Find Outdated Apps with winget list --upgrade-available
List installed applications that have a newer version available, then upgrade selectively.
Run `winget list --upgrade-available` (or just `winget upgrade`) to list apps with updates, then `winget upgrade <id>` to update one.
01Command
Command
$ winget list --upgrade-available02What it does
Plain `winget list` shows everything installed; the --upgrade-available flag (shorthand -u) narrows it to packages whose repository version is newer. `winget upgrade` with no arguments is the equivalent shortcut that doubles as the update command. This catches apps that do not self-update well, like some portable or MSI installs, and unlike `winget upgrade --all` it does not change anything until you pick a package.
03Risk
!Warning: Some apps' upgrade can restart them or drop custom settings; upgrade one at a time rather than using --all on a work machine.
04Undo
✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.
05Sources
- winget list commandEvidence: Documents winget list, including the --upgrade-available filter that limits output to apps with a newer version in the repository.
- winget upgrade commandEvidence: Documents winget upgrade, which lists upgradable packages by itself and updates a specific one when given an ID.
Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: System & Settings