I would love to clean-install Windows after every major update, except I don’t want to spend hours reinstalling all my apps. Turns out, Windows 10 and 11 include a command-line tool that handles app installation—and it’s surprisingly simple to use.
Why Should You Use WinGet to Install and Manage Apps
When you get a new PC or reinstall Windows, the first thing you do is open Edge—not to browse the web, but to download Chrome. It’s such a universal experience that it’s become a joke. But with the command line functionWinGet, you don’t even need to open Edge for that anymore. As we’ll see, all you need to do is type a simple line of text.
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Of course, Chrome is just the beginning. Setting up a new PC means visiting dozens of websites, downloading each installer separately, and clicking through setup wizard after setup wizard. It’s tedious and takes forever.
Windows Package Manager, or WinGet, changes all that. It comes built into Windows 10 and 11 and lets you install most software with a single command. Unlike sketchy download sites or installer bundles, WinGet pulls software directly from official sources, so you get clean, legitimate versions every time. Installing an app update is just as simple: one command updates all your programs in bulk.
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It gets even better if you’re the family tech support. WinGet works perfectly over remote connections, so when you’re helping someone through Remote Desktop or TeamViewer, you can install apps without wrestling with download pop-ups or browser warnings that often break over remote sessions.
How to Use WinGet to Quickly Install Any App
Getting started with Winget is easy. First, check if you have the Windows Package Manager installed byopening Command Prompt as an administrator. Press theWindowskey, typecmd, and selectRun as administrator.Running with elevated permissions is important; it prevents each app installer from triggering its own UAC prompt, making the installation process much smoother.
In the window that appears, typewingetand pressEnter. If you see a list of commands, you’re good to go. If not, you’ll need to installApp Installer from the Microsoft Store, which comes bundled with WinGet. If you prefer, you can instead installWinGet from its GitHub repository.
Let’s see how it works by installing Google Chrome. Type:
That’s it. WinGet finds Chrome, downloads it from Google’s servers, and installs it automatically without clicking through Google’s website or any installer. The same works for practically any popular program:
But how do you know the exact name to use? Thankfully, WinGet has a search feature. For instance, if you are not sure what to type for ShareX, here’s how you may search for it:
The above command shows you all matching programs with their exact IDs. You’ll see something likeShareX.ShareX, which is what you need to use with the install command.
Here’s a handy trick: you may use the–silentflag to skip any installer pop-ups completely:
Want to see what’s already installed on your computer? Type:
This shows every program WinGet knows about. To update everything at once, simply run:
The above command checks every program for updates and installs them. It’s a better way to deal with consistent update notifications for multiple programs.
How to Bulk Install Apps Using WinGet + Winstall
While WinGet is certainly impressive, you have to type each app name individually or create apackages.jsonscript for batch installs. That’s where Winstall comes in—a free website that creates custom WinGet scripts to batch install all your apps at once.
Head towinstall.appin your browser. You’ll see a grid of popular programs. Click on any programs you want—let’s say Chrome, Discord, Steam, VLC, and Notepad++. Each click adds that program to your pack. If you can’t find something, use the search bar at the top to find any app in WinGet’s repository. When you’re done, clickGenerate Scriptat the bottom.
Winstall creates a batch file with all your selections. It looks something like this (with the “-e” flag forcing an exact match):
Click theDownload .batbutton to save the file. If you get a security warning, clickKeep Anywayto proceed. Once done, right-click it and selectRun as administrator. Now sit back and watch as Windows installs everything automatically.
For even more convenience, you can save your favorite program list as a text file. Then whenever you need to set up a new computer, just run that same script. It’s like having a personal installer that sets up your computer exactly how you like it, every time.
WinGet might feel intimidating if you’re not used to command lines, but it’s more straightforward than traditional installers. You don’t need to remember complex commands;install,search, andupgradecover 90% of what you’ll ever need. Keep a simple text file with your favorite WinGet commands, and you’ll never have to scramble to find download links again.
