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For a few known apps, install several at once by listing their WinGet package IDs in one command. To reuse a curated app list on another PC, export it to JSON and import it there. Choose WinGet Configuration when you also want to apply Windows or development-environment settings. These methods process packages sequentially, not simultaneously.
Choose the right bulk-install method
| Method | Best for | What it handles | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple WinGet package IDs | A short list of known apps | Installs packages named in one command | Runs each install sequentially; ambiguous names can require selection. |
| WinGet export/import | A reusable app list for a new or reinstalled PC | Saves package IDs, sources and sometimes versions in JSON, then installs listed packages | Import is sequential. Export may warn that some installed programs could not be matched to a package. |
| WinGet Configuration | Setting up apps and a broader Windows or development environment | Can install packages and apply supported configuration such as Windows settings or development tools | Requires a configuration file and the relevant prerequisites; it is unnecessary for a simple app list. |
| Chocolatey | People already using the Chocolatey ecosystem | Installs multiple packages from a command or an XML manifest | Options on a multi-package command apply to every package in that command. |
Install a short list with one WinGet command
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and provide the exact package IDs after winget install. Microsoft’s example installs Visual Studio Code, PowerShell and Git:
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winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode Microsoft.PowerShell Git.GitWinGet handles the listed packages in sequence, so the command is convenient but does not install them concurrently. Package IDs are preferable to search terms when several apps have similar names.
Reduce the chance of selecting the wrong app
If you are unsure of an ID, search first:
winget search "Visual Studio Code"Review the results and use the intended package ID. If a query could match more than one app, WinGet may ask you to disambiguate. Microsoft documents --exact for restricting a query to an exact match, and --source for choosing a source when duplicate entries exist. For example, a single exact package install can be written as:
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winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode --exact --source wingetUse the source shown for the package you intend to install; do not assume every source contains the same listing.
Handle agreement prompts deliberately
Some installs require package or source agreements. For unattended runs, WinGet provides --accept-package-agreements and --accept-source-agreements; include the relevant options when a prompt would otherwise interrupt the run. Accept an agreement only after you have reviewed and understood it. If you decline a required package agreement, that app is not installed.
Save and reuse an app list with export and import
Use export/import when you want a repeatable package list rather than retyping IDs. On the PC with the apps you want to carry over, run:
winget export -o packages.jsonTransfer packages.json to the destination PC, then run:
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winget import -i packages.jsonThe export records package sources and IDs and may include versions. Import installs requested packages serially. The file is editable: remove entries for apps you do not want installed on the next machine.
Know what export can and cannot capture
Export attempts to match installed applications to packages available from configured sources, but it cannot guarantee a match for every program. It reports warnings for unmatched apps. Matching relies on source manifest metadata and Windows Add/Remove Programs metadata, which reflects information supplied by the package installer. Review warnings and the JSON file before relying on it as a complete migration list.
Choose import behavior for versions and missing packages
Microsoft documents import options for ignoring packages that are unavailable, ignoring pinned versions so the latest available version can be used, skipping upgrades when a version is already installed, and accepting package or source agreements. Choose options according to the result you want; ignoring unavailable packages, for instance, lets the import continue without a package that cannot be found, but that package will not be installed. Check the current WinGet import documentation for exact option names and syntax.
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Use WinGet Configuration for a whole environment
A package list is the right tool when the goal is a set of apps. If you also want to configure Windows or prepare a development machine, use a WinGet Configuration YAML file and apply it with winget configure. Microsoft’s February 4, 2026 explainer describes configurations that can install packages, set Windows settings, enable Developer Mode, install Visual Studio workloads, set environment variables, define dependencies, check operating-system requirements and run PowerShell DSC resources. The explainer’s example first installs the Microsoft.WinGet.DSC module.
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Configuration has a broader scope than export/import: it can describe both package installation and supported environment setup. Follow the requirements and commands in Microsoft’s WinGet Configuration explainer and the configuration file you plan to apply; do not treat a configuration as merely another name for importing a package list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use Chocolatey if it fits your existing setup
Chocolatey offers a separate package-manager workflow. Its official documentation supports installing multiple packages and using an XML packages.config manifest. When installing multiple packages in one command, shared options apply to every package in that command; for example, a shared version option is applied to all of them. See Chocolatey’s install command documentation for syntax and its packages.config instructions for manifest use.
Chocolatey CLI 2.0.0 and later can itself be installed through WinGet with:
winget install --id chocolatey.chocolatey --source wingetThat installation command and the CLI version requirement are documented in Chocolatey’s setup guide.
Troubleshoot a bulk install
- The wrong app appears: Search for the package, verify its ID and source, then install with an exact ID rather than a broad name query.
- An install pauses for a prompt: Review any package or source agreement. For unattended work, use the appropriate agreement-acceptance option only if you accept the terms.
- An exported app is missing: Check export warnings and the JSON entries. An unmatched app may not be available as a package in your configured sources.
- An import cannot find a package: Confirm the listed source is configured and the package is available there. If you choose to ignore unavailable packages, the import can proceed, but the missing app remains uninstalled.
- You need settings as well as apps: Use WinGet Configuration rather than expecting an import file to configure the rest of the machine.
Microsoft’s WinGet install documentation, export documentation and import documentation provide current command details; availability and options can change.
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