Package Management

Learn how to effectively manage software packages using WinGet, from basic installation to advanced dependency handling and batch operations.

Installing Packages

Basic Installation

Install a package using its exact identifier:

winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys

Install a specific version:

winget install powertoys --version 0.15.2

Installation Options

Scope Selection

Choose between user or machine-level installation:

# Install for current user only
winget install --id Git.Git --scope user

# Install for all users (requires admin)
winget install --id Git.Git --scope machine

Silent vs Interactive Mode

Control installer interaction:

# Silent installation (no UI)
winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -h

# Interactive installation
winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -i

Custom Install Location

Specify where to install (if supported by the package):

winget install --id Contoso.App --location "C:\CustomApps"

Advanced Installation

Search for the Package

Find the exact package identifier:

winget search "visual studio code"

Review Package Details

Check available versions and metadata:

winget show --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode

Install with Options

Combine multiple options for precise control:

winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode \
  --version 1.85.0 \
  --scope user \
  --architecture x64 \
  --locale en-US \
  --accept-package-agreements

Upgrading Packages

Single Package Upgrade

Upgrade a specific package to the latest version:

winget upgrade --id Microsoft.PowerToys

Upgrade to a specific version:

winget upgrade powertoys --version 0.75.0

Bulk Upgrades

List all available updates:

winget upgrade

Upgrade all packages at once:

winget upgrade --all

When using --all, packages with blocking pins will be skipped. Use --include-pinned to override non-blocking pins.

Upgrade Strategies

# Only upgrade packages with known current versions
winget upgrade --all

Managing Dependencies

Dependency Types

WinGet supports four types of dependencies as defined in package manifests:

Windows Features

System features like .NET Framework, IIS, or WSL

Windows Libraries

Runtime libraries like Visual C++ Redistributables

Package Dependencies

Other packages from the same source

External Dependencies

Dependencies from outside the package source

Handling Dependencies During Installation

By default, WinGet automatically installs package dependencies:

winget install --id Contoso.App

Dependencies are recursively resolved and installed from the same source as the parent package.

Skipping Dependencies

Skip dependency installation when needed:

winget install --id Contoso.App --skip-dependencies

Make this the default in settings.json:

{
  "installBehavior": {
    "skipDependencies": true
  }
}

Dependency Source Control

Specify a different source for dependencies:

winget install --id Contoso.App --dependency-source winget

Viewing Package Dependencies

Check what dependencies a package requires:

winget show --id Contoso.App

Look for the “Dependencies” section in the output.

Uninstalling Packages

Basic Uninstall

Remove a package by its identifier:

winget uninstall --id Microsoft.PowerToys

Uninstall using exact name matching:

winget uninstall "PowerToys" -e

Uninstall Options

Portable Package Cleanup

For portable packages, control file removal:

# Remove only the executable
winget uninstall --id Contoso.PortableApp

# Remove all files and directories (purge)
winget uninstall --id Contoso.PortableApp --purge

Configure default behavior in settings:

{
  "uninstallBehavior": {
    "purgePortablePackage": true
  }
}

Silent Uninstall

winget uninstall --id Contoso.App -h

Batch Operations

Export Installed Packages

Create a JSON file of all installed packages:

winget export -o packages.json

Export with specific versions:

winget export -o packages.json --include-versions

Export from a specific source only:

winget export -o packages.json --source winget

Import Package Lists

Install packages from an exported JSON file:

winget import -i packages.json

Prepare Import File

Edit the JSON file to include only desired packages:

{
  "$schema": "https://aka.ms/winget-packages.schema.2.0.json",
  "CreationDate": "2024-03-04T12:00:00.000-00:00",
  "Sources": [
    {
      "SourceDetails": {
        "Name": "winget",
        "Identifier": "Microsoft.Winget.Source_8wekyb3d8bbwe",
        "Argument": "https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache",
        "Type": "Microsoft.PreIndexed.Package"
      },
      "Packages": [
        {
          "PackageIdentifier": "Microsoft.PowerToys",
          "Version": "0.75.0"
        },
        {
          "PackageIdentifier": "Microsoft.VisualStudioCode"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Run Import with Options

# Install latest versions, ignore versions in file
winget import -i packages.json --ignore-versions

# Skip packages that are unavailable
winget import -i packages.json --ignore-unavailable

# Don't upgrade existing packages
winget import -i packages.json --no-upgrade

Accept Agreements

Auto-accept all license agreements:

winget import -i packages.json \
  --accept-package-agreements \
  --accept-source-agreements

Common Batch Scenarios

# Export from reference machine
winget export -o dev-environment.json --include-versions

# Import on new machine
winget import -i dev-environment.json --accept-package-agreements

Portable Applications

Understanding Portable Packages

Portable packages are standalone executables without traditional installers. WinGet manages them by:

Copying the executable to a managed directory
Creating symlinks in PATH for command-line access
Registering in Windows Apps & Features

Installing Portable Apps

winget install --id Contoso.PortableApp

Customize the executable name:

winget install --id Contoso.PortableApp --rename myapp

Default Locations

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Packages\<PackageId>\

Symlinks:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Links\

Customizing Portable Package Locations

Set custom root directories in settings.json:

{
  "installBehavior": {
    "portablePackageUserRoot": "C:/Users/YourName/Packages",
    "portablePackageMachineRoot": "C:/Program Files/Packages/Portable"
  }
}

Paths must be absolute. The package identifier is automatically appended as a subdirectory.

Package Pinning

Preventing Unwanted Upgrades

Pin a package to its current version:

winget pin add --id Microsoft.PowerToys

Pin to a specific version:

winget pin add --id Microsoft.PowerToys --version 0.70.0

Pin Types

Blocking Pin

Completely prevents upgrades:

winget pin add --id Contoso.App --blocking

Even winget upgrade --all will skip this package.

Non-Blocking Pin

Allows manual override:

winget pin add --id Contoso.App

Can be upgraded with --include-pinned flag:

winget upgrade --all --include-pinned

Managing Pins

List all pinned packages:

winget pin list

Remove a pin:

winget pin remove --id Microsoft.PowerToys

Reset all pins:

winget pin reset --all

Advanced Workflows

Local Manifest Installation

Install from a local YAML manifest file:

winget install --manifest ./path/to/manifest.yaml

Local manifest installation must be enabled via Group Policy or settings. See Group Policy Guide for details.

Override Installer Behavior

Pass custom arguments to the installer:

winget install --id Contoso.App --override "/SILENT /DIR=C:\Custom"

Add arguments to defaults (don’t replace):

winget install --id Contoso.App --custom "/LOG=C:\install.log"

Architecture Selection

Force a specific architecture:

# Install ARM64 version on compatible systems
winget install --id Contoso.App --architecture arm64

# Force x86 on x64 system
winget install --id Contoso.App --architecture x86

Locale Preferences

Install specific language version:

winget install --id Contoso.App --locale fr-FR

Set default locale preferences in settings:

{
  "installBehavior": {
    "preferences": {
      "locale": ["en-US", "fr-FR"]
    }
  }
}

Troubleshooting

Hash Validation Failures

If installer hash doesn’t match:

# Force installation (use with caution)
winget install --id Contoso.App --force

# Or ignore security hash check
winget install --id Contoso.App --ignore-security-hash

Bypassing hash validation reduces security. Only use for trusted sources.

Archive Malware Scan Issues

For local archive installations:

winget install --manifest ./package.yaml \
  --ignore-local-archive-malware-scan

Installation Logs

View detailed logs for troubleshooting:

# Enable verbose logging
winget install --id Contoso.App --verbose-logs

# Open log directory
winget install --id Contoso.App --logs

Logs are stored in: %TEMP%\AICLI\*.log

Resume Failed Installations

Enable resume experimental feature in settings:

{
  "experimentalFeatures": {
    "resume": true
  },
  "installBehavior": {
    "maxResumes": 3
  }
}

Best Practices

Use Exact Matching

Always use --id with -e flag to avoid ambiguity:

winget install --id Git.Git -e

Accept Agreements Explicitly

Use flags instead of interactive prompts for automation:

winget install --id Contoso.App \
  --accept-package-agreements \
  --accept-source-agreements

Version Control Your Environment

Regularly export your package list:

winget export -o backup.json --include-versions

Test Before Production

Test package installations in non-production environments first, especially with --all upgrades.

Configuration Files

Customize WinGet behavior with settings.json

Private Sources

Set up enterprise package repositories

Group Policy

Manage WinGet in enterprise environments

Get Started

Core Concepts

Guides

Configuration

Advanced

Documentation Index

​Package Management

​Installing Packages

​Basic Installation

​Installation Options

​Advanced Installation

​Upgrading Packages

​Single Package Upgrade

​Bulk Upgrades

​Upgrade Strategies

​Managing Dependencies

​Dependency Types

Windows Features

Windows Libraries

Package Dependencies

External Dependencies

​Handling Dependencies During Installation

​Skipping Dependencies

​Dependency Source Control

​Viewing Package Dependencies

​Uninstalling Packages

​Basic Uninstall

​Uninstall Options

​Batch Operations

​Export Installed Packages

​Import Package Lists

​Common Batch Scenarios

​Portable Applications

​Understanding Portable Packages

​Installing Portable Apps

​Default Locations

​Customizing Portable Package Locations

​Package Pinning

​Preventing Unwanted Upgrades

​Pin Types

​Managing Pins

​Advanced Workflows

​Local Manifest Installation

​Override Installer Behavior

​Architecture Selection

​Locale Preferences

​Troubleshooting

​Hash Validation Failures

​Archive Malware Scan Issues

​Installation Logs

​Resume Failed Installations

​Best Practices

Use Exact Matching

Accept Agreements Explicitly

Version Control Your Environment

Test Before Production

​Related Resources

Configuration Files

Private Sources

Group Policy

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Package Management

Installing Packages

Basic Installation

Installation Options

Advanced Installation

Upgrading Packages

Single Package Upgrade

Bulk Upgrades

Upgrade Strategies

Managing Dependencies

Dependency Types

Handling Dependencies During Installation

Skipping Dependencies

Dependency Source Control

Viewing Package Dependencies

Uninstalling Packages

Basic Uninstall

Uninstall Options

Batch Operations

Export Installed Packages

Import Package Lists

Common Batch Scenarios

Portable Applications

Understanding Portable Packages

Installing Portable Apps

Default Locations

Customizing Portable Package Locations

Package Pinning

Preventing Unwanted Upgrades

Pin Types

Managing Pins

Advanced Workflows

Local Manifest Installation

Override Installer Behavior

Architecture Selection

Locale Preferences

Troubleshooting

Hash Validation Failures

Archive Malware Scan Issues

Installation Logs

Resume Failed Installations

Best Practices

Related Resources