How to Install and Update Apps from the Command Line with winget

Setting up a new PC usually means visiting a dozen websites, downloading installers and clicking through setup screens. winget – the Windows Package Manager – lets you install, update and remove apps with short commands instead. It’s built into Windows 11, it’s free, and it’s useful even if you rarely use the command line.

Check that winget is available

Right-click Start, choose Terminal, and type:

winget --version

If you see a version number, you’re ready. If Windows says the command isn’t recognised, open the Microsoft Store, search for App Installer, and update it.

The first time you use winget, it may ask you to accept the source agreements. Type Y and press Enter.

Search for an app

winget search firefox

The results show each package’s Name, Id, Version and Source. The Id is the important part – it uniquely identifies the package, for example Mozilla.Firefox.

To see more details, including the publisher and download URL:

winget show --id Mozilla.Firefox

Always check the Id and publisher before installing. Searching by a generic name can return several similar packages.

Install an app

Use the exact ID for reliable results:

winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox --exact

winget downloads the installer from the publisher’s source and runs it. Some installers will show a User Account Control prompt asking for permission – check the publisher name before approving.

A few more examples (check IDs with winget search first):

winget install --id 7zip.7zip --exact
winget install --id VideoLAN.VLC --exact
winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys --exact

See what’s installed

winget list

This lists apps installed on your PC, including many that weren’t installed with winget. Add a name to filter, for example winget list vlc.

Update apps

To see which apps have updates available:

winget upgrade

To update one app:

winget upgrade --id VideoLAN.VLC --exact

To update everything winget can:

winget upgrade --all

This is one of winget’s most useful features – a single command can bring most of your apps up to date. Some apps (especially those that update themselves or that winget can’t match exactly) may be listed as unknown or skipped; update those manually.

Close the apps you’re updating first, to avoid installer errors.

Uninstall an app

winget uninstall --id VideoLAN.VLC --exact

winget runs the program’s own uninstaller. For apps that refuse to uninstall, see our guide to removing stubborn programs.

Move your apps to a new PC

winget can export a list of your apps to a file and reinstall them elsewhere:

winget export -o apps.json

Copy apps.json to the new PC (for example on a USB drive or via OneDrive), then run:

winget import -i apps.json

Apps that aren’t available in winget’s sources are skipped and reported. Your settings and files aren’t included – only the apps themselves.

Useful options

Troubleshooting common winget problems

“winget is not recognized as an internal or external command”. App Installer is missing or outdated. Update App Installer from the Microsoft Store, then close and reopen Terminal. On managed work devices, winget may be disabled by policy.

“No package found matching input criteria”. The name you typed doesn’t match a package. Run winget search with a shorter keyword, then install using the exact Id from the results.

“Multiple packages found matching input criteria”. Several packages share a similar name. Add --id and --exact with the precise Id, or add --source winget or --source msstore to choose where it comes from.

An upgrade keeps reappearing in winget upgrade. Some apps report their version differently from the package information, so winget thinks they are out of date. Check the version inside the app itself; if it’s current, you can ignore the entry or pin the package with winget pin add --id Publisher.App to stop winget offering upgrades for it.

Installer fails with an error code. Close the app you’re updating, make sure no other installation is running, and try again. If it still fails, download the installer from the publisher’s official website and run it manually – winget uses the same installer, so the publisher’s support pages will usually explain the error.

Source errors or out-of-date results. Run the following to refresh winget’s package lists:

winget source update

If problems persist, winget source reset --force (in an administrator terminal) restores the default sources.

Tips and cautions

• Work PCs: your organisation may restrict winget or manage software centrally. Check with IT before using it on a managed device.
• Licences still apply: winget installs software but doesn’t change its licence terms; paid apps still need a licence.
• Review before automating: if you build a script of winget install commands, double-check each ID first.

Conclusion

winget turns software installation and updates into a few predictable commands. Use winget search to find the correct ID, winget install --id … --exact to install, and winget upgrade --all regularly to keep your apps patched. It’s a simple way to make your PC both quicker to set up and more secure.