winget command tool is NOT installed by installing "App Installer" in Microsoft Store

[cheesecracker]

Brief description of your issue

I install "App Installer" shown in Microsoft Store. But typing "winget" in PowerShell still shows that the term 'winget' is not recognized.

Steps to reproduce

1. Install Windows 10 from scratch (I use Microsoft's official ISO image: SW_DVD9_Win_Pro_10_21H2_64BIT_Eng_Intl_Pro_Ent_EDU_N_MLF_X22-83626.ISO)
2. Open Microsoft Store
3. Search App Installer
4. Install it
5. Open PowerShell (in elevated mode) and try to run "winget"

Expected behavior

Expected to get the blah blah blah about winget command tool

Actual behavior

winget : The term 'winget' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program.
Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ winget
+ ~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (winget:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Environment

No "winget --info" can be provided because it's NOT installed

winver ==> "Version 21H2 (OS Build 19044.1288)

Comment

When App Installer is installed by Microsoft Store for the first time, winget does not work. We have to wait for an undetermined amount time and suddenly Microsoft Store would say it has found some update for App Installer. Then we have to wait for about 15 minutes to let Microsoft Store to download and install (again?) App Installer. After this, winget works.

Something is very obscure in the relationship between App Installer and Microsoft Store.

[o-l-a-v]

What version of "App Installer" do you have? Mine says 1.16.13405.0 when running:

(Get-AppxPackage -Name 'Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller').'Version'

(WIN + R => "powershell" and press enter, then ^)

winget -v says v1.1.13405.

Windows 10 Pro 21H2, 19044.1387.

Edit: Alias or not, you should see "winget.exe" in following location:

• %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps

And "AppInstallerCLI.exe" in following location, requires running as admin.

• CMD
  • pushd "%ProgramW6432%\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
  • dir
• PowerShell
  • Set-Location -Path ('{0}\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe' -f $env:ProgramW6432)
  • Test-Path -Path '.\AppInstallerCLI.exe' # Should return "True"

[juner]

Is winget.exe set to ON in app execution aliases?

How to Manage App Execution Aliases in Windows 10

[cheesecracker]

In reply to @o-l-a-v

Hope my answer is human-readable :)

O/S just installed (ie even before Microsoft Store was ever opened for the 1st time)

• (Get-AppxPackage -Name 'Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller').'Version'
  gives 1.0.30251.0
• Optionally, the command "winget" gives the same error as in my original post.
• In %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps , no winget.exe
• pushd "%ProgramW6432%\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
  "AppInstallerCLI.exe" is not there
• Set-Location -Path ('{0}\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe' -f $env:ProgramW6432)
Test-Path -Path '.\AppInstallerCLI.exe'
  Returns False

Open Microsoft Store for the first time. Verified that "App Installer" is indicated as installed in Microsoft Store

• (Get-AppxPackage -Name 'Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller').'Version'
  gives 1.0.30251.0 (same result like above)
• Optional: try "winget" == same result
• In %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps , still no winget.exe
• pushd "%ProgramW6432%\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
  "AppInstallerCLI.exe" is still not there
• Set-Location -Path ('{0}\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe' -f $env:ProgramW6432)
Test-Path -Path '.\AppInstallerCLI.exe'
  Still returns False

Open "App Installer" again in Microsoft Store and wait for it to update this app (and it really takes ages...)

• (Get-AppxPackage -Name 'Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller').'Version'
  gives 1.16.13405.0
• Optional: try "winget" == gives expected result (those blah blah blah)
• In %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps , winget.exe is finally there!
• pushd "%ProgramW6432%\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
  A LOT of files are added in that folder! Amongst them, "AppInstallerCLI.exe"!
• Set-Location -Path ('{0}\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_*_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe' -f $env:ProgramW6432)
Test-Path -Path '.\AppInstallerCLI.exe'
  Returns True

[cheesecracker]

Is winget.exe set to ON in app execution aliases?

How to Manage App Execution Aliases in Windows 10

BEFORE update in Microsoft Store
Only pythonxx.exe are in the list (and all are set to ON)

AFTER update in Microsoft Store
winget.exe is also in the list (and it's set to ON)

[denelon]

The version of App Installer coming in the Windows 10 distribution is the original version that shipped with Windows 10. It does take time for everything to synchronize and for the store to determine an update is available. Once you have the most recent version of App Installer on the system. The Windows Package Manager is available. This also holds true for Windows 11. We are working to be a part of the original distribution for the next update to Windows 11 so the Windows Package Manager can be present before getting an updated App Installer.

[jazzdelightsme]

It does take time for everything to synchronize and for the store to determine an update is available.

FYI: It is possible to write some script code to programmatically (and synchronously) trigger those updates: #1738 (reply in thread)

[cheesecracker]

FYI: It is possible to write some script code to programmatically (and synchronously) trigger those updates: #1738 (reply in thread)

I agree. Automation is good. But we need to wait for an undetermined period of time. Being able to trigger those things is even better.

[beingmerry]

I continue to have this issue on Windows 10 22H2. Winget is showing in the correct location %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps and the app alias is ON but I still cannot access winget from the CLI.

[yeskiy]

For those, who can't really find a solution for that.

1. Check, that winget.exe is located in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps
2. search path in your windows search (you should open Edit enviroment variables in your computer and hit Enviroment Variables... button)
3. Find Path or PATH item in User variables for [name] and double-click on that
4. Click New
5. type %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps and hit Enter on your keyboard
6. Restart a pc (or use refreshenv if you have choco)
7. Success (Probably)