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AppGeek is a free Windows utility that compares your installed programs and Microsoft Store packages against the winget catalogue, lists the updates it finds, and runs only the ones you select. That gives you one review-and-run workflow for both kinds of software. It does not guarantee that every Store app will be detected or updated, because Store updates depend on your Microsoft account, Store policy and network access, and those conditions sit outside any third-party tool.
What AppGeek actually does
According to its developer, TechyGeeksHome, AppGeek reads two inventories on your PC: the installed-program entries in the Windows registry and the list of Microsoft Store packages. It then matches each item against winget, the Windows Package Manager, and shows the updates that match. You tick the applications you want and AppGeek runs those updates one after another.
The developer also describes a catalogue of 67 common applications that you can install from the same interface. That count is a product feature claim from the TechyGeeksHome product page, checked on 2026-10-07, and has not been independently measured.
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The developer says the program never installs anything on its own. A scheduled scan can report findings, but installation still requires you to tick applications and proceed. In the developer’s words: “It only ever installs what you tick” (TechyGeeksHome, AppGeek product page, accessed 2026-10-07).
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Requirements and prerequisites
The developer lists the following requirements for AppGeek:
- Windows 10 version 1809 (build 17763) or later, or Windows 11, 64-bit.
- Administrator rights.
- winget available on the PC. If it is missing, AppGeek can offer to repair it.
The prerequisites differ by build. The developer states them as follows:
| AppGeek build | Runtime prerequisite stated by the developer |
|---|---|
| Standalone | No prerequisite stated |
| Light | .NET 8 Desktop Runtime |
| Installer and portable | Not stated on the product page |
The product page describes the installer, portable and light builds, but the runtime requirements for the installer and portable builds are not stated there. If you need a specific build, check the developer page before you download it.
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How winget and the Microsoft Store fit together
Microsoft documents winget as a tool that can install and manage Microsoft Store apps, so winget and the Store are not separate worlds. The practical difference is how you see and run updates. Windows gives you a Store update channel and a command-line winget client. AppGeek combines both sources into one list.
The Microsoft Store update channel
Microsoft Support says the Store can install app updates automatically when App updates is turned on. The same page notes that some publishers manage updates through their own app rather than the Store. If you rely on the Store alone, an app from a publisher with its own updater may still need a separate check. For steps on the setting, see Turn on automatic app updates.
winget and App Installer
Microsoft documents App Installer as the package that contains the winget client. If winget is not available, Microsoft’s guidance lists two ways to install App Installer: through the Microsoft Store, or manually with a package installer. See Install and update the App Installer. This is also why AppGeek’s offer to repair winget matters on machines where App Installer was removed.
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Where AppGeek adds value
The developer’s claim is the matching and review layer. You do not need to run one check in the Store and another in a terminal, then compare the lists. Whether that is worth installing another tool depends on how many of your apps come from each source. If most of your software is Store packages and you are happy with the Store’s own updates, AppGeek adds little. If you have many classic desktop programs and a few Store apps, a single review list is the main benefit.
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Microsoft’s troubleshooting article for Store download failures points to three areas to check when Store app downloads or updates fail: Store registration, Store download policy and access, and the network endpoints the Store needs. See Troubleshoot Microsoft Store app download failures.
AppGeek does not bypass these conditions. If a Store package fails in the Store, expect it to fail in AppGeek too, because the update still depends on the same Store access. The useful sequence is:
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- Confirm that App Installer and winget respond on the PC.
- Run AppGeek’s scan and note which items it lists as updatable.
- For any Store item that does not install, follow Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps for Store download failures before you retry.
Version history and what has changed
The developer’s version history lists two recent releases. The following details are the publisher’s release notes and have not been independently verified:
| Version | Date (developer history) | Stated change |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.0 | 27 August 2026 | Added scheduled scanning as a Windows task; fixed close-before-update and reboot settings; fixed a winget 1.29 parsing bug that hid some updates. |
| 1.1.3 | 29 August 2026 | Activity screen adjustment. |
The SourceForge project listing shows a last update of 2026-08-29, which matches the developer’s latest version. Version 1.1.3 is the current version on the developer’s page as checked on 2026-10-07. Check the developer page again before you download, because newer releases can appear.
Trust, licensing and distribution
The developer describes AppGeek as free software under GPL-3.0, free for home and work use. It is available as an installer, a portable build and a light build. The developer also says the executables are not code-signed, and that each release publishes SHA-256 checksums. Compare the checksum of your download with the value on the release page before you run it.
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These are publisher statements. They have not been verified by an independent security review, and no source-code audit was carried out for this article. Because AppGeek runs with administrator rights and launches installers, treat the checksum comparison as a basic step, not as proof that the program is safe.
Limits to keep in mind
- AppGeek does not promise to update every application or every Store app. Individual packages may not be matched or may not be available through winget.
- Winget’s ability to manage Store apps does not mean every Store app appears in winget. Matching depends on package identity.
- Administrator rights are a requirement stated by this developer. They are not a Microsoft-wide rule for all update tools.
- The implementation details published by the developer, including how AppGeek detects per-user or machine-wide installs and how it pins winget to that scope, have not been tested independently.
AppGeek is a reasonable choice if you want a single, reviewable list of updates across classic desktop programs and Store packages, and you accept that the developer’s matching and scanning claims are the main evidence. If you need guaranteed coverage of Store apps, keep using the Store’s own update settings alongside it.
For a quick check of winget’s own view of your installed apps, open a terminal and run winget upgrade. This lists the upgrades winget can see, and you can compare that list with AppGeek’s results.
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