After four years of dedicated development, WinGet has unveiled a feature that many users have eagerly anticipated: compatibility with Microsoft Store apps. This enhancement marks a significant milestone for the Windows-focused package manager, allowing for seamless downloading and installation of applications directly from the Store.
Enhancing User Experience
Launched by Microsoft in 2020, WinGet, or Windows Package Manager, serves as a command-line utility designed to facilitate the installation, management, and updating of applications on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It stands as a Microsoft-supported alternative to popular third-party application managers like Chocolatey, Ninite, and AppGet.
The recent announcement of WinGet version 1.8 brings forth the exciting capability of downloading apps from the Microsoft Store. Historically, WinGet has supported a diverse array of sources for application packages, but this latest update streamlines the process of automating installations and updates for programs available on the official Windows platform.
Upon updating to the latest version or installing it from the official GitHub repository, users can now download offline copies of Store apps using simple command-line instructions. For instance, executing the command winget download Calculator -s msstore will initiate the download of the Calculator app into a designated subfolder within the main Downloads directory. This downloaded package can then be easily transferred to other Windows devices within an organization for installation via another command-line entry.
To install the previously downloaded Calculator app on a local PC without accessing the Store, users can run the command Add-AppxPackage -Path C:Usersusernamedownloads9WZDNCRFHVN5Calculator.appx in a PowerShell environment, simplifying the process significantly.
Transforming the Windows Ecosystem
The Microsoft Store has often been a point of contention within the Windows ecosystem, as Microsoft has consistently aimed to centralize software distribution through its digital platform. Over time, the Store has evolved to accommodate a broader range of applications, now supporting both UWP and Win32 programs, including the WinGet tool itself.
System administrators and savvy Windows users are likely to appreciate the newfound ability to easily store local copies of apps that are exclusive to the Microsoft Store. Prior to the introduction of WinGet 1.8, the process of downloading Store apps for archival or distribution was fraught with complexity and inconvenience.
In addition to the Store integration, WinGet 1.8.1911 introduces several other features, including HTTP Proxy support, PowerShell Modules for Arm64 chips, and archive extraction capabilities using the tar.exe tool, further enhancing its utility for users.
