Windows 11 has separate installation and removal routes for Microsoft Store apps, traditional desktop programs, and packages managed with WinGet. The right method depends on how the software is distributed: a Store app may be reinstalled from your Library, while a publisher download normally uses its own .exe or .msi installer.
This guide covers the current Windows 11 paths, command-line installation with WinGet, and recovery steps for software that will not install or uninstall cleanly.
Install an app from Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store is the simplest and safest installation route when the app is available there.
- Open Start > Microsoft Store.
- Search for the app.
- Select the app in the results, then select Install.
- Open the app from the Store or from Start > All apps after installation finishes.
To reinstall an app connected with your Microsoft account, open Microsoft Store > Library, find the app, and select Install. You may need to sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the app.
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When a Store app does not appear
A missing app is not necessarily a search problem. The Store may hide it because it is unavailable in your country or region, restricted by Microsoft Family settings, removed from the Store, incompatible with your device, or temporarily unavailable until Windows is restarted after an update.
Try these steps:
- Restart through Start > Power > Restart.
- Install pending updates from Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Update the Store from Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates.
- Reset the Store cache by pressing Windows + R, entering wsreset.exe, and selecting OK.
A blank Command Prompt window appears when wsreset.exe runs. It normally closes after about ten seconds, and Microsoft Store opens automatically. This resets the Store cache; it does not reset every app installed on the computer.
Install a desktop program downloaded from a publisher
Traditional Windows programs are usually downloaded from the developer’s website. Common installer files end in .exe or .msi.
- Download the installer from the software publisher’s official website.
- Open File Explorer and go to Downloads, unless you selected another download location.
- Double-click the installer.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt if you trust the publisher.
- Follow the installation wizard. Review optional components, shortcuts, and bundled software instead of accepting every option automatically.
- Launch the program from Start > All apps or the shortcut created by the installer.
Allow or restrict non-Store installations
Windows 11 includes a setting that controls whether it permits or warns about programs installed outside Microsoft Store. It does not install software itself.
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings.
- Open Choose where to get apps.
- Select the policy you want.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Anywhere, but let me know if there’s a comparable app in the Microsoft Store | Allows publisher downloads and may recommend a Store alternative. |
| Anywhere | Allows installations from any source without this Store recommendation. |
| Anywhere, but warn me before installing an app that’s not from the Microsoft Store | Allows non-Store programs but displays a warning first. |
| The Microsoft Store only (Recommended) | Restricts installation to apps from Microsoft Store. |
If you select a non-Store option, Windows still does not download or set up the program for you. You must obtain and run the publisher’s installer separately.
Install software with WinGet
WinGet is Microsoft’s Windows Package Manager. It can search a package catalog and install many applications from a terminal, which is useful when setting up several PCs or repeating a standard software configuration.
WinGet is included with App Installer. On Windows desktop, App Installer is delivered and updated through Microsoft Store. WinGet is available on Windows 11, modern Windows 10 versions, and Windows Server 2025; the WinGet client supports Windows 10 version 1809, build 17763, or later.
Check whether WinGet is available
- Open Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt.
- Run winget –help.
If Windows says that winget is not recognized, App Installer may be outdated, the client may not be on PATH, or package registration may not have completed. After a first Windows sign-in, registration can happen asynchronously. You can request registration manually from PowerShell with:
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Search for and install a package
Start by searching rather than guessing a package name:
winget search <appname>
Then install the matching package:
winget install <appname>
For a more reliable command, use the package ID and an exact match:
winget install –id Git.Git -e
Other examples include:
winget install –id Microsoft.PowerToys
winget install –id Microsoft.PowerToys –version 0.91.1
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winget install –id Git.Git -e –source winget
The query normally uses a case-insensitive substring search against package name, ID, and moniker. Wildcards are not supported. Use –exact or -e to require an exact match, and use –id, –name, or –moniker to restrict which field is searched.
If multiple configured sources return duplicate results, specify the source, as in –source winget.
Run a noninteractive installation
For a script or unattended setup, use:
winget install <query> –silent –accept-package-agreements –accept-source-agreements
–accept-package-agreements accepts the package’s license terms. –accept-source-agreements accepts the terms for the WinGet repository. These options do not consent to optional components or bundled software that an installer separately offers.
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An installation may require administrator approval. If you decline the elevation prompt, WinGet can fail. Running the command from an Administrator Command Prompt suppresses elevation prompts, so use that approach only for packages and sources you trust.
Uninstall an app from the Start menu
Many apps can be removed without opening Settings.
- Open Start > All apps.
- Find the app.
- Right-click it, or press and hold it on a touch device.
- Select Uninstall.
- Complete the app’s uninstall wizard if one appears.
Some built-in Windows apps and components cannot be removed. The presence of an item in an app list does not guarantee that Windows permits its removal.
Uninstall from Windows Settings
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the program or app. You can use the search box or sort the list.
- Select its three-dot More menu.
- Select Uninstall, then follow any prompts.
Some desktop programs cannot be uninstalled from this Settings page. If the option is missing or does not work, use Control Panel instead.
Repair or reset an app from Settings
For supported apps, open the app’s three-dot menu, select Advanced options, and look for Repair or Reset.
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- Reset is a more extensive action and may remove the app’s local data and settings.
These controls are not available for every desktop program. If Repair does not solve the problem, use Reset when it is offered and you are prepared to recreate the app’s local settings.
Uninstall a program with Control Panel
Control Panel’s traditional uninstall interface remains available in Windows 11. It has not been removed.
- Select the taskbar search box and search for Control Panel.
- Open Control Panel.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select the program.
- Right-click it and choose Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
- Follow the program’s own uninstall wizard.
Some installers show Repair or Change instead of, or alongside, Uninstall. These choices depend on the program’s installer and are not available for every application.
Uninstall software with WinGet
WinGet can list and remove applications that were not originally installed with WinGet. Its inventory is not limited to packages installed by the command line.
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Use these commands:
- winget uninstall <query>
- winget remove <query>
- winget rm <query>
The last two are aliases for winget uninstall. More specific examples are:
winget uninstall –name powertoys –version 0.15.2
winget uninstall –id “{24559D0F-481C-F3BE-8DD0-D908923A38F8}”
winget uninstall Microsoft.NuGet Microsoft.Edit
To avoid a Microsoft Store source-agreement prompt while WinGet resolves the package, specify the WinGet source:
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Useful uninstall options include –id, –name, –product-code, –version, –all, –all-versions, –source, –exact, –scope, –interactive, and –silent. Be particularly careful with –all and –all-versions; broad matching can remove more than one installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do when installation or removal fails
- Restart Windows: use Start > Power > Restart. Microsoft lists this as the first recovery step for installation, removal, and update failures.
- Try Repair: for a supported app, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps > the app’s More menu > Advanced options > Repair.
- Try Reset: if Repair fails and the control is available, select Reset. Check whether the app’s data will be removed before proceeding.
- Use the correct troubleshooter: Microsoft Store apps use Store-specific recovery steps; traditional desktop programs use the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter.
The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter is intended for desktop-program problems such as corrupted registry keys, incomplete uninstall records, blocked installations, failed updates, incomplete removal, or programs missing from Programs and Features. If the program is absent from the troubleshooter’s uninstall list, it may ask for the program’s MSI product code. That code is stored in the MSI property table and generally requires a tool that can read MSI files to obtain it.
Do not use the desktop-program troubleshooter as the normal fix for a Microsoft Store app. Store apps have a different installation and recovery model.
Store-specific recovery
For a Microsoft Store installation problem:
- Check for Windows updates at Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Update Store apps and the Store itself at Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates.
- Reset the Store cache with wsreset.exe.
- Reinstall an owned app from Microsoft Store > Library > Install.
Windows 11 may also recommend troubleshooting steps automatically after an installation or removal failure. Read and follow the instructions shown in the resulting notification or error message.
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Which installation method should you use?
| Situation | Best route |
|---|---|
| The app is available in Microsoft’s catalog | Microsoft Store |
| The publisher supplies an installer or the app is not in Store | Publisher’s official .exe or .msi installer |
| You are setting up several computers or scripting installations | WinGet, using an exact package ID where possible |
| You need to remove a Store app | Start menu, Settings, or Microsoft Store-related controls as available |
| You need to remove a traditional desktop program | Settings, Control Panel, or WinGet |
FAQ
Can I install programs outside Microsoft Store in Windows 11?
Yes. Open Start > Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings > Choose where to get apps and select an Anywhere option. This setting only permits or warns about non-Store installations; it does not install the program for you.
Why can’t I find an app in Microsoft Store?
The app may be unavailable in your region, restricted by Microsoft Family settings, removed from the Store, incompatible with the device, or temporarily unavailable until Windows is restarted after an update. A Microsoft account sign-in may also be required.
Is Control Panel still available for uninstalling programs in Windows 11?
Yes. Open Control Panel from taskbar search, then select Programs > Programs and Features. Select the program, right-click it, and choose Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
Can WinGet uninstall a program that it did not install?
Yes. WinGet can display and remove applications that were installed by other methods. Use winget list to inspect detected applications, then uninstall a specific one with an exact ID or name where possible.
What should I do if winget is not recognized?
Check that App Installer is installed and current, because WinGet is included with App Installer. Registration may also be delayed after the first Windows sign-in. From PowerShell, you can run Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
Does resetting the Microsoft Store cache remove my installed apps?
No. wsreset.exe resets the Microsoft Store cache. It does not reset every installed app or remove your Store applications.
The Bottom Line
Use Microsoft Store for Store apps, the publisher’s official installer for traditional desktop software, and WinGet when you want repeatable command-line installation. For removal, start with Settings > Apps > Installed apps; use Control Panel for programs that do not expose a Settings uninstall option. If a failure persists, restart Windows, try Repair or Reset when available, and use the Store or desktop-program troubleshooter that matches the software type.
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