Introduction:
Winget is a command-line tool designed to streamline software installation and management on Windows systems. With Winget, users can quickly install, update, and manage applications without navigating through different websites. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install and start using Winget, Microsoft's package manager for Windows.
Step 1: Installing Winget
Most Windows 10 and 11 installations come with Winget pre-installed. However, if you don’t have it, here’s how to install it manually:
- Visit the official Winget GitHub releases page.
- Download the latest version of the App Installer package.
- Install the App Installer package, which includes Winget.
- To confirm installation, open Command Prompt or PowerShell and type:
winget --version
. If installed correctly, you’ll see the version number displayed.
Step 2: Installing Applications with Winget
Once Winget is installed, you can easily install applications from the command line. Here’s how:
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- Type the following command:
winget install application_name
. - Replace application_name with the name of the software you want to install. For example, to install Visual Studio Code, you’d type:
winget install vscode
.
Step 3: Searching for Applications
If you're unsure of the exact name of the app you want to install, use Winget’s search function:
winget search application_name
This will display a list of apps matching your search term. For example, searching for "browser" will show a list of all available browsers.
Step 4: Updating Applications with Winget
To ensure your installed apps are up-to-date, Winget provides an easy update command:
winget upgrade
This will list all apps with available updates. To update all apps at once, type:
winget upgrade --all
Step 5: Uninstalling Applications
Winget can also uninstall applications via the command line. Here’s how:
winget uninstall application_name
For example, to uninstall Chrome, you’d type: winget uninstall Google.Chrome
.
Advanced Usage
Winget also supports installing apps from custom repositories, managing multiple versions of the same app, and scripting bulk installations. Check the official Winget documentation for more advanced features.
Conclusion:
Winget is a powerful tool that can simplify software management on Windows. Whether you're installing new apps, keeping them updated, or removing outdated programs, Winget's streamlined process saves time and effort. Start using Winget today to experience a faster, more efficient way of managing your software.