Windows Package Manager

Official open-source package manager for Windows 10/11

Windows Package Manager

Developer(s)| Microsoft
Initial release| 13 May 2020; 5 years ago (13 May 2020)
Stable release|

1.9.25200[1]  / 12 November 2024; 8 months ago (12 November 2024)

Preview release|

1.9.2151-preview[2]  / 7 August 2024; 11 months ago (7 August 2024)

Repository| github.com/microsoft/winget-cli
Written in| C++,[3][4] XML,[3] C,[3] C#,[3] Python,[3] Extensible Application Markup Language,[3] CMake,[3] Ada,[3] shell script,[3] Perl,[3] Pascal,[3] XSLT,[3] Autoconf,[3] HTML,[3] PowerShell,[3] DIGITAL Command Language,[3] JavaScript,[3] make,[3] assembly language[3]
Operating system| Windows 10, Windows Server 2025, or later
Platform| x86, x86-64, ARM32, ARM64
Size| ~23 MB
Available in| Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian
Type| package manager, installation
License| MIT License[5]
Website| learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/

The Windows Package Manager (also known as winget) is a free and open-source package manager designed by Microsoft for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2025.[6] It consists of a command-line utility and a set of services for installing applications.[7][8] Independent software vendors can use it as a distribution channel for their software packages.

## History

[edit]

Windows Package Manager was first announced at the Microsoft Build developer conference in May 2020.[9][8]

Before deciding to develop Windows Package Manager, the team behind it explored Chocolatey, Scoop, Ninite, AppGet, Npackd and the PowerShell-based OneGet.[8] After the announcement of winget, the developer of AppGet, Keivan Beigi, claimed that Microsoft interviewed him in December 2019 under the pretense of employment and acquiring AppGet.[10] After talking with Beigi, Microsoft allegedly ceased communication with him until confirming one day before the launch of winget that they would not be hiring him. Beigi was dismayed at Microsoft's lack of attribution of AppGet. The release of winget led Beigi to announce that AppGet would be discontinued in August 2020.[10][11][12] Microsoft responded with a blog post crediting a number of winget's features to AppGet.[13][14][15]

Microsoft released version 1.0 of Windows Package Manager on May 27, 2021. The Microsoft Community Repository included over 1,400 packages at that date.[16] By May 2025 it had reached 9,000 packages.

## Overview

[edit]

The winget tool supports installers based on EXE, MSIX, and MSI.[17] The public Windows Package Manager Community repository hosts manifest files for supported applications in YAML format.[18] In September 2020, Microsoft added the ability to install applications from the Microsoft Store and a command auto-completion feature.[19]

To reduce the likelihood of non-Microsoft-approved software, including malicious software, making its way into the repository and onto the target machine, Windows Package Manager uses Microsoft SmartScreen, static analysis, SHA256 hash validation and other processes.[20][21]

Various limitations apply to which packages that are added to the winget manifest repository. Among them as of 1.10 is that the software must support silent installations (unless it is a fully portable software), cannot be a .tar.gz, .7z, or .rar compressed folder, cannot wholly require hardwares (e.g. NVIDIA drivers), cannot be a self-extracting archive, and the software host cannot return HTTP 403 or time out when downloading through winget.

The winget client source code and the community manifest repository are licensed under MIT License and hosted on GitHub.[22][18]

It does not support automatic package updates on timed schedules. Various third-party tools like Winget-AutoUpdate are designed to fill those gaps. Winget also does not support building from programs' source codes.

### Commands[17]

[edit]

Name  | Description

|

configure | Configures the system into a desired state
export | Exports a list of the installed applications
features | Show status of experimental features
hash | Hash installer files
import | Install all the applications in a file
install | Install the given application
list | Display installed applications
pin | Manage package upgrade pins
show | Show information about the given application
search | Search and show basic information of applications
settings | Open winget configuration settings
source | Manage application sources
upgrade | Upgrades the given application
uninstall | Uninstall the given application
validate | Validate a manifest file

## Examples

[edit]

Search for and installs variable `$PKG_ID`:

winget install --id=$PKG_ID -e

List all installed packages:

winget list

Update all packages:

winget upgrade --all

Search for all available packages:

winget search .

### Package ID examples

[edit]

* Visual Studio Code, a code editor from Microsoft:[23] `Microsoft.VisualStudioCode`
* Google Chrome:[24] `Google.Chrome`
* Mozilla Firefox: `Mozilla.Firefox`
* Brave: `BraveSoftware.BraveBrowser`
* Vivaldi: `VivaldiTechnologies.Vivaldi`

## See also

[edit]

* Free and open-source software portal

* Web Platform Installer
* NuGet
* Chocolatey
* Scoop Package Manager
* List of software package management systems
* vcpkg

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Windows Package Manager 1.9.25200". GitHub. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
2. ^ "Release Windows Package Manager 1.9.2151-preview". GitHub. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "The winget-cli Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page". Open Hub. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
4. ^ . 6 July 2025 https://github.com/EvanLi/Github-Ranking/blob/master/Data/github-ranking-2025-07-06.csv. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
5. ^ "winget-cli/LICENSE at master". GitHub. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
6. ^ "Windows Server 2025: New features and improvements for the future". Firestorm ISP. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
7. ^ Tom Warren (20 May 2020). "Microsoft's new Windows Package Manager is already better than the Windows Store". The Verge.
8. ^ a b c Windows Package Manager Preview | Windows Command Line
9. ^ Microsoft debuts Windows Package Manager for your dev environment | VentureBeat
10. ^ a b Warren, Tom (28 May 2020). "Microsoft copied its new Windows Package Manager from rival AppGet, claims developer". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
11. ^ Anderson, Tim (May 28, 2020). "Embrace and kill? AppGet dev claims Microsoft reeled him in with talk of help and a job – then released remarkably similar package manager". The Register. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
12. ^ Stewart, Ashley (May 28, 2020). "A developer says Microsoft led him on about a job and buying his tool before going silent and releasing its own very similar service. Now he wants an explanation and credit for his work". Business Insider. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
13. ^ Tung, Liam (June 1, 2020). "Windows 10: Microsoft now credits maker of package manager it 'copied' – but offers no apology". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
14. ^ Microsoft gives AppGet creator credit for Windows Package Manager - Neowin
15. ^ Warren, Tom (April 20, 2022). "Microsoft finally gives AppGet developer the credit he deserves". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
16. ^ Anderson, Tim (May 27, 2021). "Microsoft releases command-line package manager for Windows (there are snags)". The Register. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
17. ^ a b "Use the winget tool to install and manage applications". Microsoft.
18. ^ a b GitHub - microsoft/winget-pkgs: The Microsoft community Windows Package Manager manifest repository
19. ^ Abrams, Lawrence (September 23, 2020). "Windows 10 Package Manager can now install Microsoft Store apps". Bleeping Computer. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
20. ^ Tung, Liam (May 21, 2020). "Microsoft's Windows Package Manager: This command-line tool can install all your apps". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
21. ^ How to Use Windows Package Manager - Petri
22. ^ "GitHub - microsoft/winget-cli: Windows Package Manager CLI (a.k.a. winget)". May 20, 2020 – via GitHub.
23. ^ "Winget PKG of Visual Studio Code" https://winget.run/pkg/Microsoft/VisualStudioCode
24. ^ "Winget PKG of Google Chrome" https://winget.run/pkg/Google/Chrome

## External links

[edit]

* Windows Package Manager | Microsoft Docs
* winget-cli on GitHub
* winget-pkgs on GitHub
* UniGetUI (formerly WingetUI) \- Community-made GUI for Winget

* v
* t
* e

Package managers (format)

Compiled

| Gaming console|

* DSi Shop
* Nintendo eShop
* PlayStation Store
* Wii Shop Channel
* Xbox Games Store

|

Unix-like,
Linux|

| dpkg|

* APT
* aptitude
* dselect
* Synaptic
* Ubuntu Software Center

|

Purely functional|

* Nix
* Guix

RPM|

* YUM
* DNF
* APT-RPM
* up2date
* urpmi
* ZYpp

tarball|

* slapt-get
* slackpkg
* netpkg
* swaret

Other|

* AppImage
* Autopackage
* Flatpak
* Homebrew
* Horizon Store
* PackageKit
* pacman
* PBI
* PETget
* PISI
* Portage
* Snap
* Upkg
* pkgsrc
* Helm

macOS|

* Mac App Store
* Homebrew
* pkgsrc
* Munki

z/OS|

* SMP/E

Mobile
operating
systems|

* Amazon Appstore
* App Store
* Aptoide
* Cafe Bazaar
* Cydia
* F-Droid
* GetJar
* Google Play
* Huawei AppGallery
* Microsoft Store
* RPM
* SlideME
* Windows Phone Store

Multi-platform|

* OpenPKG
* pkgsrc

Solaris, illumos|

* IPS
* OpenCSW
* pkgsrc

Web browsers|

* Chrome Web Store
* Mozilla Add-ons

Windows|

* Allmyapps
* Cygwin
* Microsoft Store
* Npackd
* NSIS
* NuGet
* Chocolatey
* ProGet
* Scoop
* Windows Package Manager
* wpkg

Uncompiled

| BSD|

* ports collection
* FreeBSD Ports
* pkgsrc

|

C++|

* Gradle
* vcpkg

Java|

* Maven
* Ivy
* Gradle

JavaScript|

* npm

Kubernetes|

* Helm

Linux|

* ABS
* apt-build
* Compile
* Portage
* Sorcery
* BitBake
* pkgsrc

macOS|

* Fink
* MacPorts
* pkgsrc

.NET|

* NuGet

Perl|

* CPAN

PHP|

* PEAR
* Composer

Python|

* PyPI
* pip
* Anaconda
* Enthought Canopy

Ruby|

* RubyGems

Rust|

* Cargo

Scala|

* sbt

* List
* Commons
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Software digital distribution platforms

* App store
* Cloud gaming
* Content delivery network
* Digital library
* Digital distribution of video games
* Over-the-air update
* Package manager
* Software distribution
* List of mobile app distribution platforms
* Android

Active|

| Personal
computers|

* Amazon Digital Game Store
* Battle.net
* Big Fish Games
* Chrome Web Store
* Direct2Drive
* Discord
* DLsite
* Discover
* DMM Games
* EA
* Epic Games Store
* Flathub
* GameHouse
* GamersGate
* Gamesplanet
* Game Jolt
* GOG.com
* Humble Store
* IndieGala
* itch.io
* MacGameStore
* MacUpdate
* Mac App Store
* Meta Horizon Store
* Microsoft Store
* MSN Games
* Nutaku
* Pogo.com
* Pokki
* PureOS Software Center
* Robot Cache
* Rockstar Games Social Club
* Snap Store
* Steam
* Ubisoft Connect
* Viveport
* WeGame
* WildTangent

|

Consoles|

* Microsoft Store
* Nintendo eShop
* PlayStation Store

Mobile
devices §|

* Amazon Appstore
* Apple App Store
* Appland
* Aptoide
* Cafe Bazaar
* Cydia
* DLsite
* Epic Games Store
* F-Droid
* Galaxy Store
* GetJar
* Google Play
* Huawei AppGallery
* Meta Horizon Store
* MiKandi
* Nutaku
* OpenStore
* PureOS Software Center
* Tencent Appstore
* SlideME
* TapTap
* Viveport

Arcade|

* NESiCAxLive

Defunct|

* Allmyapps
* BlackBerry World
* Club Nokia
* Desura
* Digital River
* Download!
* GameAgent
* GameLine
* GameShadow
* GameTap
* Games for Windows Marketplace
* Handango
* Impulse
* Intel AppUp
* Kartridge
* Kazaa
* N-Gage
* Nokia Store
* Opera Mobile Store
* PlayCable
* Playism
* PlayNow Arena
* RealArcade
* Sega Channel
* Sega Meganet
* Stardock Central
* Triton
* Ubuntu App Store
* Ubuntu Software Center
* Vodafone live!
* Wii Shop Channel
* Windows Marketplace
* Windows Marketplace for Mobile
* Windows Phone Store
* Xbox Games Store
* Xbox Live Arcade
* Yahoo! Games
* Zune Marketplace

* § Also includes Smart TVs and standalone VR headsets

*  Category
*  Portal

* v
* t
* e

Microsoft free and open-source software (FOSS)

Overview|

* Microsoft and open source
* Shared Source Initiative

Software|

| Applications|

* 3D Movie Maker
* Atom
* Conference XP
* Family.Show
* File Manager
* Open Live Writer
* Microsoft Edit
* Microsoft PowerToys
* Terminal
* Windows Calculator
* Windows Console
* Windows Package Manager
* WorldWide Telescope
* XML Notepad

|

Video games|

* Allegiance

Programming
languages|

* Bosque
* C#
* Dafny
* F#
* F*
* GW-BASIC
* IronPython
* IronRuby
* Lean
* P
* Power Fx
* PowerShell
* Project Verona
* Q#
* Small Basic Online
* TypeScript
* Visual Basic

Frameworks,
development tools|

* .NET
* .NET Framework
* .NET Gadgeteer
* .NET MAUI
* .NET Micro Framework
* AirSim
* ASP.NET
* ASP.NET AJAX
* ASP.NET Core
* ASP.NET MVC
* ASP.NET Razor
* ASP.NET Web Forms
* Avalonia
* Babylon.js
* BitFunnel
* Blazor
* C++/WinRT
* CCF
* ChakraCore
* CLR Profiler
* Dapr
* DeepSpeed
* DiskSpd
* Dryad
* Dynamic Language Runtime
* eBPF on Windows
* Electron
* Entity Framework
* Fluent Design System
* Fluid Framework
* Infer.NET
* LightGBM
* Managed Extensibility Framework
* Microsoft Automatic Graph Layout
* Microsoft C++ Standard Library
* Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit
* Microsoft Design Language
* Microsoft Detours
* Microsoft Enterprise Library
* Microsoft SEAL
* mimalloc
* Mixed Reality Toolkit
* ML.NET
* mod_mono
* Mono
* MonoDevelop
* MSBuild
* MsQuic
* Neural Network Intelligence
* npm
* NuGet
* OneFuzz
* Open Management Infrastructure
* Open Neural Network Exchange
* Open Service Mesh
* Open XML SDK
* Orleans
* Playwright
* ProcDump
* ProcMon
* Python Tools for Visual Studio
* R Tools for Visual Studio
* RecursiveExtractor
* Roslyn
* Sandcastle
* SignalR
* StyleCop
* SVNBridge
* T2 Temporal Prover
* Text Template Transformation Toolkit
* TLA+ Toolbox
* U-Prove
* vcpkg
* Virtual File System for Git
* Voldemort
* VoTT
* Vowpal Wabbit
* Windows App SDK
* Windows Communication Foundation
* Windows Driver Frameworks
* KMDF
* UMDF
* Windows Forms
* Windows Presentation Foundation
* Windows Template Library
* Windows UI Library
* WinJS
* WinObjC
* WiX
* XDP for Windows
* XSP
* xUnit.net
* Z3 Theorem Prover

Operating systems|

* MS-DOS (v1.25, v2.0 & v4.0)
* Barrelfish
* SONiC
* Azure Linux

Other|

* ChronoZoom
* Extensible Storage Engine
* FlexWiki
* FourQ
* Gollum
* Project Mu
* ReactiveX
* SILK
* TLAPS
* TPM 2.0 Reference Implementation
* WikiBhasha
* Windows Subsystem for Linux

Licenses|

* Microsoft Public License
* Microsoft Reciprocal License

Forges|

* CodePlex
* GitHub

Related|

* .NET Foundation
* F# Software Foundation
* Microsoft Open Specification Promise
* Open Letter to Hobbyists
* Open Source Security Foundation
* Outercurve Foundation

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