What Is Winget, and How Do You Actually Use It?
Winget is the app installer Microsoft already built into Windows. winstall is the browser UI on top of it: find apps, pick several at once, and generate an install script you can paste into Terminal. Here's everything you need, in under 5 minutes.
How Winget Works
Winget (Windows Package Manager) is Microsoft's official command-line tool for installing, updating, and removing software on Windows. It's shipped inside Windows 11 and modern Windows 10 updates since 2020, so there's a good chance you already have it.
Open Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt and paste this in:
See a version number? You're ready to go. See an error instead? Install or update App Installer from the Microsoft Store, then open a new terminal and try again.
Get App Installer from Microsoft Store ›Find the exact package for any app by name.
Installs it. The -e flag means exact match, so you always get the right package.
Updates every app winget manages, all in one line.
Short answers to the things people usually ask before they try winget.
Is winget safe to use?
Yes. Winget is an official Microsoft tool built into Windows. Packages come from sources Microsoft ships by default—mainly the open-source winget Community Repository and the Microsoft Store—so you're not downloading random installers from unknown websites.
Do I need to run winget as an administrator?
Only sometimes. Some apps install machine-wide and need admin rights; others install just for your user account. Winget prompts you for permission automatically when it's needed.
What is a package ID?
A package ID like VideoLAN.VLC uniquely identifies one app in Publisher.AppName format. On winstall you don't look it up yourself—select apps and Generate Script, or copy the command from any app page.
Does winget work on Windows 10?
Yes, on Windows 10 version 1809 and later, as long as App Installer is up to date via the Microsoft Store. It ships by default on Windows 11.
Can I uninstall an app with winget too?
winget uninstall --id Publisher.AppName removes it just as easily as winget install added it.
How to Use winstall
Winget is powerful, but remembering exact package IDs is painful. winstall runs in your browser: pick the apps you want, then generate one install script that installs them all with Winget. No extra software to install.
- 1Search or browseFind apps from the homepage search, browse the full catalog under Discover Apps, or open Express Setup for a curated list of popular apps for a new PC.
- 2Select the apps you wantSelect the app on the app tile, or click + Add to list in the app detail view. A bar at the bottom of the screen tracks how many you've selected. You can mix apps from different pages; your selection sticks as you browse.
- 3Install AppsIn the install page, you can download an installer or generate a script. Copy the command into Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt and press Enter to install the apps one-by-one with Winget. Prefer a file? Download a .bat or .ps1 and run it (your browser may warn you; the file is safe). You can also switch to a PowerShell script or download a custom installer from the same screen.
- 4Optional: one app, or a reusable packOn any single app page you can still copy one ready-to-paste winget install command. Want the same list next time? Save your picks as an App Pack.
