winget upgrade --all: update all apps at once on Windows

Syntax

winget upgrade takes an optional query and a list of options¹. It also has the alias update¹.

winget upgrade [[-q] <query> ...] [<options>]

These options matter most when you update everything at once¹:

• --all (also -r or --recurse) upgrades all installed packages to the latest version, if one is available.
• --include-unknown (also -u or --unknown) upgrades packages even if their current version can't be determined.
• --include-pinned (also --pinned) upgrades packages even if they have a non-blocking pin.
• --silent (also -h) runs the installer in silent mode, which suppresses all UI.
• --interactive (also -i) runs the installer in interactive mode.
• --accept-package-agreements and --accept-source-agreements accept the license agreements and avoid the prompts.

The commands work the same in Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell and PowerShell 7⁴.

Examples

List the apps that have updates

Start here. With no arguments, winget upgrade shows all available upgrades and installs nothing¹.

winget upgrade

It returns a list of the installed apps that have an upgrade available¹. winget list --upgrade-available gives a similar list. It shows the update version and the source it comes from².

Update all apps

This upgrades every installed app that has an update. WinGet looks for all apps with updates and tries to install each one¹.

winget upgrade --all

Microsoft advises running winget upgrade without arguments first, to preview which apps will be upgraded¹.

Include apps with an unknown version

Some apps don't provide a version. WinGet can't tell if a newer one exists, so it won't upgrade them unless you add --include-unknown¹.

winget upgrade --all --include-unknown

To preview those apps first, winget list takes the same option. It lists packages even if their current version can't be determined².

winget list --upgrade-available --include-unknown

Update all apps without installer windows

--silent suppresses all installer UI. The two accept options accept the license agreements and avoid the prompts¹.

winget upgrade --all --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements

Without administrator rights, some apps may need elevation to install. Windows then asks you to elevate. If you choose not to, that app fails to install³.

Include pinned apps

Apps pinned with WinGet are skipped by --all. Add --include-pinned to upgrade them. Only apps with non-blocking pins are upgraded¹.

winget upgrade --all --include-pinned

Update a single app

To upgrade one app, name it by its ID¹.

winget upgrade --id Microsoft.PowerToys

Common errors

An app is skipped by --all. Either WinGet can't determine its current version, or the app is pinned. Add --include-unknown or --include-pinned¹.

An app fails to install. Without administrator rights, some apps need elevation. If you don't approve the Windows elevation prompt, the app fails to install³. In an Administrator Command Prompt you won't see those prompts. Use caution there, and only install apps you trust³.

WinGet asks you to choose an app. When you name an app, upgrade needs the exact string. If there is any ambiguity, WinGet asks you to filter the command further¹. Use --id, or add --exact to match the exact string, including case¹.

winget isn't available yet. WinGet only becomes available after you sign in to Windows as a user for the first time. If you just signed in for the first time and WinGet isn't there yet, open PowerShell and run this command to request its registration³:

Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe

If App Installer isn't installed on your device, you can get it from the Microsoft Store³.

winget is missing on a server. WinGet isn't available on Windows Server 2022 or earlier. Windows Server 2025 includes it only for Windows Server with Desktop Experience⁴.

Questions

Does winget upgrade --all work in PowerShell?

Yes. You can run winget from any command shell, including Command Prompt (cmd.exe), Windows PowerShell (powershell.exe) and PowerShell (pwsh.exe)⁴.

How do I see the updates before I install them?

Run winget upgrade with no arguments. It shows all available upgrades¹. winget list --upgrade-available lists the same kind of apps, with the new version and the source it comes from².

Why does winget upgrade --all skip some apps?

Some apps don't provide a version, so WinGet can't tell whether a newer one exists. Add --include-unknown to upgrade them. Apps pinned with WinGet are also skipped unless you add --include-pinned¹.

Do I need to run winget as administrator?

Not for every app. Without administrator rights, some apps may need elevation to install. Windows then asks you to elevate, and the app fails to install if you decline. In an Administrator Command Prompt you won't see those prompts, so install only apps you trust³.

12 Sept 2026: Published.