has write permissions to it. This would also work out to being able to host modules on a network share in addition to just a OneDrive location.

[SydneyhSmith]

Thanks @tmmuessig for opening the issue, you reference both Windows PowerShell and PowerShell core, can you clarify which version of PowerShell you are experiencing this with/using...also wanted to mention that right now we are only making changes to PSResourceGet so if you could test out the behavior with that module as well to clarify the experience you are looking for that would be great

[tmmuessig]

Hi @SydneyhSmith - The issue appears in PowerShell Core and Windows PowerShell.
Repo Steps (Use PowerShell Core or Windows PowerShell, the experience is the same) (also 2 PC's are required)

1. Configure OneDrive to backup your "Documents" folder
2. On your system identify a module that has an update
3. On PC2 attempt to update the module, you will get the following error Update-Module: Module 'PSFramework' was not installed by using Install-Module, so it cannot be updated.

This issue also happens if you have to remove your profile on PC1, where the modules were originally installed, but since it is a new profile they no longer register as being installed on that system, even though it may be the same one.