---
title: "Package Managers"
description: "Open an administrator shell, then install and update Windows apps from the command line with WinGet or Chocolatey."
canonical_url: "https://vinicunca.dev/windows-dev/guide/package-managers"
---
# Package Managers

> Open an administrator shell, then install and update Windows apps from the command line with WinGet or Chocolatey.

Installing apps from the command line is faster than clicking through installers, and it makes a new machine reproducible. Windows has two popular options:

- **WinGet** is Microsoft's package manager. It's preinstalled on Windows 11 and modern Windows 10 as part of App Installer, so start here.
- **Chocolatey** is a community package manager with a larger catalog. It's optional; install it only if WinGet doesn't have something you need.

## Open an administrator shell

Some installers need administrator rights. Pick whichever method suits you.

Press `Win` + `X` (or right-click the Start button) and select **Terminal (Admin)**. Accept the User Account Control prompt; the tab title starts with **Administrator:**.

![Right-clicked Start button menu](https://vinicunca.dev/images/start-menu.png)

On Windows 11 version 24H2 and later you can elevate a single command from a normal PowerShell tab with [Sudo for Windows](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/advanced-settings/sudo/).

Enable it once in **Settings** › **System** › **Advanced** › **Enable sudo**, then prefix any command:

```powershell
sudo winget install --id Git.Git -e
```

The default **In a new window** mode is the safest; the inline modes let other processes in the same console drive the elevated one.

In Windows Terminal, open **Settings** › **Profiles** › **Windows PowerShell** and turn on **Run this profile as Administrator**. That profile then always opens elevated, so keep your everyday profile (Ubuntu) unelevated.

![Run this profile as Administrator toggle](https://vinicunca.dev/images/new-admin.jpg)

> [!WARNING]
> 
> Only elevate when an installer asks for it. Never run your WSL shell, `pnpm` or `npm` as administrator.

## WinGet

Check that WinGet is available:

```powershell
winget --version
```

If the command isn't recognized, update **App Installer** from the Microsoft Store.

The commands you'll use most:

```powershell
# Find a package and its ID
winget search vscode

# Install by exact ID
winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -e

# List installed apps and available updates
winget list
winget upgrade

# Update everything
winget upgrade --all

# Remove an app
winget uninstall --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -e
```

`--id` with `-e` (`--exact`) avoids installing a similarly named package by accident. Browse IDs on [winget.run](https://winget.run) or with `winget search`.

## Chocolatey (optional)

### Open an administrator PowerShell

Use one of the methods above. Chocolatey's default install and most of its commands need an elevated shell.

### Check the execution policy

```powershell
Get-ExecutionPolicy
```

If it returns `Restricted`, allow scripts for this session only:

```powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process
```

### Run the installer

Review [install.ps1](https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1) first if you like, then run:

```powershell
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))
```

### Verify

Open a new admin tab and run `choco -?`. See [Getting Started](https://docs.chocolatey.org/en-us/getting-started) for more.

Basic commands, all run from an administrator shell:

```powershell
choco install <package> -y
choco upgrade <package>
choco upgrade all -y
choco list
choco uninstall <package>
```

Search the [Community Package Repository](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages) for package names.

## Recommended apps

A few free apps that are useful for web development on Windows:

- [Microsoft PowerToys](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/) is a set of power-user utilities, including the [Command Palette](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/command-palette/overview) launcher (`Win` + `Alt` + `Space`), FancyZones window layouts and a color picker. PowerToys Run is still included if you prefer the older launcher.
- [Git for Windows](https://gitforwindows.org/) provides Git Credential Manager, which the [Git step](https://vinicunca.dev/windows-dev/guide/git) uses from WSL.
- [GitHub Desktop](https://desktop.github.com/) is a graphical Git client.
- [RunJS](https://runjs.app/) is a JavaScript and TypeScript scratchpad.
- [Bruno](https://www.usebruno.com/) and [Postman](https://www.postman.com/) are API clients.
- [Figma](https://www.figma.com/) is a collaborative UI design tool.
- [draw.io](https://www.drawio.com/) is a diagramming app.
- [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) and [Notion](https://www.notion.com/) are note-taking apps.

Install them in one go:

```powershell [WinGet]
winget install -e --id Microsoft.PowerToys
winget install -e --id Git.Git
winget install -e --id GitHub.GitHubDesktop
winget install -e --id lukehaas.RunJS
winget install -e --id Bruno.Bruno
winget install -e --id Postman.Postman
winget install -e --id Figma.Figma
winget install -e --id JGraph.Draw
winget install -e --id Obsidian.Obsidian
winget install -e --id Notion.Notion
```

```powershell [Chocolatey]
choco install powertoys git github-desktop runjs postman figma drawio obsidian notion -y
```

---

- [WinGet docs](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/winget/)


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