Package managers are less common among the general Windows user base. Most of us still prefer the old Microsoft Store or web search method for finding and installing software packages on our PCs. I also followed the same procedure whenever I had to install an app on my Windows 10 or 11 PC. WinGet debuted in 2022, and it was my first time trying a command-line tool for installing and managing system packages.

Before that, I had heard of Chocolatey and a few others, but I never really tried them. WinGet changed my perception of how package managers work, and its features really drove me away from the common app install methods. It’s faster, easily configurable, and maintains a repository with multiple tools to make the package management a child’s play. Here are four reasons it’s become my go-to tool on Windows 11.

Customizable package management

Choose what you need

Normally, you would use the app developer’s official website to download and launch the installer file. WinGet eliminates this problem and reduces the number of installation steps. Simply search for the app with the winget search “appname” command, and it’ll fetch the list of packages containing that name.

But I can do the same with the Microsoft Store, right? Yes, but there’s a difference. Searching for an app on the Microsoft Store will fetch only the latest app installer, but a WinGet search will list all the available versions in the WinGet repository and the Microsoft Store.

You’ll even see Extended Support Release (ESR) versions of the tool in the search results. It’s helpful when a newer app version doesn’t work nicely on your system, and you want to revert to an older version.

Enter the winget install "ID" command to install the package. You can add the --version option at the end to specify the package you want to install.

Seamless app installs

No bothersome pop-ups

Another irritating problem I face when installing apps via their executable setup file is the excessive number of prompts. I mostly prefer the default installation settings for most apps, and there’s no reason to delay the overall installation time. WinGet allows me to do this with a silent installation option that doesn’t display any annoying pop-ups.

Just append the WinGet installation command with -h at the end, and it’ll just show a single progress bar without multiple pop-ups. The app will install with default settings and will not prompt you to install additional bloatware, such as PC cleaners, ad blockers, or downloaders.

Easy upgrades and package removal

Update everything with one command

I appreciate the one-click update button in the Microsoft Store because it allows you to update all system and store apps in one go. But have you ever tried to do the same for apps installed from other sources? It’s certainly not easy to open every app, go to the about section, and manually update each one.

WinGet offers the upgrade option to check for available updates, if any. You can convert it to a system-wide app update command by appending --all in the end. This simple modification will find all the apps listed with a newer version in the WinGet repository and initiate a chain reaction of app updates.

You’ll notice that it doesn’t list all your installed apps, and there’s a reason for that. The WinGet repository doesn’t include every app, but tries to include reliable and lesser-known ones. If you have a super-niche app or something not in common use (or devs have stopped maintaining it), you won’t be able to update it.

Still, having a command-line “update all” option is a huge improvement over updating all the third-party apps individually.

Another useful aspect I like is removing app packages for which Microsoft doesn’t offer a direct method. For example, I want to uninstall Game Bar, a system component, but there’s no uninstall option in the Advanced settings.

But I can find its ID using the list “searchquery” command and then use the ID to remove it. There’s no warning pop-up, and it wipes the app from my PC. If I run the same list command again, it confirms that the app is no longer a part of my system.

Exporting or importing packages

A single installation script to migrate apps

I appreciate Windows 11’s efforts to back up the personal data, settings, and apps. It becomes a near-perfect transition to a new PC, and you can click on one button to install all the Microsoft Store apps. But this feature ignores all the third-party apps you installed on your previous system. How would you get them back in one go?

The answer lies in WinGet’s ability to export and import app lists. On the surface, it looks like a simple command to import the package list on your system. But you can use this JSON file on a different system to start the import process. It’s not as fluid as the Microsoft Store option, but you can install most third-party apps with one command.

You can also append the import option so it can automatically accept the package and source agreements, resulting in a painless reinstallation. Note that WinGet’s power is limited to its repository, so it’ll exclude the apps that aren’t listed. It’s a minor inconvenience you have to go through, and I usually generate a list of excluded apps that I need to install later on.

Don’t ignore WinGet

WinGet deserves more recognition. It’s a useful tool that can simplify upgrading and removing app packages. You won’t find it difficult to use the command line, but if you feel stuck, ample GUI tools like WinGetUI add an easy-to-use interface over the tool. I suggest sticking to the command-line version because it’s baked into the OS and doesn’t need additional permissions.