diff --git a/src/rez/rezconfig.py b/src/rez/rezconfig.py
index f66cb467f7..6f7f26ab17 100644
--- a/src/rez/rezconfig.py
+++ b/src/rez/rezconfig.py
@@ -535,6 +535,9 @@
 # The default shell type to use when creating resolved environments (eg when using
 # :ref:`rez-env`, or calling :meth:`.ResolvedContext.execute_shell`). If empty or None, the
 # current shell is used (for eg, "bash").
+#
+# .. versionchanged:: 3.0.0
+#    The default value on Windows is changed to "powershell".
 default_shell = ""
 
 # The command to use to launch a new Rez environment in a separate terminal (this
diff --git a/src/rez/system.py b/src/rez/system.py
index 4a9fed1e31..64d2be7f71 100644
--- a/src/rez/system.py
+++ b/src/rez/system.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def shell(self):
             raise RezSystemError("no shells available")
 
         if self.platform == "windows":
-            return "cmd"
+            return "powershell"
         else:
             import subprocess as sp
             shell = None