Installing apps using winget from the CLI is an efficient way to get the utilities you need on your PC. It’s certainly more efficient than installing apps from the Microsoft Store. However, the UniGetUI (formerly WingetUI) tool is the ultimate package manager if you want total control over your app installations. Even if you are experienced with the winget commands, you should look at UniGetUI, as it’s an efficient way to install and update multiple apps, packages, and updates from a centralized location.

The tool is GUI-based and responsive, making using the CLI app installation method obsolete. It takes away the chore of finding and downloading installers. It allows installation and updates for software published from a host of other package managers. It includes apps and utilities you are familiar with, like web browsers, system utilities, PDF readers, and some apps you may never have known about. What’s more, UniGetUI can be used on Windows 10 and 11 to share created app bundles.

5 Centralized one-stop shop

A single place to manage your apps

Once you launch UniGetUI, you’ll have the UI you’d expect. You can easily search for many package managers that allow you to install, update, back up, and restore apps on your system. If you are familiar with Ninite, the idea is similar, but it allows app installation directly from your Windows PC. You don't need to download a separate installer first.

For example, I searched for “PDF” and discovered dozens of PDF management apps. It pulled up favorites like Foxit, SumatraPDF, CutePDF, and utilities I haven’t heard of — all listed alphabetically. You select the app packages you want and click the installation button. You can select to search from different sources such as WinGet (which includes the Microsoft Store), Scoop, and Chocolatey. If you receive too many results, you can filter them and change the search mode for more accurate results.

4 No command line work

Say goodbye to the CLI

There’s nothing wrong with using the command line interface (CLI) to install your apps in PowerShell or the Terminal using the WinGet command. However, as the name implies, UniGetUI is a user interface for installing apps and packages. No code or CLI experience is required. It provides an easier-to-use experience for less-experienced users, which provides the ability to pick and choose apps and packages and install them all in one fell swoop. It offers easier navigation with a simple interface. Virtually the only CLI you will see is when installing package managers like Scoop or Npm, and that only requires pressing a key to continue.

3 Expeditious app updates

Quickly get app updates from UniGetUI

You can get app updates using the CLI, but you must run specific commands for each app in a new terminal session. However, you can run a command (winget upgrade --all) to upgrade all programs in a new terminal session and install them silently. The point is, you need to go out of your way to do it and it’s not a user-friendly experience.

UniGetUI, on the other hand, handles app updates much differently. It constantly runs in the background during startup (unless you disable it in Windows settings) and notifies you of any available updates — much more straightforward. It doesn’t just show you available updates for apps you install from the interface. It shows updates for other apps already installed on your system, like Chrome, Rainmeter, and even Microsoft apps. For instance, when I first ran UniGetUI, it let me know which .NET packages needed updates.

2 Easy to use

Straightforward app package management

UniGetUI has a user-friendly interface that makes it a cinch to search, install, and update packages from a centralized location. Since it’s a GUI-based utility, you can use it without the need to learn, memorize, and research CLI commands. You only need to search for the apps and packages you need, select them, and click install. This saves you a lot of unnecessary work of hunting online or in the Microsoft Store to find what you want. Creating an app bundle and sharing it with others is also straightforward. The app and package search experience is responsive, and there is no separate installer file to download, like Ninite. If you are setting up a new PC or doing a fresh installation of Windows, the ease of use for installing apps is unprecedented.

1 Plenty of Settings

Customize how UniGetUI behaves

In addition to being an easy-to-use tool for installing app packages, it also includes a healthy number of settings you can use to customize how it functions. For example, when you go into the settings section, you will find options to manage telemetry, notifications, startup options, package installation, and updates. You can also create and back up a list of installed packages for easy restoration and manage UI preferences like the app theme, startup page, package icons, and more. You can also install and configure package managers like Scoop, Npm, WinGet, and Pip.

UniGetUI might be the best way to install apps on Windows

While the winget command is a beneficial method to install software from the CLI, UniGetUi takes things to the next level. It’s GUI-based and will save you a lot of keystrokes while installing app packages. In addition, it provides the option to install updates for installed apps, is a responsive, straightforward experience, and includes plenty of settings. It also allows you to discover and install software from the most popular repositories. It's simple. Download UniGetUI now to install the apps and service packages you need on your Windows system the easy way.