Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows: Free Package Manager

This guide aims to teach you how to Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows. You can also use these instructions to Install Chocolatey on Windows Server. Follow the steps below to learn more about Chocolatey and install it on your Windows OS.

Introduction To Windows Chocolatey

Chocolatey or Choco is a free open-source package manager for Windows. It helps you install, manage, and upgrade software on your desktops or servers.

It simplifies software management by eliminating the need to manually search for MSI or EXE files and navigate through installation wizards.

At its core, Chocolatey is an open-source tool, allowing community contributions and evolution. It’s free to use, with paid versions available for those needing additional features or using the product in business environments.

To complete this guide on Windows Chocolatey, you must log in to your Windows Client or Windows Server and follow the steps below.

Note: You need to have Windows 7 or later / Windows Server 2003 or later.

You can Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows by using:

Method 1. Install Windows Chocolatey with PowerShell

First, you need to run your PowerShell as an administrator. To do this, you can check a guide on Run PowerShell as Administrator on Windows.

Then, you must ensure that the local Get-ExecutionPolicy is not set to restricted. To do this, run the following command from your PowerShell:

Set-ExecutionPolicy AllSigned

If it returns Restricted, you need to run the command below:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process

At this point, you can use the following command to Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

When your installation is completed, you will get the following output:

Restart your PowerShell again, and verify your Choco version on Windows with the command below:

choco

Method 2. Install Windows Chocolatey with CMD

Another way to install Choco is to use the Windows CMD. Open your CMD as an administrator and run the command below:

@"%SystemRoot%System32WindowsPowerShellv1.0powershell.exe" -NoProfile -InputFormat None -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command " [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))" && SET "PATH=%PATH%;%ALLUSERSPROFILE%chocolateybin"

When your installation is completed, restart your CMD again, and verify your Choco version on Windows with the command below:

choco

How To Use Chocolatey on Windows?

Choco commands can be used in both the Windows cmd shell and in PowerShell.

To install a program with Choco, you can use the command below:

choco install <mark>package-name</mark>

For example:

choco install git

To update a program, you can use the following command:

choco upgrade <mark>package-name</mark>

For example:

choco upgrade git

Also, you can update all programs with the following command:

choco upgrade all

Note: The cup command is an alternative to using the choco upgrade command.

To find a program for downloading and installation, you can use the following command:

choco search <mark>package-name</mark>

You can easily use the command below to see which packages are installed with Choco:

choco list --local-only

Update Chocolatey or Choco on Windows

You can update the Choco program itself by using the following command:

choco upgrade chocolatey

It is important to do this periodically because in previous versions, errors may be detected, and they need to be fixed so that there are no vulnerabilities.

Install Chocolatey or Choco GUI on Windows

Those who are comfortable with the graphical interface can Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows with the GUI by using the command below:

choco install chocolateygui

During the installation, you will be asked some questions, and answer them by pressing A.

When your installation is completed, you can search for Chocolatey from your search bar. You should see the Choco GUI:

For more information, you can visit the Chocolatey Docs page.

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows by using PowerShell or CMS. Also, you have learned to use choco to install packages on your Windows OS.

Hope you enjoy it. Also, you may like to read the following articles:

Add Sticky Notes to the Windows Desktop

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Use Dig Command on Windows 10

Set up 7-Zip for Windows Server 2022

DHCP Server Config on Windows Server 2019

MySQL Setup on Windows Server 2022

Alternative Solutions to Package Management on Windows

While Chocolatey is a robust and popular package manager for Windows, other solutions exist that offer alternative approaches and benefits. Here are two different ways to manage software on Windows:

1. Winget (Windows Package Manager)

Winget is Microsoft’s own package manager for Windows 10 and later. It is a command-line tool that allows users to discover, install, upgrade, remove, and configure applications. Winget is included with Windows 10 (version 1709 or later) and Windows 11.

Explanation:

Winget aims to provide a centralized and consistent way to manage software on Windows, similar to how apt works on Debian/Ubuntu or yum/dnf on Fedora/RHEL. It leverages a manifest-based system where package information is stored in YAML files within a community-maintained repository. This allows for easier discovery and installation of software.

Advantages of Winget over Chocolatey:

• Microsoft’s Backing: Being a Microsoft product, Winget has direct support and integration with the Windows ecosystem.
• Simplified Syntax: Winget commands are generally more straightforward and easier to remember than Chocolatey commands.
• Native Integration: Winget is natively integrated into recent versions of Windows.

Code Example:

• Searching for a Package:

  winget search git

• Installing a Package:

  winget install Git.Git

• Upgrading a Package:

  winget upgrade Git.Git

• Listing Installed Packages:

  winget list

Winget offers a strong alternative to Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows.

2. Scoop

Scoop is a command-line installer for Windows that focuses on installing programs to the user’s home directory rather than system-wide. This approach avoids the need for administrator privileges in many cases and promotes a cleaner system environment.

Explanation:

Scoop is designed for users who prefer a lightweight and isolated software management approach. It downloads and installs programs directly into the user’s scoop directory, minimizing system-wide modifications. Scoop relies on "buckets," which are repositories of package manifests similar to Chocolatey and Winget.

Advantages of Scoop:

• No Admin Rights Required (Often): Most installations don’t require administrator privileges, making it ideal for environments with restricted user access.
• Clean System: Programs are installed in a dedicated folder, reducing clutter and potential conflicts.
• Easy Uninstall: Removing programs is clean and simple.

Code Example:

• Installing Scoop:

  First, ensure you have PowerShell 5 or later and Set-ExecutionPolicy allows remote scripts:

  Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
  irm get.scoop.sh | iex

• Searching for a Package:

  scoop search git

• Installing a Package:

  scoop install git

• Upgrading a Package:

  scoop update git

• Listing Installed Packages:

  scoop list

These alternative package managers, Winget and Scoop, offer distinct advantages and cater to different user preferences and system requirements compared to Chocolatey. Users can choose the package manager that best suits their needs for software management on Windows, providing more flexibility than solely relying on one tool to Install Chocolatey or Choco on Windows.