How to Get a List of All Installed Programs in Windows: 3 Methods That Actually Work

Key Takeaways

• Settings > Apps > Installed apps is the fastest way to see everything, but it cannot export the list.
• PowerShell can query the registry and export the full list to a CSV file in one command.
• winget list is the only built-in command that includes Microsoft Store apps, and winget export saves the list for another PC.
• Skip WMIC. Microsoft deprecated it, and it is no longer installed by default from Windows 11 24H2 onward.

Every time I set up a fresh Windows install, I end up asking the same question: what exactly was installed on the old machine? In this guide, I’ll show you four ways to get a list of all installed programs in Windows 11, from the quick Settings view to a PowerShell export you can hand to another PC.

Check the Installed apps page in Settings

This is the easiest method and the right one if you just want to browse. It shows both classic desktop programs and Store apps in one searchable list.

1. Step 1: Press Win + X and choose Installed apps (or go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps).
2. Step 2: Use the search box to find a specific program, or sort the list by name, size, or install date.
3. Step 3: Click the three-dot menu next to any app for options like Advanced options or Uninstall.

The limitation: there is no export button. If you need the list as a file, move on to PowerShell or winget below.

Use PowerShell to list and export everything

PowerShell reads the same uninstall registry keys Windows itself uses, so you get names, versions, and publishers. It is the best route when you want a file you can save or search.

1. Step 1: Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin).
2. Step 2: Run this command to list every installed program, sorted by name:

Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher |
  Sort-Object DisplayName

3. Step 3: To save the list as a CSV file on your desktop instead, run:

Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher |
  Export-Csv -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\installed-apps.csv" -NoTypeInformation

$env:USERPROFILE is a placeholder for your user folder, so change the path if you want the file somewhere else. This registry query covers classic desktop programs; Store apps need a different command (Get-AppxPackage), which is why winget below is often simpler.

Good to know: Older guides use wmic product get name,version. WMIC is deprecated and no longer installed by default from Windows 11 24H2 onward, so that command now errors out on current systems. Use the PowerShell commands above instead.

Use winget list (includes Microsoft Store apps)

The Windows Package Manager (winget) sees what Settings sees, including Store apps, and it can export the whole inventory to a file you can import on a new PC.

1. Step 1: Open Terminal (a regular window is fine, no admin needed).
2. Step 2: Type winget list and press Enter to see every installed item with its name, ID, and version.
3. Step 3: To export the list as a JSON file, run winget export -o installed-apps.json.

The exported JSON can be imported on another machine with winget import, which makes this the best method for migrating to a new PC.

Use a third-party uninstaller for the full picture

If you also want to clean house, tools like Geek Uninstaller or Revo Uninstaller show every installed program with deep uninstall and leftover-file scanning. They are handy when your goal is not just a list but removing the bloat you find on it, which pairs well with our guide to removing bloatware from Windows 11 (including preinstalled apps like the ones in our Cortana uninstall guide). Download these utilities only from their official websites.

Which method should you pick?

For a quick look, Settings is all you need. For a file you can keep, PowerShell or winget will do it in one command, and winget is the only built-in option that makes moving to a new PC painless.

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David Coleman

David Coleman writes how-to guides and explainers for TechIlu, mostly around Windows, phones, and the apps people use every day. His rule is simple: if a reader cannot follow it and fix it, it is not done.

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