Package managers are incredibly useful, and when Microsoft introduced Windows Package Manager (Winget) to Windows, it quickly became one of my favorite tools. Package managers make it easy to install, update, back up, and restore apps on your computer. Whether you're using Winget for Windows 11 or another great package manager, you know how much simpler they make things.
Recently, I discovered UniGetUI, which I can describe as the package manager to end all package managers. UniGetUI brings together the most popular package managers and beautifully combines them into one package, without needing to use Windows Terminal. It's almost the perfect mix of versatility and user-friendliness, so I had to mention it. If you haven’t heard of UniGetUI before, here’s why you should give it a try.
All Your Package Managers in One
The main selling point of UniGetUI is immediately clear: it integrates all your favorite package managers. To start, it includes both Winget and Chocolatey, which are two of the most popular package managers, giving you access to thousands of apps right away. It's worth noting that with Winget, you already have access to Microsoft Store apps, which work here too, so you have an extensive library of apps available from the start.
But that’s just the beginning. If you prefer Scoop, it’s also available for installation, and you can add custom scoops just as you normally would.
And we're still getting started. These are the common package managers you might think of, but there are also more specialized package managers included in UniGetUI. You can access scripts and libraries from the PowerShell Gallery, use NPM to install and manage Node.js versions, and even manage Python libraries with PIP. Everything you need is right here, all in one seamless package. I don’t use most of these myself, but seeing everything in one place is quite satisfying.
And the best part? UniGetUI has its own backup tool, allowing you to create app bundles from various sources. This means you can back up and install apps from any source all at once. It’s an amazing all-in-one tool.
A User-Friendly Interface
I know many users love the command line for doing things quickly, and I get it. There are certainly tasks I prefer to do with my keyboard, which is why I also love apps like Flow Launcher. But sometimes, a proper user interface where you can use your mouse is just nice, and it’s often the easiest way for most people. UniGetUI delivers exactly that and is incredibly easy to use.
You can open UniGetUI to see an overview of all the packages installed on your computer, including those not obtained via a package manager. These apps can’t be backed up, but at least you can still find them and check if a package manager has a version listed, which could help you reinstall that app in the future.
There’s also a section to review all available app updates, pulling updates from all your package managers, making it much easier to keep everything up-to-date. Finally, the package bundles section lets you open app bundles for easier installation. For instance, you can back up all your apps, but you might also want to create a bundle for specific purposes, allowing you to share them with others. If you’re helping someone set up a new computer, for example, you can share a bundle of recommended apps. It took me a moment to figure out that to create a new bundle, you need to first select packages from the installed packages tab, but once you get the hang of it, the app is very easy to use.
The settings section allows you to select which package managers you want to enable and helps you configure them. For example, you can install Scoop from here and manually add the sources you want to activate for it. It’s incredibly helpful.
Stay on Top of Updates
Finally, UniGetUI is excellent at keeping you on top of app updates. Winget allows you to update your apps all at once, but you have to actively go out of your way to do so. UniGetUI runs in the background, so when you start your computer, it notifies you of any updates you might have missed and helps you install them. It makes keeping things updated much simpler.
In my case, just installing UniGetUI revealed that I had missed updates for more than a dozen apps simply because Winget wasn’t updating them for me. It was really easy to catch up, and after that initial batch of updates, you’ll always stay on top of the latest updates.
UniGetUI even has a Microsoft Store add-on that lets you create a widget for the app, so you can see any pending updates directly from the Windows 11 Widgets pane or the Dev Home app without having to open UniGetUI. It’s truly impressive.
Take the Stress Out of Managing Your Apps
I’m genuinely amazed by UniGetUI. It’s actually a follow-up to Winget UI, which I covered a few years ago as a simple way to access Winget through a graphical user interface, primarily web-based. This app now boasts a beautiful design that feels native to Windows 11 and does so much more than just act as a skin for Winget. It’s such a capable platform that I highly recommend everyone check it out to simplify app management.
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