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winget (the Windows Package Manager) is included in Windows Server 2025 with Desktop Experience. To install software, open PowerShell and run winget search git, then winget install --id Git.Git -e. Update everything with winget upgrade --all. Microsoft states that winget isn’t available on Windows Server 2022 or earlier, or on Windows Server 2025 Server Core, so on those use the vendor’s installer instead.

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Before you start

  • Sign in as an administrator with Remote Desktop.
  • Check your version: run winver. You need Windows Server 2025 with the desktop (not Server Core).
  • Open PowerShell as administrator: select Start, type PowerShell, right-click Windows PowerShell and choose Run as administrator. Installing machine-wide software from an admin window avoids repeated elevation prompts.

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Which Windows Server versions include winget?

Sources: What’s new in Windows Server 2025, Use WinGet and Install PowerShell on Windows on Microsoft Learn. Check that it works:
If PowerShell doesn’t recognise winget on Windows Server 2025 right after the first sign-in, Microsoft suggests registering App Installer for your account:

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How to install software with winget

1

Search for the app

The result shows each package’s Name, Id, Version and Source. Use the Id, because names can match several packages.
2

Check the package details (optional)

show lists the Publisher, Homepage, Installer Url and Installer SHA256, so you can check it’s the real app.
3

Install by Id

-e (--exact) matches the Id exactly, including case. The two --accept-… flags accept the package licence and the winget source terms so the install doesn’t stop for a prompt. Add --silent (-h) to hide the installer’s own window.
You can install several apps in one line by listing their Ids:

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How to update software with winget

lists every installed app that has a newer version. Then upgrade one app, or all of them:
Some apps don’t report a version, so upgrade --all skips them unless you add --include-unknown (winget upgrade on Microsoft Learn).
winget upgrade --all can update software your website or game server depends on (for example a runtime or database). On a production server, upgrade those apps one at a time during a maintenance window and test afterwards.

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How to list and remove software

winget list shows apps installed with winget and apps installed by other means.

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What to use on Windows Server 2019 and 2022

winget isn’t available there, so:
  • Download the installer from the vendor’s official website (with Microsoft Edge on Desktop Experience).
  • Or download it with PowerShell and run it:
Replace the URL with the vendor’s real download link. For PowerShell 7, Microsoft recommends the MSI package on Windows Server (Microsoft Learn). Before running a downloaded file, compare its hash with the one the vendor publishes:

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How to check it worked

  • winget list --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode shows the app and its version.
  • The app appears in the Start menu.

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Frequently asked questions

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Can I install winget on Windows Server 2022 anyway?

Microsoft’s PowerShell documentation states that winget isn’t available on Windows Server 2022 or earlier. Workarounds exist, but they aren’t supported, so we recommend the vendor’s installer on those versions or moving to Windows Server 2025 with a rebuild.

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Is software from winget safe?

winget downloads the installer from the publisher’s URL listed in the package manifest. Check the Publisher and Installer Url with winget show before installing anything you don’t recognise.

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Does winget work in Command Prompt as well as PowerShell?

Yes. The winget command runs from Command Prompt (cmd.exe), Windows PowerShell and PowerShell 7.

VPS and dedicated server guides

Every guide in this section.

PowerShell on Windows Server

The basics you need first.

Install Windows updates

Keep Windows itself current.

Install roles and features

Built-in Windows components.

First steps on a new Windows server

Set up a fresh server.
Checked against Microsoft Learn: Use WinGet, winget install, winget upgrade, What’s new in Windows Server 2025 and Install PowerShell on Windows on 4 November 2026. Not tested on a live Windows server for this page; package Ids can change, so confirm them with winget search.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: November 2026