Keep all installed programs updated Windows It can become a tedious task. Some applications do this on their own, others depend on Microsoft Store and many require you to open your own installer. Fortunately, Microsoft offers an alternative to centralize a good part of the process in a single window using WinGeta tool included in Windows 10 and 11.
WinGet is the Windows Package Manager. It works through commands and allows you to search, install, update or uninstall applications. It can also recognize programs that were installed by other means, although this does not mean that it is compatible with all software present on the computer.
Commands can be executed from PowerShell. This application, built into Windows, combines a text console with administration and automation tools. To open it, just type ‘PowerShell’ in the menu search engine Start. can also be used Windows Terminal or the Command Prompt.
Identify installed applications
Before starting updates, it is worth checking which programs WinGet recognizes. The following command shows installed applications that can identify:
The resulting table includes the name of the program, its identifier and the installed version. When WinGet finds a later version, it also shows Available update and source from which you can obtain it.
List those that can be updated
To limit the list to programs that can be updatedMicrosoft recommends using this command:
- winget list –upgrade-available
The result is a list of outdated applications without anything being installed. This way you can review what changes the tool is going to make before continuing.
Update all programs at once
For update all compatible programs at once You have to enter the following command:
WinGet will review the applications it recognizes, download the available versions, and run their installers. Some programs may be left out because the tool You don’t have enough information, you can’t determine your version, or you can’t find a compatible package:
Update a single program
It can also be updated a single application. The most precise way is to copy the identifier that appears in the ‘Id’ column of the list or in the ‘Name’ column, in this second case between quotes, and add it to the command:
- winget upgrade “Google Chrome”
Avoid licensing agreements
WinGet can request acceptance of the terms of the font used or the license agreement of some package. These warnings can be avoided adding two parameters to the general update command:
- winget upgrade –all –accept-source-agreements –accept-package-agreements
Windows User Account Control is inevitable
These parameters only accept source and package conditions. Do not allow WinGet to bypass Windows User Account Control nor does it automatically respond to the notice that an application ‘wants to make changes to your computer’.
The warning doesn’t necessarily appear with every program either. Windows only shows it when the installer needs administrator permissions. If PowerShell has been opened in the normal way, updates that require those privileges will need to be authorized separately. If it opens Windows Terminal or PowerShell as administratorWindows will ask for permission at first and will usually not repeat the prompt for each installer.
Therefore, WinGet does not turn updates into a process that you can ignore after entering the commandbut it does allow you to perform a task that normally requires reviewing numerous programs separately with a single action.