How to More Efficiently Install Microsoft Store Apps and Games on Windows 11 with Windows Package Manager (aka Winget)
Windows Package Manager, otherwise known as winget-cliWhere winget in short, is an open source client with a set of tools used to automate the installation, upgrade and management of applications, software and even games on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
What is Windows Package Manager?
If you’re using Linux, package managers are more common and offer a simpler approach to allowing you to install software quickly and easily using the command line. No need to go to a dedicated website or store to download apps and games.
If you use Windows, you probably use Microsoft Store or go to a website to download and install an application. On Windows 10, you can also use two popular package managers, Chocolately and Scoop.
The winget The command line tool comes with Windows 11 and modern versions of Windows 10 (1809 and later) by default as App installer from Microsoft Store. App Installer includes the production version of the winget tool.
To install an app, type a winget command in powershell as administrator to install the software you want. If you want to know what kind of apps are available in wingetthere is a lot of winget-cli packages available in the community GitHub repository.
If you are interested in the types of applications you can install, you must first install Windows Package Manager on your PC.
3 ways to install winget
Microsoft introduced the Windows Package Manager preview during the 2020 release, there were only two ways to install it. Now there are three methods to install winget on your Windows 11 computer.
1. Use a Microsoft account to sign up for the Windows Insider Dev Channel.
2. Use a Microsoft account to sign up for the Windows Package Manager Insider Program. Once registered, your Microsoft account will be used to update the App Installer application through the Microsoft Store.
3. Install the Windows Desktop App Installer package located on the Versions page for the winget deposit. Installing this package will give you the winget customer, but he will not allow allows you to get automatic updates from the Microsoft Store.
Find, install and uninstall apps
Once installed, here’s how to search and find packages to install on your PC. here’s how Use the winget search {Id} ordered to find and install applications.
1. Type the following command in PowerShell or Command Prompt as administrator:
winget search Microsoft and press Walk in.
2. If you want to install a particular application listed, you will need to use the winget install command with the Last name Where ID of the app. App ID can be a series of numbers, but App ID can also appear as another name for the app or game.
For example, you want to install an application such as “Microsoft HoloLens”. To install the application use the following winget command with the app ID number for Microsoft HoloLens and press Walk in:
winget install 9NBLGGH4QWNXIf entered correctly, Microsoft HoloLens will automatically install and you will receive a message that your app or game was “installed successfully”.
Keep in mind that some apps installed using winget may ask you to accept the terms and/or accept license agreements before installation.
3. To uninstall an application: winget uninstall 9NBLGGH4QWNX
One pretty awesome thing about Windows Package Manager is that you can uninstall apps you haven’t even used. winget install first! Make sure you have the right Name Where Id to avoid deleting the wrong application!
Advanced winget orders
Besides the ability to find, install and uninstall applications using the Windows Package Manager, there are a number of winget commands available. Here is a list of winget commands and what they do.
1. Type winget features and press Walk in to see a list of available experimental features.
2. winget settings will take you to your settings JSON file.
3. winget list will list all the apps installed on your device.
4. winget install wingetcreate to install wingetcreate to be able to submit an application package to the GitHub repository.
If you need more help with the application package submission process, there is a fantastic walkthrough video provided by Demitrius Nelon, Senior Program Manager, APEX PM at Microsoft.
5. Type winget export -o C:/mylist.txt to export the list of applications installed on your PC as a file. You can change or rename the file name, change the file type and change the location on your PC according to your preference.
6. Use winget upgrade --all to update all apps installed on your PC to their latest versions. It’s a quick and easy way to keep all your apps up to date.
Are you using Windows Package Manager or similar package managers on Windows or another operating system? Let us know in the comments!
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