Holy UWP: It took four years of development, but WinGet has finally introduced what is likely one of its most useful features yet. The Windows-focused package manager is now compatible with Microsoft Store apps, allowing them to be downloaded and installed with ease. WinGet can now download Microsoft Store app installers for offline distribution
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WinGet, also known as Windows Package Manager, was initially released by Microsoft in 2020. The tool includes a command-line utility and a set of services for installing, managing, and updating applications on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is a Microsoft-sanctioned alternative to third-party application managers such as Chocolatey, Ninite, and AppGet.
Microsoft recently announced that the latest version of WinGet (1.8) now supports downloading apps from the Microsoft Store. WinGet has always supported a “variety” of sources for obtaining application packages, and can now be used to automate the installation and update process for programs and apps available on the official Windows store.
After updating WinGet or installing the latest version from its official GitHub repository, users can download offline copies of Store apps via the command-line. For example, the command “winget download Calculator -s msstore” will download the Calculator app to a subfolder under the main Download folder. The downloaded package can then be transferred to other Windows devices within an organization and installed there using another command-line instruction.
By running the command “Add-AppxPackage -Path C:\Users\username\downloads\9WZDNCRFHVN5\Calculator.appx” under a PowerShell environment, the previously downloaded Calculator app will be installed on a local PC with no need to go through the Store first.
The Microsoft Store has long been a contentious aspect of the Windows ecosystem. The Redmond corporation has repeatedly attempted to channel all software through its own digital distribution platform, gradually enhancing the Store’s compatibility with various types of apps and applications. Today, the Store can be used to download and update both UWP and Win32 programs, including the WinGet package management tool itself. WinGet can now download Microsoft Store app installers for offline distribution
Sysadmins and knowledgeable Windows users will likely welcome the ability to easily store local copies of apps exclusive to the Microsoft Store. Before WinGet 1.8, downloading Store apps for archival or distribution purposes was a somewhat troublesome and complex process.
Additional features available in WinGet 1.8.1911 include HTTP Proxy support, PowerShell Modules on Arm64 chips, archive extraction using the tar.exe tool, and more.
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