In windows 11I’m always looking for ways to make Windows Package Manager (winget) more practical for everyday use, especially for keeping applications up to date without constant manual work.
By default, you still have to run commands like wing upgrade –allWhich works fine, but only if you remember to do it. And while the Microsoft Store handles updates automatically, that applies only to Store apps, not most traditional desktop apps you may have installed through to the.
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GUI makes WAU truly accessible
One of the biggest limitations of Winget-AutoUpdate is that it is primarily designed around scripts and configuration files. It works great if you’re comfortable with the command line, but can seem unnecessarily complex if you want to set it and forget it.
That’s where the WAU configuration GUI It makes a noticeable difference. This is the second part of the project, and the GUI adds a proper interface on top of the tool, allowing you to configure everything without touching scripts. Instead of manually handling scheduled tasks, you can manage all settings visually.
As you proceed with the installation, you will configure the main tool (without GUI)then the graphical interface (all in the same wizard). Installation is similar to installing any other application, but you will be asked to choose a folder to install the application and store application lists, which you may want to create in the root of “DO:.”
Configure WAU using the GUI
Once in the interface, you can turn automatic updates on or off, set schedules, configure allow and block lists for specific apps, control notifications and logging behavior, and change advanced options.
You can always click on the “Execute WOW!” Button to update all your Winget applications. As apps receive their updates, the tool will show pop-up notifications to let you know which app has been updated.
Of course, you want to automate this process so you can do it from the “Update time and random delay” section, and don’t forget to set the “Update interval and notifications” to something more than “Never.”
If you want to exclude applications, create a “excluded_applications.txt” file in the folder you specify to store your lists, listing the IDs of the apps for which you want to disable automatic updating.
Likewise, if you want to update only specific apps, create a “included_applications.txt” with the ID of the apps you want to automatically update in the folder you specify to store your lists.
Finally, click the “Save settings” button to apply the changes. For more details, you can change this. GitHub page.
Who really needs Winget-AutoUpdate?
This tool is not for everyone. It is useful in very specific scenarios.
If you install many applications using the Windows Package Manager and want a maintenance-free system, WAU keeps everything up to date automatically without manual checks.
The tool is also useful for users who want more control, as you can configure allow and block lists, and can use wildcard filtering, version pinning, and custom arguments.
What is it like to use?
Once configured, Winget-AutoUpdate runs silently in the background. There is no need to activate updates or search for obsolete applications manually.
The experience is simple. You set it up once, run it on schedule, and automatically receive updates with notifications.
It is not intrusive and avoids the constant update management cycle that many users are accustomed to.
For users who rely on multiple tools and utilities, it quickly becomes one of those “set it and forget it” system components.
Windows Central’s opinion
Winget-AutoUpdate is a free tool that handles updates for all apps installed with Winget on Windows 11 and effectively fills one of the most obvious gaps in the Windows Package Manager (winget).
By default, Winget still relies on manual commands like wing upgrade –allwhich works well but depends entirely on the user being proactive. And while the Microsoft Store handles updates automatically, that applies only to Store apps, leaving most traditional desktop software out of that system.
That’s where Winget-AutoUpdate (WAU) makes a real difference. It automates the entire update process, running in the background on a schedule and handling everything without user intervention. Once configured, it eliminates the need to check for updates or activate them manually.
The result is a more complete package management experience in Windows 11. Instead of treating updates as something you manage periodically, WAU makes them continuous and largely invisible, which is exactly how it should feel on a modern system.
More resources
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