search command (winget)

The search command of the winget tool can be used to show all applications available for installation. It can also be used to identify the string or ID needed to install a specific application.

For example, the command winget search vscode will return all applications available that include "vscode" in the description or tag.

The search command includes parameters for filtering down the applications returned to help you identify the specific application you are looking for, including: --id, --name, --moniker, --tag, --command, or --source. See descriptions below or use winget search --help in your command line.

Usage

winget search [[-q] \<query>] [\<options>]

Aliases

The following aliases are available for this command:

• find

Arguments

The following arguments are available.

Argument	Description
-q,--query	The query flag is the default argument used to search for an app. It does not need to be specified. Entering the command winget search foo will default to using --query so including it is unnecessary.

Note

The query argument is positional. Wild-card style syntax is not supported. This is most often the string of characters you expect to help find the package you are searching for.

Show all

To show all of the winget packages available, use the command:

winget search --query ""

In PowerShell, you will need to escape the quotes, so this command becomes:

winget search -q `"`"

Note

This is a change from previous versions of winget which supported winget search with no filters or options displaying all available packages. You can also search for all applications in another source by passing in the source option.

Search strings

Search strings can be filtered with the following options.

Option	Description
--id	Limits the search to the ID of the application. The ID includes the publisher and the application name.
--name	Limits the search to the name of the application.
--moniker	Limits the search to the moniker specified.
--tag	Limits the search to the tags listed for the application.
--cmd, --command	Limits the search to the commands listed for the application.
-s, --source	Find package using the specified source name.
-n, --count	Show no more than specified number of results (between 1 and 1000).
-e, --exact	Uses the exact string in the query, including checking for case-sensitivity. It will not use the default behavior of a substring.
--header	Optional Windows-Package-Manager REST source HTTP header.
--accept-source-agreements	Accept all source agreements during source operations.
--versions	Show available versions of the package.
--verbose, --verbose-logs	Used to override the logging setting and create a verbose log.
-?, --help	Gets additional help on this command.
--wait	Prompts the user to press any key before exiting.
--logs,--open-logs	Open the default logs location.
--disable-interactivity	Disable interactive prompts.

The string will be treated as a substring. The search by default is also case insensitive. For example, winget search micro could return the following:

• Microsoft
• Microscope
• MyMicro

Searching across multiple sources

If you want to narrow results down to a specific source, just pass the --source or -s parameter and specify what you want. For example, you might want to see if Visual Studio Code is in the store by running winget search “Visual Studio Code” -s msstore. This search uses "Visual Studio Code" as the query.

Related topics

• Use the winget tool to install and manage applications