How to Add a User Interface to Windows' Winget Utility

Package managers are an highly convenient portion of Linux operating systems, but Windows, contempt being much "user-friendly," doesn't person thing astir arsenic useful. However, utilizing 1 free, open-source task and a built-in Windows bid enactment utility, you tin get the nonstop aforesaid happening connected Windows.

The Best Feature Windows Lacks: A Convenient Package Manager

Package Managers fto you adhd and region programs, strategy libraries, and drivers. You tin hunt for programs astir instantly, retrieve accusation astir them, and set settings.

In different words, they're everything that the Microsoft Store wishes it could be.

Every Linux distro has immoderate benignant of bundle manager that you tin use, and they're a regular portion of each Linux user's life.

Windows really does person a bundle manager—winget. However, winget is often forgotten and overlooked, contempt however incredibly utile it is. The main crushed for this is accessibility. The full Windows acquisition is built astir a graphical idiosyncratic interface alternatively than a bid line, and winget doesn't person one.

Get a User Interface for Winget

I don't usage winget much simply due to the fact that it doesn't person a convenient graphical idiosyncratic interface (GUI) similar astir Windows utilities.

Luckily for everyone, determination is an open-source task called UniGetUI (formerly WinGetUI) that provides a convenient idiosyncratic interface. Plus, it matches the mean UI benignant successful Windows 11 rather well—it doesn't look retired of spot astatine all.

Installing UniGetUI

If you privation to instal UniGetUI, you person aggregate options. They're each equivalent, truthful which you usage is down to idiosyncratic preference.

Install UniGetUI from the Microsoft Store

You tin download UniGetUI from the Microsoft Store, and that is the method the developer recommends. To bash so, unfastened the Microsoft Store, hunt UniGetUI, past click the archetypal result.

Click the "Install" button, past hold for it to download. You won't beryllium capable to motorboat UniGetUI from the Microsoft Store. You'll conscionable spot a fastener that says "Installed" if everything went correctly.

Install UniGetUI from GitHub

I typically debar the Microsoft Store, truthful I downloaded UniGetUI from GitHub instead.

Scroll down until you spot Download UniGetUI installer, past click "Click present to download UniGetUI."

Once the executable has finished downloading, double-click it to instal the program.

Install UniGetUI Using Winget

If you are already a large instrumentality of Winget, you tin adjacent usage Winget to download UniGetUI!

Open up a Terminal, past tally the pursuing command:

winget instal --exact --id MartiCliment.UniGetUI --source winget

You'll astir apt spot a mean installation model look astatine the aforesaid time.

Using UniGetUI Is a Breeze

Once UniGetUI is installed, you hunt for it and motorboat it similar immoderate different program.

The archetypal surface you'll spot is the Discover Packages tab. Here you tin hunt for applications and filter them according to their source. By default, UniGetUI includes further sources too Winget, similar Chocolatey. I'd urge sticking to the applications from Winget to start.

My favourite tab, however, is Software Updates. Updating each of your apps manually tin beryllium beauteous tedious, particularly since they aren't ever installed from the aforesaid source. Luckily, Winget (with UniGetUI) tin grip updates for most programs you'll install.

Tick the container adjacent to the programme and click "Update selected packages." Alternatively, you could click the container successful the apical near country to prime and update all of your apps simultaneously.

Oftentimes, you'll person a bid of popups arsenic winget runs updaters and prompts you to marque choices (like what gets downloaded with an update). Additionally, you'll occasionally request to assistance thing administrative permissions during the process, depending connected what it is and wherever it is installed.

You tin besides right-click an app beauteous overmuch anyplace to bash assorted things to it, similar skip updates, uninstall it, and more.

By default, UniGetUI volition show a tiny notification whenever immoderate of your packages request an update, though you tin disable this connected an app-by-app basis, oregon completely, depending connected your preferences.

UniGetUI besides keeps a log of the actions you take, which tin beryllium adjuvant if you're ever troubleshooting.

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Not each command-line instrumentality successful Windows calls for a idiosyncratic interface, but winget is simply excessively utile not to person one. Hopefully, astatine immoderate constituent successful the future, Microsoft volition opt to adhd UniGetUI (or thing equivalent) to the operating strategy retired of the box.