Microsoft just made a command line version of the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 — install and update your apps without a GUI

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You can now find, install, and update Microsoft Store apps using a command prompt on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. No GUI required.

Microsoft Store Command Line Interface
You can now interact with the Microsoft Store via the command line. (Image credit: Screenshot: Windows Central / PC: Edited with Gemini)

Microsoft has announced the Store CLI, a command-line interface for managing and installing Windows apps from the Microsoft Store. It's similar to WinGet, except the Store CLI only works for apps that are available in the Microsoft Store. It's part of a larger set of features being rolled out for developers and power users designed to make using the Microsoft Store better.

"A new command-line interface for the Microsoft Store brings app discovery, installation and update management directly to your terminal. This enables developers and users with a new way to discover and install Store apps, without needing the GUI," Vice President of the Microsoft Store, Giorgio Sardo says.

  • Browse apps with store browse-apps: Search and filter the Store catalog by category, subcategory, listing type (top-free, top-paid, new releases), market, language and more.
  • Install apps instantly with store install : Deploy apps directly from the command line with a single command.
  • Update specific apps with store update : Install the latest version of any app without navigating through menus.

Store CLI is available now, and you can get started by typing "store --help" for a complete list of available commands. This feature is useful for those who frequent the command line, offering a quick and efficient way of searching for, installing, and updating existing apps on your system via the Microsoft Store.

Of course, the Store CLI will only work on PCs where the Microsoft Store app is enabled. If you've disabled the Microsoft Store for whatever reason, the Store CLI won't work. WinGet is Microsoft's open-source alternative which still exists and is capable of acquiring a much larger selection of apps, including those from outside the Microsoft Store.

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Do you think you'll use Microsoft's new command line interface for the Microsoft Store? Let us know in the comments.

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Zac Bowden
Zac Bowden
Senior Editor

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central and has been with the site since 2016. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows, Surface, and hardware. He's also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter and Threads

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