Find All Installed Apps on Your PC Using CMD, PowerShell, or Task Manager, etc
Have you ever wondered which apps and programs are installed on your Windows PC? Maybe you’re troubleshooting a problem, checking for unwanted software, preparing to uninstall an app, or simply trying to find a program you installed a while ago.
Windows gives you several ways to find installed applications. You can use Command Prompt (CMD), PowerShell, Task Manager, Settings, Control Panel, or File Explorer. Each method shows different information, so choosing the right one depends on what you’re looking for.
For example, Settings provides an easy-to-read list of installed apps, while PowerShell can help you generate a detailed list for troubleshooting. Task Manager is useful for checking which applications are currently running, but it does not display every installed program.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to find installed apps on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Find All Installed Apps on This PC Using CMD, PowerShell, Task Manager, etc.
To find installed apps on your Windows PC, open Settings and select Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11 or Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. You can also use PowerShell to list installed applications, Command Prompt to query certain installation records, Task Manager to view running apps, or Control Panel to check traditional desktop programs.
Keep in mind that no single method lists every application in every situation. Some apps are installed only for your user account, some come from the Microsoft Store, and others run as portable programs without a traditional installation.
1: Find All Installed Apps Using Windows Settings
If you’re new to Windows, Settings is the easiest place to start. It provides a searchable list of applications and lets you check details or uninstall supported programs.
First, press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings.
In Windows 11, select Apps from the left sidebar, then click Installed apps. You’ll see a list of applications installed on your computer.
In Windows 10, select Apps, then open Apps & features. The page displays installed applications along with information such as their names and, where available, installation dates or sizes.
Use the search box to find a specific application. You can also sort the list by name, size, or installation date when those options are available.
This method is useful when you want to identify unfamiliar software, check whether a program is installed, or prepare to remove an application you no longer need.
However, some system components, drivers, portable applications, and background tools may not appear in this list.
2: List Installed Programs Using Command Prompt (CMD)
Command Prompt lets you run commands to retrieve information about software installed on your PC. One approach is to query Windows Installer records, although this method has an important limitation: it does not show every application installed on the computer.
To get started, open the Start menu and type Command Prompt. Select it from the search results. Administrator access is not usually required for the basic query below.
Enter this command and press Enter:
wmic product get name,version
If WMIC is available on your Windows installation, it may display the names and versions of programs registered with Windows Installer.
However, WMIC is deprecated and may be unavailable on newer Windows versions. Also, the wmic product command queries Windows Installer products and can trigger consistency checks or repairs for some MSI-installed applications. It is not recommended as a general-purpose way to inventory all installed software.
If the command isn’t recognized, use PowerShell or Settings instead. Those methods are generally better choices for modern Windows systems.
3: Find Installed Apps Using PowerShell
PowerShell is a more flexible option for collecting software information. You can use it to query Windows installation records and save the results for later review.
Open the Start menu, type PowerShell, and launch Windows PowerShell or Terminal with a PowerShell tab.
To display applications registered under the standard Windows uninstall registry locations, run the following command:
$paths = @(
‘HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*’,
‘HKLM:\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*’,
‘HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*’
)
Get-ItemProperty $paths -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Where-Object { $_.DisplayName } |
Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher |
Sort-Object DisplayName
Press Enter and wait for the results. PowerShell will show the application name, version, and publisher when those details are available in the registry.
This approach checks common registry locations for software installed for the computer and the current user. It can include many traditional desktop applications, but it will not necessarily show every Microsoft Store app, portable program, or application installed under another user’s account.
You can also export the results to a CSV file that opens in Excel. Run this command:
$paths = @(
‘HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*’,
‘HKLM:\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*’,
‘HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*’
)
Get-ItemProperty $paths -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Where-Object { $_.DisplayName } |
Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher |
Sort-Object DisplayName |
Export-Csv “$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\InstalledApps.csv” -NoTypeInformation
After the command finishes, look for InstalledApps.csv on your desktop. Double-click the file to open it in a compatible spreadsheet application.
4: Check Installed Apps Using Task Manager
Task Manager is useful when you want to identify programs currently running on your PC. It is not a complete inventory of installed applications, but it can help you recognize software running in the background.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
In Windows 11, select Processes from the left sidebar. In Windows 10, open the Processes tab.
Review the list of running applications and background processes. You may see programs such as your browser, messaging apps, update utilities, or other software.
To see programs configured to start when you sign in, open Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10.
Task Manager can also help you identify a running program’s executable location. Right-click a suitable process and select Open file location if that option is available.
Remember that a program may be installed even when it is not running. Likewise, some background processes belong to Windows or device drivers rather than applications you installed yourself. Avoid ending unfamiliar system processes simply because you don’t recognize their names.
5: Find Installed Programs Using Control Panel
Control Panel provides another way to find traditional desktop programs, including many applications installed through older setup files.
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
The Programs and Features window will open. Review the list of installed programs. Depending on the software, you may see its name, publisher, installation date, size, and version.
You can sort the list by clicking a column heading. For example, selecting Installed On can help you identify programs installed around the time a problem started.
If you want to remove an application, select it and choose Uninstall when the option is available. Before removing anything, confirm that it isn’t a driver, security component, or program required by another application.
Control Panel is especially helpful for traditional desktop software. Some newer Microsoft Store apps may appear only in Settings or through other app-management tools.
6: Find Microsoft Store Apps Using PowerShell
If you’re trying to identify apps installed through the Microsoft Store, PowerShell offers a separate command for checking app packages.
Open PowerShell and run:
Get-AppxPackage |
Select-Object Name, Version, Publisher
Press Enter to view the package names, versions, and publishers available to your current user account.
This command can display Microsoft Store apps and other AppX or MSIX packages registered for that user. Some results may be system components rather than ordinary apps you launch from the Start menu.
To check packages provisioned for new user accounts on the computer, you can use:
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online |
Select-Object DisplayName, Version
The second command queries packages provisioned in the current Windows image. It does not necessarily represent every app currently installed for every existing user.
Some system-management commands may require an elevated PowerShell session. If you receive an access error, open PowerShell as an administrator and try again.
7: Find Installed Apps Using File Explorer
File Explorer can help you locate program files, although it cannot provide a complete or reliable list of installed applications.
Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Open your Windows drive, usually Local Disk (C:), and check these folders:
C:\Program Files
C:\Program Files (x86)
You may find folders belonging to applications installed on your computer. The second location is commonly used for 32-bit desktop programs on 64-bit Windows.
Some applications install under your user profile, often within the AppData folders. To check your user-specific application data, press Windows + R, enter %LocalAppData%, and press Enter.
Be careful when reviewing these folders. A folder may contain application settings, cached files, or components rather than a complete installed program. Some portable apps also run directly from folders such as Downloads.
Do not delete application folders manually to uninstall software. Use Settings, Control Panel, or the application’s own uninstaller whenever possible.
Find Installed Apps and Save a List for Troubleshooting
If you’re preparing for a Windows reinstall, troubleshooting an issue, or documenting the software on your PC, saving an application inventory can be helpful.
Run the PowerShell registry command from Step 3 and export the results to a CSV file. Keep the file somewhere safe, such as an external drive or a backed-up folder.
For a more complete inventory, compare the results with the applications shown in Settings, traditional programs in Control Panel, and Microsoft Store packages listed by PowerShell.
This matters because the methods cover different types of software. A registry-based list may miss Store apps, while the Store package command may include system components that aren’t ordinary desktop programs.
Also remember that an application inventory does not back up the applications themselves, their license keys, or their settings.
Before reinstalling Windows, separately back up your personal files and check how to reinstall or reactivate important programs.
FAQs
1. What is the easiest way to see all installed apps on Windows 11?
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. You can search, sort, and review many of the applications installed on your PC.
2. Can CMD show every installed program?
No. Commands such as wmic product get name,version query a limited set of Windows Installer records and may be unavailable on newer Windows versions. PowerShell and Settings offer better options, although no single method covers every type of app.
3. How can I find recently installed apps?
Open Settings and review the installed apps list. If available, sort it by Install date. You can also open Control Panel’s Programs and Features window and sort by Installed On for traditional desktop programs.
4. Does Task Manager show all installed apps?
No. Task Manager primarily shows running processes and startup applications. Programs that are installed but not currently running may not appear in its Processes list.
5. How do I export installed apps to Excel?
Use the PowerShell command in Step 3 with Export-Csv to create an InstalledApps.csv file. Open that file in Excel or another compatible spreadsheet application.
Summary
You can find installed apps on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC in several ways. Settings is the easiest option for beginners, PowerShell is useful for generating and exporting software lists, Task Manager shows running apps, and Control Panel helps identify traditional desktop programs.
Command Prompt can retrieve certain installation records, while File Explorer can help locate program files. For the best results, use more than one method when you need a broader inventory.
If your goal is to troubleshoot a problem or prepare for a Windows reinstall, save your application list and back up your personal files before making major changes to your computer.