Windows Package Manager updated to version 1.3 — here's how to (win)get it

Windows Package Manager
(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Windows Package Manager has been updated to version 1.3.
  • The update adds support for portable packages, which are apps that don't require an installer.
  • Windows Package Manager will show a system's architecture to help determine why a program may not be acting as expected.
  • The update also provides options for viewing installation notes, documentation, and logs.

The changelog for Windows Package Manager version 1.3 is quite extensive. Here are the highlights:

  • Support for installation of portable/standalone apps #182
  • Add a notes/info field to manifests. #607
  • Add an optional URL to Expected Return Codes #1889
  • Manifest Field for User Manual / Documentation #1984
  • Add alternative version number field to manifest to make correlation with entries in
  • Add/Remove programs more reliable #980
  • Setting for always using verbose logs #1940
  • winget --info should print the system architecture #1925
  • An even better progress bar #2055

You can read more about the latest update in a dev blog post by Demitrius Nelon, the Microsoft program manager working on Windows Package Manager.

Portable packages, also known as portable apps, are programs that don't require an installer. These types of app packages can now be managed by Windows Package Manager. They will appear as installed applications and can also be uninstalled through the utility.

Microsoft.NuGet has been added to the Windows Package Manager Community Repository already. Submissions for other portable packages will start being accepted in about a week.

Windows Package Manager is available through GitHub.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.