Windows 11 has a new Store CLI (store) command-line version of the Microsoft Store

Windows 11 now ships with a Store CLI for managing Microsoft Store apps from the command line.
The tool allows you to search for, install, list, and update Store apps with simple commands.
It is faster and more streamlined than winget, with richer formatting and support for paid apps.
The Store CLI is intended only for Microsoft Store apps and is not for publishing.

Windows 11 includes a new Microsoft Store that runs entirely from Command Prompt or PowerShell. It’s called the “Store CLI.” Microsoft appears to have quietly launched a command-line version of the Store that lets you download and install applications from the Store via commands using the Windows Terminal.

Although you have been able to use the Windows Package Manager to install applications with the winget command, the new Store CLI makes the experience easier and faster.

You can launch the tool by running the store command, which also gives you access to the different commands and options to download applications.

Windows 11 Store CLI / Image: Mauro Huculak

For example, to search for an application, you can run the store search app-name command (such as store search vlc).

The tool offers other discovery commands like the store similar to find similar apps and other options, such as addons, publisher, extension, and more.

Store discovery, operations, and helper commands / Image: Mauro Huculak

To install a command, you can use the store install app-name command. For instance, store install vlc.

Store install app command / Image: Mauro Huculakf

The store installed command lists the Microsoft Store apps installed on your computer, and the store updates command will check and update all your applications.

Store CLI show installed apps / Image: Mauro Huculak

The experience of running these commands is similar to using the winget command. However, in addition to using different commands, the tool uses additional styling and formatting to display information on the screen as if it were a graphical application.

Also, the command-line version of the Microsoft Store offers apps from the Store only. You cannot download apps from other sources, such as GitHub.

Furthermore, the new Store CLI provides results for free and paid apps, while the Windows Package Manager only displays free applications.

Finally, note that this command tool is for downloading and installing apps. It’s not a tool for publishing applications.

At the time of this writing, the Store CLI shows as a preview, and its version is “v22511.1401.5.0.”

Also, I haven’t been able to find any official announcement from Microsoft. Furthermore, while researching this topic, I stumbled upon the Microsoft Store Developer CLI tool. However, this is a different tool for developers and organizations. Also, you need to install this tool manually and run it with msstore.