How to Use InstalledPackagesView to List Windows Apps When troubleshooting a PC or auditing software, you often need a clean list of installed applications. While the Windows Settings menu displays these apps, it lacks advanced exporting and filtering options. NirSoft’s InstalledPackagesView is a free, lightweight tool that solves this problem by pulling deep registry data to list every software package on your system.
Here is how to use it to inspect and export your Windows apps. Step 1: Download and Extract the Tool
InstalledPackagesView is portable, meaning it does not require installation. Go to the official NirSoft website. Scroll to the bottom and download the ZIP file. Right-click the downloaded folder and select Extract All. Step 2: Run and Load Your Software List The tool can read your current system or external drives.
Open the extracted folder and double-click InstalledPackagesView.exe.
Grant administrator permissions if prompted to ensure it reads all registry paths.
Wait a few seconds for the tool to scan your system and populate the main window. Step 3: Analyze the Package Data
The main interface splits your information into two useful views.
Top Pane: This lists every installed package, including standard desktop software (MSI) and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps from the Microsoft Store.
Bottom Pane: Click on any app in the top pane to see its detailed registry keys, install files, and hidden properties in the bottom pane. Step 4: Filter and Sort the Results You can easily organize the data to find specific programs.
Click on any column header—such as Display Name, Display Version, or Install Date—to sort alphabetically or chronologically.
Press Ctrl + F to open the find dialog and search for a specific app name or developer. Step 5: Export Your App List
If you need to keep a record or share the list for tech support, you can export it.
Press Ctrl + A to select all apps, or hold Ctrl and click to select specific ones. Click the File menu and choose Save Selected Items.
Choose your preferred format, such as TXT, CSV, or HTML, and save the file to your desktop.
To help me tailor this guide or add more advanced steps, let me know: Do you need to list apps from a dead computer’s hard drive?
Are you looking to generate a report using the command-line version?
Do you need to filter out Microsoft system components from the final list?
Tell me your specific use case so I can provide the exact steps you need.
Leave a Reply