The App Management on Windows 11

Windows 11 modernizes application management with a redesigned Settings interface, improved Microsoft Store, and the winget package manager for command-line automation.

Settings > Apps Interface

Installed Apps (Settings > Apps > Installed apps)

• Sort by: Name, Date, Size
• Filter by: Drive, All apps
• Actions per app (three-dot menu):
  • Move (if supported)
  • Modify (repair/change)
  • Uninstall
  • Advanced options (terminate, repair, reset, permissions)

Default Apps (Settings > Apps > Default apps)

• Set defaults by file type - .pdf, .jpg, .html, etc.
• Set defaults by link type - mailto:, http:, ftp:
• Choose defaults by app - Select app > see all associations

Startup Apps (Settings > Apps > Startup)

• Toggle per-app startup behavior
• Impact indicators: High/Medium/Low/None
• Startup folder locations:
  • User: shell:startup (%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)
  • All Users: shell:common startup (%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup)

Microsoft Store

Store App Management

• Library - Owned apps, updates, downloads
• Automatic updates - On by default (Settings > App updates)
• Offline licenses - For enterprise/offline deployment

Store for Business/Education (Deprecated)

• Replaced by Microsoft Intune for app deployment
• Win32 app packaging - MSIX format for Store/Intune distribution

winget - Windows Package Manager

Installation

Built into Windows 11 (App Installer). Update via Store or:

winget upgrade --id Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller -s winget

Core Commands

# Search
winget search <query>
winget search --tag "utility" --source winget

# Install
winget install <package_id>
winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox -e --accept-source-agreements --accept-package-agreements

# Upgrade
winget upgrade
winget upgrade --all
winget upgrade --id <package_id>

# Uninstall
winget uninstall <package_id>

# List
winget list
winget list --source winget
winget list --upgrade-available

# Show info
winget show <package_id>

# Sources
winget source list
winget source add <name> <url>
winget source remove <name>
winget source update

Package ID Patterns

Automation Scripts

# Install dev toolkit
$packages = @(
    "Microsoft.VisualStudioCode"
    "Git.Git"
    "Docker.DockerDesktop"
    "Postman.Postman"
    "MongoDB.Compass"
    "Microsoft.AzureCLI"
)
foreach ($pkg in $packages) {
    winget install --id $pkg --accept-source-agreements --accept-package-agreements
}

Export/Import Configuration

# Export
winget export -o C:\Config\winget-packages.json

# Import (on new machine)
winget import -i C:\Config\winget-packages.json --accept-source-agreements --accept-package-agreements

Advanced App Management

App Execution Aliases

Settings > Apps > App execution aliases - Toggle which apps respond to command names (e.g., python, python3).

App Permissions (Privacy)

Settings > Privacy & security > App permissions:

• Location, Camera, Microphone, Notifications
• Background apps
• File system access (Documents, Pictures, etc.)

Uninstall Stubborn Apps

# Via winget
winget uninstall --id "Package.ID" --force

# Via PowerShell (AppX)
Get-AppxPackage *Name* | Remove-AppxPackage

# Via registry (last resort)
# HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
# HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Enterprise: MSIX & Intune

• MSIX - Modern packaging format (containerized, reliable install/uninstall)
• App Attach - Dynamic app delivery for Azure Virtual Desktop
• Intune Win32 App - .intunewin wrapper for legacy installers
• Company Portal - User-facing app catalog

Troubleshooting

Resources

• winget Documentation
• winget-pkgs Repository - Community packages
• Microsoft Store APIs
• MSIX Packaging Tool