Hands-On Windows 181: A First Look at Store CLI

Host: Paul Thurrott
Date: March 19, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Paul Thurrott takes a deep dive into Store CLI, a new command line interface tool for the Microsoft Store in Windows 11. He contrasts it with the established Windows Package Manager tool, Winget, exploring Store CLI's unique features, usability, and speculates on its potential AI-driven future. The episode is hands-on, practical, and rich in tips for both power users and developers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction of Store CLI

[01:27]

• Store CLI (accessible via the store command) is a new Windows 11 tool, distinct from Winget.
• It is tailored for managing Microsoft Store apps only (not web or external repositories).
• Paul admits:

  "I'm not really sure why we need both. It's not clear yet. Microsoft hasn't said. But it does have some interesting, unique features and it's worth knowing about."
  (Paul Thurrott, 01:27)

2. Quick Recap: Winget Features

[01:27 – 04:31]

• Winget is a package manager with both Store and web-based repositories.
• Common commands include searching for and installing apps via identifiers, updating all or selected apps.
• Paul demonstrates:

  “I use this as a, in a batch file to kind of batch install all the apps I need every time, you know, I run Windows.”
  (Paul Thurrott, 01:52)

3. Store CLI – First Impressions

[07:42]

• Store CLI is only available in Windows 11 (with Store installed).
• It’s described as semi-graphical in the text terminal with nicer, more readable formatting compared to Winget.
• Store CLI's "discovery" features set it apart from Winget.

4. Store CLI in Action: Commands & Features

a. Searching Apps

[08:30]

• Command: store search <query>
• When searching for an app not in the Store (e.g., Chrome), Store CLI returns similar alternatives (Firefox, Opera, Brave, DuckDuckGo).
• Paul notes:

  “That is different.”
  (Paul Thurrott, 09:10)

b. Installing Apps

[09:35]

• The install command is similar to Winget (store install <app>), but only for Store apps using their identifier.

c. Updating Apps

[10:20]

• store update <app> updates an individual app.
• store updates checks for updates for all Store apps, prompts for confirmation, and can update everything in the background.

• "Similar to Winget, but a much nicer interface and you get this option just yes or no to run the update across all those things... it runs the updates in the background. So actually, pretty nice."
  (Paul Thurrott, 11:35)

d. Browsing and Discovery Features

[12:11]

• store browse apps top free lists the top free apps currently available in the Store, with a daily refresh.
• Browsing by category:
  store browse apps top free category:music for top free music apps.

• "...it's Spotify, itunes, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, et cetera, et cetera. So that's interesting."
  (Paul Thurrott, 13:09)

e. Finding Similar Apps

[13:45]

• The store similar <app> helps users find alternatives to well-known apps.
• Example: store similar Photoshop returns alternatives (CapCut, Canva, etc.), and differentiates between paid and free options.

• "You can actually use the arrow keys to choose which one you mean... it shows you which are free and which are paid."
  (Paul Thurrott, 14:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Store CLI Discovery Potential:

  "My theory is that Store CLI is probably about AI agents, frankly, because there's a lot of stuff going on here... you could say something like, hey, is there a free app like Photoshop or something?"
  (Paul Thurrott, 08:01)

• Comparing to Winget:

  "It's not clear to me why Microsoft didn't just update Winget to do this. I don't know if this means anything about the future of Winget. There's a lot of overlap, but there's also unique functionality here that I think is kind of cool."
  (Paul Thurrott, 15:41)

• On Practical Features:

  "We're starting to see some interesting updates to Windows 11 this year that aren't necessarily superfluous... it's just kind of bread and butter, you know, actual useful productivity things."
  (Paul Thurrott, 16:25)

Feature Comparison: Store CLI vs. Winget

| Feature | Winget | Store CLI (store) | |------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------| | App Sources | Microsoft Store + Web | Microsoft Store only | | App Install | Yes | Yes | | Batch Updates | Yes | Yes (background, with confirmation) | | Search Alternatives | Limited | Suggests similar/alternative apps | | Browse by Category | Limited | Yes, with filters | | Discovery/AI Features | No | Present/Implied | | User Experience | Text-based | Nicer text UI, semi-graphical |

Timeline of Key Segments

• [01:27] – Winget Overview & Command Syntax
• [07:42] – Introduction to Store CLI, initial hands-on demo
• [08:30] – Searching the Store, discovery of alternatives
• [09:35] – Installing with Store CLI
• [10:20] – App updating: individual and all-apps
• [12:11] – Browsing top free apps, browsing by category
• [13:45] – 'Similar' feature: finding alternatives to well-known apps
• [15:41] – Discussion: Why a new tool, possible AI future, practical uses

Tone & Takeaway

Paul is pragmatic, curious, and slightly bemused by Microsoft's decision to create Store CLI instead of enhancing Winget. He appreciates the Store CLI’s refined interface and discovery tools and sees potential for AI-driven usage in the future. The episode balances technical demonstration and practical opinion, making it informative for both developers and everyday users eager to manage and discover Store apps more efficiently.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is an essential primer on Store CLI for Windows 11, explaining its capabilities, advantages, and practical usage compared to Winget, all with Paul's insightful commentary and live terminal demos. If you use, script, or deploy Windows environments—or just want easier ways to discover and manage Store apps—this episode will help you get up to speed fast.