Automating various tasks in Windows can significantly enhance efficiency and system security. Today, we’ll share a clever trick that allows you to update all your programs simultaneously using a built-in Windows tool that many are unaware of: Winget.
Winget: The Ultimate Windows Update Command
Imagine streamlining the process of updating every application on your Windows computer with a single automated system. Well, the good news is that you can achieve this and keep all your software up-to-date effortlessly.
To achieve this, you can utilize a utility integrated into both Windows 10 and 11 called Winget, which allows you to install, uninstall, update, and search for programs, among other functions.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Launch Windows PowerShell (or use Command Prompt/CMD if you prefer the traditional approach).
- Begin by checking which programs have available updates. Run the following command: “winget update.”
- You may be prompted to grant certain permissions with the question: “Do you agree to all the terms of the source contracts?” Respond with ‘Y’ to proceed.
- Once you have the complete list of applications that require updates, you can proceed to update all of them to their latest versions. Use the command “winget update –all.”
- If there are specific programs you want to exclude from the update process, you can add exceptions to keep them at their current versions.
Note: In some Windows versions, this feature might not be pre-installed. In such cases, you can easily download it from the Microsoft Store and then follow the aforementioned steps.
If you find it cumbersome to grant administrator privileges every time Winget updates a program, there’s a workaround. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt in administrator mode and use this alternative command: “winget upgrade –all -h –accept-package-agreements –accept-source-agreements.” This ensures that all your software is updated without requiring manual confirmation for each update, speeding up the process significantly.
An Alternative Program: Patch My PC
If the Winget method feels a bit complicated or you prefer a software solution to handle updates, you can explore alternatives like Patch My PC.
Patch My PC is a user-friendly, free, and portable program that simplifies the task of keeping more than 300 types of third-party applications up-to-date. It ensures essential software, such as Adobe Reader, Chrome, Firefox, Java, or QuickTime, remains current.
The advantages of using this program include its ability to streamline the management and updating of third-party applications, making it convenient to remove unnecessary programs and maintain essential ones with the latest updates.
The program will automatically check for the latest versions of all supported programs and update them as needed. Additionally, it offers various tools to manage and administer installed applications, including checking for Windows updates through its Update service, uninstalling programs, and adjusting startup applications.
Patch My PC is a straightforward and lightweight tool that doesn’t require installation and consumes minimal disk space (approximately 1.5 MB). You can easily carry it with you and use it on any computer without hassle.