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The sane way to keep your system up to date

If you’re running Windows 11 and still manually updating every app one by one, you’re doing it the hard way. Microsoft quietly solved a big part of this problem with winget, the Windows Package Manager. It’s built into modern Windows, it’s fast, and once you get used to it, you’ll wonder why you ever trusted a dozen auto-updaters running in the background.

I use winget regularly, especially on dev machines and clean installs. It is not perfect, but it is absolutely worth using.

Let’s break down what it is, how to use it, and the real pros and cons.

What is winget?

Winget is Microsoft’s official command-line package manager for Windows. Think of it like apt on Linux or brew on macOS, but for Windows apps.

It lets you:

• Install applications

• Upgrade installed applications

• Remove applications

• Search for software packages

All from one command line, without clicking through installers, dialogs, or bundled junk.

Winget comes preinstalled on Windows 11. If you have Windows App Installer installed from the Microsoft Store, you already have it.

How to check if winget is installed

Open Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt and run:

winget --version

If you get a version number, you’re good to go.

If not, install or update App Installer from the Microsoft Store.

How to see what apps can be updated

This is the command you’ll probably use the most:

winget upgrade

This scans your system and lists apps that:

• Are installed

• Are known to winget

• Have a newer version available

You’ll see output showing:

• App name

• Installed version

• Available version

• Source

This alone already beats hunting for updates manually.

How to update everything at once

To upgrade all eligible apps in one shot:

winget upgrade --all

If you want to avoid prompts and confirmations:

winget upgrade --all --accept-source-agreements --accept-package-agreements

This is perfect for:

• Fresh Windows installs

• Monthly maintenance

• Dev systems

• Servers or kiosks with GUI apps

I often run this right after Patch Tuesday.

How to update a single app

If you only want to update one specific application:

winget upgrade "Google Chrome"

You can also use the package ID if you want to be precise:

winget upgrade --id Google.Chrome

Using IDs avoids issues when apps have similar names.

How to search for apps

If you are not sure what winget calls an app:

winget search chrome

This will show you matching packages and their IDs.

Pros of using winget

1. Centralized updates

One command updates dozens of apps. No tray icons. No popups. No random background services checking for updates every boot.

2. Clean installs

Winget installs are typically silent and free of bundled garbage, toolbars, or “optional offers”.

3. Scriptable and automatable

You can:

• Run winget in scripts

• Use it in provisioning workflows

• Automate new machine setups

This is huge if you rebuild systems often.

4. Built into Windows 11

No third-party package manager required. No sketchy installers. It’s first-party and supported by Microsoft.

5. Consistent behavior

Once you learn winget, it behaves the same across machines. That consistency matters.

Cons and limitations

1. Not everything is available

Some apps are missing, especially:

• Smaller niche tools

• Very new software

• Apps with unusual installers

Winget coverage is good, but not universal.

2. Store apps can be hit or miss

Microsoft Store apps technically work, but version detection and upgrade behavior is not always reliable.

3. No built-in scheduling

Winget does not schedule itself. You need:

• Task Scheduler

• A script

• Or manual execution

Not a deal breaker, but worth noting.

4. Limited GUI feedback

If you prefer big progress bars and friendly dialogs, winget is not for you. It is command-line first, unapologetically.

5. Occasional version mismatches

Sometimes winget thinks an app is outdated when it isn’t, or vice versa. This usually comes down to how the app reports its version.

When winget shines the most

Winget is especially good for:

• Power users

• Developers

• Admins

• Clean OS installs

• Systems you actually maintain

If you are already comfortable with Terminal, winget fits naturally into your workflow.

My recommendation

Use winget as your primary updater, not your only one.

Let winget handle:

• Browsers

• Dev tools

• Utilities

• Common desktop apps

Let individual apps handle edge cases where winget does not apply.

Once you get used to running winget upgrade --all, it becomes part of normal system hygiene, like clearing temp files or checking logs.

Final thoughts

Windows finally has a real package manager, and it’s about time.

Winget is not flashy, but it is practical, fast, and effective. If you care about keeping your Windows 11 system clean and up to date without babysitting it, winget is one of the best tools Microsoft has shipped in years.

If you are not using it yet, you should be.