How WinMate works

Q: Which package manager should I choose?

Use winget if in doubt: it is part of Windows 10 and 11, uses Microsoft's official repository and can install Microsoft Store apps. Scoop installs portable apps into the user folder without administrator rights, which suits developer tools. Chocolatey has a large community catalog and installs system-wide.

Q: Which runtimes are needed on a fresh Windows?

Many games and programs require the Visual C++ Redistributables and the .NET Desktop Runtime. Older games may also need DirectX, XNA or OpenAL. They are listed in the category Runtimes & Dependencies and in the Runtimes bundle.

Q: How do I update all apps later?

Run winget upgrade --all, scoop update * or choco upgrade all -y in PowerShell, depending on the package manager that was used.

WinMate turns a selection of apps into a single install script. This page explains how that works and answers common questions.

Apps →

How it works

1
Select apps
Browse by category, search, or start from a bundle such as Essentials or Gaming PC.
2
Choose a package manager
winget is part of Windows and the default choice. Scoop and Chocolatey are installed by the script if selected.
3
Download and run
Run WinMate-Install.cmd or paste the script into PowerShell. Every line can be read beforehand.
4
Check the summary
The apps install one after another. The summary lists what was installed, what needs a restart and what failed.

Why you only see one admin prompt

Normally every installer requests administrator rights on its own. A WinMate script elevates itself once and runs all installers from that elevated window, so they inherit the permission. Apps whose installers refuse to run as administrator, such as Spotify, are installed afterwards under the normal user account.

winget vs. Scoop vs. Chocolatey

All three are free command-line package managers for Windows. winget is the default choice.

	winget	Scoop	Chocolatey
Setup	Built into Windows 10/11	Installed automatically	Installed automatically
Admin rights	Once (WinMate)	Not needed	Required
Install location	Normal installers (Program Files)	Portable, in your user folder	System-wide
Repository	Official Microsoft repo + Store	Community buckets	Community repository
Best for	Everyone	Developers, portable tools	IT admins, wide catalog
Update all apps	`winget upgrade --all`	`scoop update *`	`choco upgrade all -y`

Frequently asked questions

Is WinMate free and safe to use?

WinMate is free and open source under the MIT license. The script is generated in the browser and contains only commands for the official package managers winget, Scoop and Chocolatey, which download the installers from the software vendors. The script can be read in full before it is run.

Why does the script ask for administrator rights only once?

Most installers need administrator rights and would each show their own UAC prompt. A WinMate script elevates itself once and runs all installers from that session. Apps that must not be installed as administrator, such as Spotify, are installed afterwards under the normal user account.

Which package manager should I choose?

Use winget if in doubt: it is part of Windows 10 and 11, uses Microsoft's official repository and can install Microsoft Store apps. Scoop installs portable apps into the user folder without administrator rights, which suits developer tools. Chocolatey has a large community catalog and installs system-wide.

Does this work on a brand-new Windows installation?

Yes, that is the main use case. winget ships with Windows 11 and current Windows 10 builds. If it is not registered yet, the script registers it or opens the App Installer page in the Microsoft Store. Scoop and Chocolatey are installed by the script when selected.

Windows says "Windows protected your PC". What now?

SmartScreen shows this warning for unsigned files downloaded from the internet. Choose More info and then Run anyway. As an alternative, use Copy for PowerShell and paste the script into a PowerShell window, which needs no file at all.

What happens to apps that are already installed?

The package manager checks every app. An app that is already present is updated if a newer version exists, otherwise it is skipped. The summary marks these apps accordingly.

Which runtimes are needed on a fresh Windows?

Many games and programs require the Visual C++ Redistributables and the .NET Desktop Runtime. Older games may also need DirectX, XNA or OpenAL. They are listed in the category Runtimes & Dependencies and in the Runtimes bundle.

What is the difference between core and extended apps in a bundle?

The core apps are the minimum that makes a setup work, and they are preselected. The extended list holds optional additions and alternatives; they stay unticked until they are selected.

An app failed to install. What can I do?

Run the script again: apps that are already installed are skipped. Some failures are temporary, for example while a vendor is publishing a new version. The full log is written to %LOCALAPPDATA%\WinMate\logs. If a package ID is wrong, please open an issue on GitHub.

How do I update all apps later?

Run winget upgrade --all, scoop update * or choco upgrade all -y in PowerShell, depending on the package manager that was used.

Can the installed apps be removed again?

After an installation, WinMate writes an undo script to %LOCALAPPDATA%\WinMate\runs. It removes exactly the apps that this run installed and leaves everything that was already present untouched.

How can I check that a script was not tampered with?

Every script contains the same engine, whose SHA-256 hash is published on the security page and in every GitHub release. winmate.ps1 -Verify WinMate-Install.cmd compares the hash and lists the apps the script installs.

Does WinMate collect any data?

No. There are no cookies, no analytics and no accounts. The selection is stored in the browser only and can be shared through a link that contains the app names.

Inspiration

WinMate is inspired by TuxMate, a bulk app installer for Linux by abusoww. WinMate applies the same idea to Windows with winget, Scoop and Chocolatey.