The fastest way to install Windows software

It’s 2022 and installing software on Windows nevertheless seems extra or much less the exact same as usually. You find the app you want on the web, download the installer, and spend the next minute or two clicking by way of dialog boxes,  hoping you did not unintentionally set up malware. 

But the method can be faster than that. Enter Chocolatey, a Windows application that enables you to put in just about 10,000 equipment with just a handful of commands on PowerShell, Windows’ configuration administration system. And if that sounds a little bit intimidating, Chocolatey also has a friendlier desktop version.

Why you ought to use Chocolatey

If you at any time turned on a Pc in the 90s you certainly noticed Windows’ disk operating technique or DOS in all its glory—it was that dark screen with blocky white letters carrying out command following command to get your pc up and managing. PowerShell is a fashionable model of that—you can obtain it from Home windows itself as any other device, and electric power users really like it for its electrical power to streamline duties with written commands. 

[Related: 10 new features to get you started with Windows 11]

Most Laptop buyers have never ever opened PowerShell, but Chocolatey may perhaps be the great justification to start out exploring. The method is a script you can use in PowerShell to very easily install and manage application, creating the process significantly a lot quicker than the regular way. Chocolatey automates all of the looking, downloading, and setting up, so you can just form a command and walk away although your pc does all the function. The method also makes the method safer by making use of only formal obtain hyperlinks, stopping you from clicking on a phony just one. 

Finally, Chocolatey can handle critical updates, so you never have to examine and obtain new patches for each and every single piece of software on your equipment. All you have to do is automate the full approach with a speedy command. 

How to put in Chocolatey

Installing Chocolatey is easy, but in advance of you do, you will will need to open up PowerShell as an administrator, which will give the system comprehensive authorization to do issues like set up and update computer software. To do this, look for for PowerShell in the get started menu, click on on the ideal entry, and then pick Operate as Administrator in the right panel. 

Subsequent, head to the Chocolatey set up page. There’s a one line of code under Set up Chocolatey for specific use that you’ll need to copy and paste into PowerShell. Strike Enter and follow the guidance. Chocolatey will warn you about all the improvements this will make to your procedure, and ask you to ensure if you want to proceed with the installation. Form Y for sure and strike Enter yet again. 

How to put in computer software making use of Chocolatey

Now that Chocolatey is ready to use you can install some software program. Just variety choco install adopted by the identify of the software you want. For case in point, to get Firefox you can kind choco put in firefox, and hit Enter. Chocolatey will then ask you if you want to operate the script to set up the software—type Y and strike Enter again. 

Just like that Chocolatey will then continue to obtain and put in the system you want, which will clearly show up in your begin menu, prepared for you to open up when the procedure is finished. 

You can install various apps this way, and there are hundreds of offers, which you can research for or look through on Chocolatey’s web-site. Sophisticated people can examine up on all supported commands, but all people else can get started off by mastering the fundamentals.

Comply with this command with the title of the plan you want to install. It will immediately research all apps Chocolatey supports and give you a listing. This is a swift way to find the precise names of the tools you want to get. 

choco enhance all 

This command will download and set up updates for all application you have mounted working with Chocolatey. It is a big time saver. Alternatively, to update only 1 software, you can style choco enhance adopted by the name of that application.

choco uninstall

Just after this command, style the identify of a application you put in using Chocolatey to take out it.

The additional intuitive version of Chocolatey

If you’d instead not use PowerShell to install software package, we’ve got great news—there’s a graphical version or GUI you can use as an alternative. 

You can put in this a lot more person-helpful interface making use of Chocolatey—just operate the choco install chocolateygui command. As a final result, you’ll get an application store with all the plan offers you can get working with the system. 

[Related: Run Windows on your Mac and get the best of both worlds]

Chocolatey can make installing and updating computer software on Windows a breeze. If you’re environment up a new Pc, equipping your machine with everything you want will be a good deal less complicated.