The Windows Package Manager (also known as winget ) is a free and open-source package manager designed by Microsoft for Windows 10 , Windows 11 , and Windows Server 2025 [ 4 ] with Desktop Experience. It consists of a command-line utility and a set of services for installing applications. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Independent software vendors can use it as a distribution channel for their software packages. Windows Package Manager was first announced at the Microsoft Build developer conference in May 2020. [ 7 ] [ 6 ] Before deciding to develop Windows Package Manager, the team behind it explored Chocolatey , Scoop , Ninite , AppGet, Npackd and the PowerShell -based OneGet . [ 6 ] After the announcement of winget, the developer of AppGet, Keivan Beigi, claimed that Microsoft interviewed him in December 2019 under the pretense of employment and acquiring AppGet. [ 8 ] After talking with Beigi, Microsoft allegedly ceased communication with him until confirming one day before the launch of winget that they would not be hiring him. Beigi was dismayed at Microsoft's lack of attribution of AppGet. The release of winget led Beigi to announce that AppGet would be discontinued in August 2020. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] Microsoft responded with a blog post crediting a number of winget's features to AppGet. [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Microsoft released version 1.0 of Windows Package Manager on May 27, 2021. The Microsoft Community Repository included over 1,400 packages at that date. [ 14 ] By May 2026 it had reached 12,850 packages. The ARM32 client was discontinued after version 1.10.390 in April 2025. [ 15 ] The winget tool supports installers based on EXE , MSIX , and MSI . [ 16 ] The public Windows Package Manager Community repository hosts manifest files for supported applications in YAML format. [ 17 ] In September 2020, Microsoft added the ability to install applications from the Microsoft Store and a command auto-completion feature. [ 18 ] To reduce the likelihood of non-Microsoft-approved software, including malicious software , making its way into the repository and onto the target machine, Windows Package Manager uses Microsoft SmartScreen , static analysis , SHA256 hash validation and other processes. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] Various limitations apply to which packages that are added to the winget manifest repository. Among them as of 1.10 is that the software must support silent installations (unless it is a fully portable software), cannot be a .tar.gz , .7z , or .rar compressed folder, cannot wholly require hardwares (e.g. NVIDIA drivers), cannot be a self-extracting archive, cannot solely support ARM32, [ 21 ] and the software host cannot return HTTP 403 or time out when downloading through winget. The winget client source code and the community manifest repository are licensed under MIT License and hosted on GitHub . [ 22 ] [ 17 ] It does not support automatic package updates on timed schedules. Various third-party tools like Winget-AutoUpdate are designed to fill those gaps. Winget also does not support building from programs' source codes. Search for and installs variable $PKG_ID : List all installed packages: Update all packages: Search for all available packages: Package ID examples Visual Studio Code , a code editor from Microsoft: [ 23 ] Microsoft.VisualStudioCode Google Chrome : [ 24 ] Google.Chrome Mozilla Firefox : Mozilla.Firefox Brave : BraveSoftware.BraveBrowser Vivaldi : VivaldiTechnologies.Vivaldi Free and open-source software portal Web Platform Installer Scoop Package Manager List of software package management systems ↑ "Release 1.28.240" . 17 April 2026 . Retrieved 17 April 2026 . ↑ "Release 1.28.240" . 16 April 2026 . Retrieved 19 April 2026 . ↑ "winget-cli/LICENSE at master" . GitHub . 17 July 2019 . Retrieved 4 August 2020 . ↑ "Windows Server 2025: New features and improvements for the future" . Firestorm ISP. 30 January 2025 . Retrieved 25 June 2025 . ↑ Tom Warren (20 May 2020). "Microsoft's new Windows Package Manager is already better than the Windows Store" . The Verge . 1 2 3 Windows Package Manager Preview | Windows Command Line ↑ "Microsoft debuts Windows Package Manager for your dev environment | VentureBeat" . Archived from the original on 2022-04-25 . Retrieved 2020-05-20 . 1 2 Warren, Tom (28 May 2020). "Microsoft copied its new Windows Package Manager from rival AppGet, claims developer" . The Verge . Vox Media . Retrieved June 1, 2020 . ↑ Anderson, Tim (May 28, 2020). "Embrace and kill? AppGet dev claims Microsoft reeled him in with talk of help and a job – then released remarkably similar package manager" . The Register . Retrieved 2020-06-01 . ↑ Stewart, Ashley (May 28, 2020). "A developer says Microsoft led him on about a job and buying his tool before going silent and releasing its own very similar service. Now he wants an explanation and credit for his work" . Business Insider . Retrieved June 1, 2020 . ↑ Tung, Liam (June 1, 2020). "Windows 10: Microsoft now credits maker of package manager it 'copied' – but offers no apology" . ZDNet . Retrieved 2020-06-02 . ↑ Microsoft gives AppGet creator credit for Windows Package Manager - Neowin ↑ Warren, Tom (April 20, 2022). "Microsoft finally gives AppGet developer the credit he deserves" . The Verge . Retrieved 2020-06-02 . ↑ Anderson, Tim (May 27, 2021). "Microsoft releases command-line package manager for Windows (there are snags)" . The Register . Retrieved 2021-05-28 . ↑ Flor Chacón (10 March 2025). "P.S.A.: Dropping support for ARM32" . Microsoft . Retrieved 28 January 2025 . 1 2 "Use the winget tool to install and manage applications" . Microsoft. 1 2 GitHub - microsoft/winget-pkgs: The Microsoft community Windows Package Manager manifest repository ↑ Abrams, Lawrence (September 23, 2020). "Windows 10 Package Manager can now install Microsoft Store apps" . Bleeping Computer . Retrieved 2020-10-10 . ↑ Tung, Liam (May 21, 2020). "Microsoft's Windows Package Manager: This command-line tool can install all your apps" . ZDNet . Retrieved 2020-06-02 . ↑ How to Use Windows Package Manager - Petri ↑ Stephen Gillie (August 27, 2024). " [ Package Request ] : Add ARM64 Version of CPUID.CPU-Z" . winget-pkgs . Retrieved 6 September 2025 . ↑ "GitHub - microsoft/winget-cli: Windows Package Manager CLI (a.k.a. winget)" . May 20, 2020 – via GitHub. ↑ "Winget PKG of Visual Studio Code" https://winget.run/pkg/Microsoft/VisualStudioCode ↑ "Winget PKG of Google Chrome" https://winget.run/pkg/Google/Chrome Windows Package Manager | Microsoft Docs winget-cli on GitHub winget-pkgs on GitHub UniGetUI (formerly WingetUI) - Community-made GUI for Winget PlayStation Store Wii Shop Channel Xbox Games Store Ubuntu Software Center Amazon Appstore Huawei AppGallery Microsoft Store Windows Phone Store Chrome Web Store Mozilla Add-ons Microsoft Store Windows Package Manager ports collection Enthought Canopy Content delivery network Digital library Digital distribution of video games Over-the-air update Package manager Software distribution List of mobile app distribution platforms Android Amazon Digital Game Store Chrome Web Store Epic Games Store Meta Horizon Store Microsoft Store PureOS Software Center Rockstar Games Social Club Ubisoft Connect Microsoft Store PlayStation Store Amazon Appstore

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