WinGet

Free plan Windows

What WinGet is

WinGet is a free Windows command-line tool for discovering, installing, upgrading, removing, and configuring applications. Its commands also cover searching, exporting, importing, downloading, repairing, and configuring packages. You can install one or several applications with commands, while `winget upgrade --all` attempts to upgrade installed applications that have available updates. Supported installer formats include EXE, ZIP, INNO, NULLSOFT, MSI, WIX, APPX, MSIX, BURN, PORTABLE, and FONT, with dependency resolution and private registry authentication. Default sources are the Microsoft Store catalog, the WinGet Community Repository for applications, and a community font repository. On Windows desktop, WinGet is included in App Installer, delivered and updated through Microsoft Store. The client requires Windows 10 version 1809 or later; supported systems also include Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Configuration files provide repeatable device setup and project onboarding.

Who it suits

WinGet suits developers managing applications from the command line and administrators handling application or security settings across Windows devices. It also fits users who need repeatable configuration or package upgrades.

What it does well

Free plan available
Supports many installer formats
Includes dependency resolution
Supports private registry authentication
Offers repeatable configuration files

What to know first

Windows-only tool
Some newer versions cannot be identified
Store downloads require Microsoft Entra ID authentication
Enterprise policy can bypass certificate validation

Limits

The client requires Windows 10 version 1809 or later. WinGet may not identify newer releases for applications that provide no version, and Microsoft Store packaged-app downloads or license files require Microsoft Entra ID authentication.

Getting started

Use a supported Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2025 system
Open WinGet through App Installer on Windows desktop
Search available applications with the command line
Install selected packages and dependencies
Create configuration files for repeatable device setup
Use Group Policy or Intune for enterprise management

Verdict

WinGet provides broad command-line package management across supported Windows versions, with multiple sources and enterprise controls. Version-detection gaps and authentication requirements matter for some upgrade and Store-download workflows.

Questions

Is WinGet free?

Yes. WinGet has a free plan.

Which systems support WinGet?

It supports Windows 10 version 1809 or later, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2025.

Which package formats can it handle?

Supported types include EXE, ZIP, INNO, NULLSOFT, MSI, WIX, APPX, MSIX, BURN, PORTABLE, and FONT.

Where do packages come from?

Documented default sources are the Microsoft Store catalog, the WinGet Community Repository, and a community repository for fonts.

Can administrators control WinGet?

Yes. Group Policy settings manage behavior across devices, and Microsoft provides Intune enterprise guidance.

Can WinGet avoid telemetry events?

Its settings include an option to prevent the program from writing telemetry events.

Facts from WinGet's own pages

Availability: WinGet is included in App Installer, which is delivered and updated through Microsoft Store on Windows desktop editions and through updates on Windows Server 2025. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Dependency resolution: Yes · learn.microsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
Distribution: On Windows desktop, WinGet is included in App Installer, which is delivered and updated through Microsoft Store. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Enterprise management: Microsoft documents using WinGet with Group Policy settings for organizations managing security across work machines. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · learn.microsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
Install and upgrade: Users can install one or multiple applications with a command, and `winget upgrade --all` attempts to upgrade installed applications that have updates available. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Installer formats: WinGet supports EXE, ZIP, INNO, NULLSOFT, MSI, WIX, APPX, MSIX, BURN, PORTABLE, and FONT installer types. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Intended users: Microsoft describes WinGet use by developers to manage applications and by software publishers to distribute packages. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Notable limit: WinGet cannot identify whether a newer version exists for some applications that do not provide a version, so upgrading them requires including unknown versions. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Package contribution: Publishers and community members can submit YAML package manifests to the open-source WinGet repository on GitHub for consideration. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Package formats: EXE,ZIP,INNO,NULLSOFT,MSI,WIX,APPX,MSIX,BURN,PORTABLE,FONT · learn.microsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
Package management: Its commands include search, install, upgrade, uninstall, export, import, configure, download, and repair. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Package sources: Default sources include the Microsoft Store catalog, the WinGet Community Repository, and the community font repository. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Platforms and requirement: WinGet is available on Windows 11, modern Windows 10 versions, and Windows Server 2025; the client requires Windows 10 version 1809 or later. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
PowerShell: The Microsoft.WinGet.Client PowerShell module is available from the PowerShell Gallery. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Private registry auth: Yes · learn.microsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
Publisher submissions: Publishers and community members can submit YAML package manifests through the open-source repository on GitHub for consideration in the WinGet catalog. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: WinGet is a command-line tool for discovering, installing, upgrading, removing, and configuring applications on Windows. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Repeatable setup: WinGet Configuration files combine device setup and project onboarding instructions into a single repeatable command. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Repository review: Submitted manifests are automatically validated and evaluated for safety, may also be manually reviewed, and Microsoft reserves the right to refuse a submission. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Security: Submitted manifests are automatically validated for policy compliance and whether the package is known to be malicious, and may also receive manual review. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Sources: The documented default sources are the Microsoft Store catalog, the WinGet Community Repository for applications, and the community repository for fonts. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Store connection security: WinGet uses certificate pinning when connecting to the Microsoft Store source, and an enterprise policy can bypass that certificate validation. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
Store download requirement: Downloading a Microsoft Store packaged app or its license file requires Microsoft Entra ID authentication. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026