Use WinGet to search for a Windows app, check the publisher and package ID, then install the exact match from Command Prompt or PowerShell. Search results are candidates—not proof that a package is the app you intended.
What you need before using WinGet
WinGet is Microsoft’s Windows Package Manager command-line client. Microsoft documents it for discovering, installing, upgrading, removing, and configuring applications on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2025. It is delivered with App Installer on supported desktop Windows versions; the documented minimum supported Windows 10 release is version 1809, build 17763. See Microsoft’s WinGet overview.
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- Run
winget --versionto check whether the command is available. Runwinget --helpto see available commands. - If Windows cannot find
winget, check that App Installer is installed and updated. On a fresh Windows profile, sign in and allow time for the first-sign-in and Microsoft Store registration process to finish.
Windows Sandbox is an exception: it does not include WinGet or Microsoft Store by default. Microsoft documents a separate bootstrap route for that environment.
Search for the app and identify the right package
Search by an app’s name, for example:
winget search "Visual Studio Code"
WinGet search looks across package names, IDs, descriptions, monikers, and tags. Its default search is case-insensitive and uses substring matching, so a result with a similar name is not necessarily the app you want. Narrow a search with filters such as --id, --name, --moniker, --tag, --command, or --source. Add -e when you need an exact match. The WinGet search reference explains the available options.
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Before installing, compare the result’s package ID and publisher with the app you intend to install. Check which source supplied it, too: package availability depends on configured sources, and duplicate results can appear across them. Search results change over time, so check what your current sources return rather than assuming a particular app is available.
Inspect and install the exact match
Once you have a candidate ID, inspect its details before installing. Replace the example placeholder with the ID shown in your search results:
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winget show --id <Package.Id> -e
The WinGet install reference recommends using show to review package details and the installer selected for your system.
For an exact package match, install it with:
winget install --id <Package.Id> -e
For example, if your search and inspection confirm the ID Git.Git, the command is winget install --id Git.Git -e. Do not copy an ID from an unrelated example; use the ID you verified. If duplicate entries are returned from configured sources, specify the intended source, such as --source winget.
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Review any prompts during installation. Some packages ask you to accept agreements, and some installers require administrator elevation. Use an elevated shell only when needed, and install software only from sources and publishers you trust.
Install several apps or repeat a setup
For a small set of confirmed packages, provide their IDs separated by spaces:
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winget install --id <Package.Id1> <Package.Id2> -e
For a larger or repeatable machine setup, Microsoft points to WinGet export/import and configuration workflows. These are better suited to recording or applying a broader setup than maintaining a long one-off install command. Consult the WinGet documentation for those workflows.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When Chocolatey is an alternative
Chocolatey is another Windows package manager; it is not a guarantee that every app is available or a universal replacement for WinGet. Choose based on whether the app appears in the source you intend to use, how clearly you can confirm its package identity, and whether its prompts and scripting workflow suit your setup.
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Chocolatey’s official setup documentation says CLI 2.0.0 and later can be installed through WinGet with winget install --id chocolatey.chocolatey --source winget. See Chocolatey’s installation guide for other setup options. Its PowerShell bootstrap options execute downloaded setup code, so review the official instructions and understand what the command does before running it.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot common problems
wingetis not recognized: Check that App Installer is present and updated. If this is a newly created profile, sign in to Windows and allow Store registration to complete.- The search returns several similar packages: Compare IDs, publishers, and sources. Use an exact ID match with
-e, and inspect the candidate withwinget showbefore installing. - There are duplicate source results: Add a source qualifier, for example
--source winget, after confirming which source contains the package you want. - An install asks for permission or agreement acceptance: Read the prompt. Some packages require elevation or agreement acceptance; do not elevate automatically if the operation does not require it.
- You need diagnostic details: WinGet writes diagnostic logs by default in its documented LocalState folder. Microsoft’s WinGet documentation covers the client and troubleshooting context.
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