Windows Package Manager hits v1.4 and brings with it support for zip files

Windows 11 winget install apps commands
(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • The Windows Package Manager (WinGet) has hit version 1.4 with a raft of new features. 
  • It now supports downloading and extracting installers from zip archives.
  • Additional features include command aliases, improvements to WinGet Show and more. 

The Windows Package Manager (WinGet) has reached version 1.4 and with it adds a slew of tasty new features. If you're not yet familiar with the tool, it's an alternative way of installing software on Windows. In many ways, it's similar to the sort of package manager you might find on Linux or WSL, or the Windows-friendly Chocolatey. 

Of the new features on offer the one that immediately caught my eye was the ability to download, extract and run installers from .zip archives without any outside input. 

"WinGet now supports installing packages contained within a .zip archive. This feature builds on the existing support for portable packages, and existing installer support for MSIX, MSI, and EXE-based installers. Our initial support includes either a single installer, or (one or more) portable package(s)."

Windows Package Manager version 1.4

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Other notable features in this update include: 

  • Command Aliases - Running winget <command> --help will now show any aliases for that command, for example, ls and rm are now included, to help those working between different platforms use similar commands.
  • Install/Upgrade flow enhancements - Previously winget could fail during upgrades as some packages required specific commands to perform an upgrade. This update adds improvements to automatically switch to the upgrade flow if a package is already installed. 
  • Wait! - There are times you don't want the terminal text to just disappear. If you wish to keep the prompt around, you can now add --wait to your command. 
  • WinGet Show - More manifest values have been added to winget show <package>.  

If you're already using the Windows Package Manager then you should be getting the update now or very soon. Alternatively you can learn more about this release on the blog post or grab it directly from GitHub

CATEGORIES
Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

Read more
Using Winget to install apps through PowerToys
PowerToys will soon have native integration with the best Windows 11 tool you should be using
Microsoft PowerToys
PowerToys just got even more powerful with the addition of this new utility
Windows 11 file Explorer
Windows 11 File Explorer is about to get a speed boost
Ubunutu 24.04 running on WSL 2 on Windows 11 inside Windows Terminal.
Ubuntu on WSL doesn't have to rely on the Microsoft Store any longer
Microsoft PowerToys logo
I would have paid money for this new PowerToys feature. But you can get it for free.
Files app on Windows 11
My favorite Windows 11 File Explorer alternative just got its biggest update in years
Latest in Software Apps
Artificial intelligence mobile apps for DeepSeek, ChatGPT and Google Gemini arranged.
Google says its latest reasoning model is its "most intelligent" — but Microsoft's CEO claims Google already fumbled its AI opportunity
ChatGPT and Microsoft Logo
ChatGPT’s new image-generation tool is impressive; it can finally create a glass of wine filled to the brim — but it struggles with blank white images and appears to discriminate against 'sexy women'
Microsoft Edge Sidebar
My favorite Microsoft Edge feature just got an AI upgrade — is this the best way to use Copilot on Windows 11?
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, physicist, mathematician and cosmologist
Nobel laureate claims "AI will not be conscious" and shouldn't be considered intelligent — Until it develops its own ideas
In this photo illustration OpenAI ChatGPT icon is displayed on a mobile phone screen in Ankara, Turkiye on August 13, 2024.
OpenAI says an excessive dependency on ChatGPT can lead to loneliness and a "loss of confidence" in decision-making
Microsoft 365 app on Windows 11 with shortcuts to create documents in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 applictions.
This Microsoft 365 feature will nudge users to save files to OneDrive
Latest in News
Surface Pro 11
Microsoft’s smaller Surface Pro appears in certification database ahead of rumored launch this spring
Artificial intelligence mobile apps for DeepSeek, ChatGPT and Google Gemini arranged.
Google says its latest reasoning model is its "most intelligent" — but Microsoft's CEO claims Google already fumbled its AI opportunity
ChatGPT and Microsoft Logo
ChatGPT’s new image-generation tool is impressive; it can finally create a glass of wine filled to the brim — but it struggles with blank white images and appears to discriminate against 'sexy women'
Microsoft Edge Sidebar
My favorite Microsoft Edge feature just got an AI upgrade — is this the best way to use Copilot on Windows 11?
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, physicist, mathematician and cosmologist
Nobel laureate claims "AI will not be conscious" and shouldn't be considered intelligent — Until it develops its own ideas
UGreen x Genshin Impact charging accessories: image shows magnetic wireless charger, power bank, GaN charger and USB-C cable
UGreen drops a stunning Genshin Impact collection of charging accessories AND it's all on sale