How to Install Windows Apps with winget

winget is Microsoft’s official package manager for Windows 10 and 11. It lets you install, update, and manage applications from the command line — no more hunting for download pages or clicking through installers.

Is winget Already Installed?

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and type:

winget --version

If you see a version number, you’re good. If not, install the App Installer from the Microsoft Store.

Installing Apps

The basic syntax:

winget install <package-id>

Examples:

winget install Mozilla.Firefox
winget install VideoLAN.VLC
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
winget install Discord.Discord

Searching for Apps

winget search <keyword>

This returns a list of matching packages with their IDs, versions, and sources.

Useful Commands

Command	What it does
`winget search <term>`	Find packages
`winget show <id>`	View package details
`winget install <id>`	Install a package
`winget upgrade`	List available updates
`winget upgrade --all`	Update everything
`winget list`	Show installed packages
`winget uninstall <id>`	Remove a package

Export and Restore

Need to set up a new machine? Export your installed apps:

winget export -o apps.json

On the new machine, restore:

winget import -i apps.json

Why Use winget?

Built into Windows. No third-party tool to install first.
Silent installs. No clicking through installers.
One command to update everything. winget upgrade --all updates all your apps.
Scriptable. Perfect for setting up new machines or team environments.