How to Update All Windows Apps Using CMD: Fastest Method to Upgrade Windows Programs

Learn how to easily update all Windows apps using CMD or PowerShell commands with winget and Windows Update for faster, secure system maintenance.

Keeping our Windows apps and drivers up to date is essential for ensuring the best performance, security, and compatibility. However, manually updating each application and driver can be tedious and time-consuming, especially when we have dozens of programs installed. Thankfully, Windows offers powerful command-line tools like Windows Package Manager (winget) and built-in update commands that allow us to automate and simplify this entire process.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use CMD or PowerShell to update all installed apps and drivers efficiently. We’ll also cover how to install and enable winget if it’s not already available on your system, run commands with administrative privileges, and manage your software updates step by step.

Understanding Windows Package Manager (winget) and Its Role in App Updates

What is winget and Why Should We Use It?

Windows Package Manager, commonly known as winget, is Microsoft’s official command-line tool for managing applications on Windows 10 and 11. It simplifies installing, upgrading, and removing apps, much like package managers on Linux systems.

Unlike traditional manual updates where we visit multiple websites or app stores, winget allows us to update multiple programs simultaneously with just a few commands. This makes it a convenient tool for bulk app maintenance, saving us significant time and effort.

What Can Winget Do?

Winget supports several useful commands:

install: Installs specified applications.
upgrade: Updates installed apps to their latest versions.
list: Lists installed apps and their versions.
search: Finds apps in the winget repository.
uninstall: Removes installed apps.
source: Manages app repositories (adding, removing, updating).

Using winget, we can easily keep over 1500+ popular applications updated, as these are recognized by the default community repository.

How to Check If Winget Is Already Installed

Before we start updating apps, it’s important to confirm whether winget is available on our system.

Steps to Verify Winget Installation

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Type the command: winget
If winget is installed, you’ll see a list of available commands and the version number.
If the command is not recognized, winget is not installed yet, and we’ll need to install it.

Installing Winget on Windows 10 and 11

If winget isn’t available, don’t worry — installing it is straightforward. Microsoft provides two main ways to get winget: through the Microsoft Store or via GitHub.

Installing Winget from the Microsoft Store

To enable the Windows Package Manager (winget) on your device, you need the App Installer utility. You can install or update it directly from the Microsoft Store. Simply open the App Installer page, click Get or Update, and the package (which includes winget) will be installed. After installation, confirm its availability by running winget in Command Prompt or PowerShell. For complete steps, you can also follow Microsoft’s official guide here.

Installing Winget Manually from GitHub

Visit the winget GitHub releases page.
Download the latest Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxbundle file.
Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen prompts to install winget.
After installation, verify winget by opening Command Prompt or PowerShell and typing winget.

Additional Notes

Winget is bundled by default on Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.
On older Windows versions, you might need to install the VC++ v14 Desktop Framework Package to use winget.
Winget plays nicely with manually installed software, unlike some third-party tools, detecting apps like Azure CLI for updating or removal.

Running Command Prompt or PowerShell with Administrative Privileges

To successfully update apps or drivers, we need to run the command line with elevated permissions.

How to Open CMD or PowerShell as Administrator

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
Type cmd or powershell.
Instead of pressing Enter, press Shift + Ctrl + Enter.
When prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.

Running as administrator ensures that winget and Windows Update commands have the necessary permissions to modify system files and update software.

Important Notice for Using the `msstore` Source with Winget

Before using the msstore source with winget, you may be required to accept the associated terms and conditions. Specifically:

Terms of Transaction: https://aka.ms/microsoft-store-terms-of-transaction
Additionally, to function properly, the source requires your device to share its two-letter geographic region code (e.g., “US”) with Microsoft’s backend service.

Make sure to review and acknowledge these terms when prompted to avoid interruptions during installation or updates using the Microsoft Store source.

How to Use Winget Commands to Update All Installed Apps

Now that winget is ready and our command line is elevated, let’s look at the commands that make bulk app updating simple.

Listing Outdated Apps

Before upgrading, it’s helpful to see which programs have available updates:

winget upgrade

This command displays all installed apps recognized by winget that have newer versions available. It shows the app name, installed version, and available update version.

Bulk Updating All Apps

To update every outdated app at once, use:

winget upgrade --all

Winget will download and silently install the latest versions of all supported apps one by one. This process runs automatically, so we just need to wait for it to complete.

Updating Specific Apps

If we want to update a particular app only, we can specify it by name or package ID:

winget upgrade <app_name_or_id>

Replace <app_name_or_id> with the exact application name or ID as shown in the list command.

Managing Sources: Windows Package Manager (winget) for App

When we use Windows Package Manager (winget) to update all Windows apps and drivers via CMD or PowerShell commands, managing the package sources and knowing how to troubleshoot common issues is essential. Also, proper source management ensures winget can access the most current and reliable app repositories, helping us keep our system updated efficiently.

How to Manage Winget Sources for Reliable App Updates

To make the most out of winget update commands and ensure your apps and drivers update smoothly, managing sources is key. Here are the essential winget source commands:

List all Winget Sources: To view the configured repositories used for app updates:

winget source list

This shows all active sources where winget searches for app updates.

Add a Custom Winget Source: if you want to include a private or additional repository for app or driver updates:

winget source add --name [source_name] [source_url]

Remove Unwanted Winget Sources: You may want to delete some conflicts sources or are no longer needed, so use:

winget source remove --name [source_name]

Update Winget Sources : After modifying sources, to refresh app lists and available updates:

winget source update

Resetting Winget Sources: If winget behaves unexpectedly or you face errors, reset winget sources to default with this command:

winget source reset --force.

This command is useful for fixing corrupted or misconfigured repository issues.

By managing winget sources effectively, however, we ensure we are pulling the latest app versions for our bulk app updates via CMD or PowerShell.

Limitations of Winget

While winget is a fantastic tool, it has some limitations we should be aware of:

Repository Coverage: Winget only updates apps included in its repository, which currently covers about 1500 programs. Some niche or less popular apps won’t be updated automatically.

Localization Issues: Different language versions of apps are often not distinguished, which can lead to unintended language updates.

Version Detection Errors: Occasionally, winget may misidentify the installed version, causing repeated update prompts.

No System or Driver Updates: Winget does not manage Windows system updates or device drivers.

Conclusion: How to Efficiently Update All Windows Apps and Drivers Using CMD Commands and Windows Package Manager (winget)

We suggest embracing the Windows Package Manager combined with command-line Windows Update commands to automate and streamline the maintenance of your apps. Also, this method is efficient, saves time, and helps keep your system secure with the latest versions.

While winget has its limitations in terms of repository coverage and localization, it remains the most convenient and integrated tool for bulk updating Windows applications.

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Vanshika Vampire

I’m Vanshika Vampire, the Admin and Author of Izoate Tech, where I break down complex tech trends into actionable insights. With expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Digital Entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies, I help readers stay ahead in the digital revolution. My content is designed to inform, empower, and inspire innovation. Stay connected for expert strategies, industry updates, and cutting-edge tech insights.