How to Check Installed Software in Windows 11 Using CMD

How Windows 11 organizes installed software and the two CMD approaches

In Windows 11, installed software can be discovered from two main sources when you use the command line: the Windows Installer database (accessed via WMIC) and the uninstall registry entries. The WMIC path provides a quick snapshot of programs registered with Windows Installer, while querying the uninstall registry keys captures many programs that did not enroll with Windows Installer. For homeowners and DIY enthusiasts using CMD, both methods are valuable: WMIC gives speed, the registry route gives completeness. In practice, you often combine both to produce a robust list you can export for inventory, audits, or troubleshooting. This guide walks you through practical, safe steps to run these commands, interpret the results, and export a clean, readable list. Along the way, you’ll learn how to account for 64-bit and 32-bit installations and how to verify your results against the Apps & features panel in Windows 11.

Understanding the difference between the two sources also helps you decide when to rely on one method or the other. For example, some software installs do not register with Windows Installer and will be missing from WMIC output but appear in the registry. Conversely, some entries in the uninstall registry may be leftovers or entries that were not properly removed. The goal is a dependable, audit-ready list rather than a perfect one-shot dump.

Prerequisites and safety considerations

Before you begin, prepare a few basics to ensure accurate results and avoid common mishaps. Start by opening an elevated Command Prompt or Windows Terminal with CMD privileges; this ensures you can read restricted registry paths used by some software. Have a dedicated folder or desktop location ready to save your exported text files, so you can share or archive the results easily. If you are working on a personal machine, you can run commands with standard user rights, but some entries may be omitted. Avoid editing registry data while you are listing software; stick to read-only queries. Finally, understand that WMIC is deprecated in newer Windows 11 builds, but it remains functional for compatibility. If you plan to do frequent software inventories, consider scripting the steps or using a PowerShell approach in parallel.

Method 1: Using WMIC to list installed software

The Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) provides a straightforward way to enumerate installed software. In an elevated CMD session, type: wmic product get name,version. This returns a two-column list showing each product name and its version, separated by spaces. If you notice blank lines or missing entries, that’s a known limitation of WMIC’s reliance on Windows Installer data. For a slightly broader view, you can filter by names or export only the name column: wmic product get name > installed_list.txt. Remember that WMIC can be slow on systems with many programs, and some programs installed without Windows Installer will not appear in the output. Use this method for a quick baseline inventory, then supplement with registry-based queries for completeness.

Method 2: Registry-based listing (uninstall keys) for comprehensive results

Windows stores uninstall information in registry keys, which includes both 64-bit and 32-bit program entries. To query 64-bit apps, run: reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /v DisplayName. To capture 32-bit programs installed on 64-bit Windows, run: reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /v DisplayName. You can append /f DisplayName to search by name: reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /f DisplayName. Collect DisplayName and DisplayVersion values where available. Since this method traverses many registry entries, you will likely see long lists; consider redirecting to a file: reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /v DisplayName > uninstall_names.txt. Repeat for DisplayVersion and for two paths. This path often yields more complete coverage, especially for non-Windows-Installer software.

Exporting and combining results for audits

After collecting WMIC and registry data, consolidate outputs into a single file for audit, documentation, or inventory tracking. Use redirection to create text files like: wmic product get name,version > c:\temp\wmic_installed.txt reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /v DisplayName > c:\temp\uninstall_64bit.txt reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /v DisplayName > c:\temp\uninstall_32bit.txt. Then you can merge them manually or with a simple script to produce a master list. If you’re comfortable with the command shell, you can also pipe outputs to sort and unique commands to remove duplicates. Saving to a dedicated folder helps maintain an auditable trail and makes it easier to share results with IT staff or property managers.

Tips for readability: filtering, sorting, and formatting

Once you have raw data, transform it into a readable list. Use sort to alphabetize entries: sort c:\temp\wmic_installed.txt > c:\temp\wmic_sorted.txt. For more precise matching, use findstr to filter results by keywords, such as vendor or software family. If you want a clean two-column table, you can process the text with a simple script or import into a spreadsheet. Consider deduping by only including the latest version per product name, which reduces noise in long lists. Finally, always verify critical apps by cross-referencing with Windows Settings > Apps & Features to ensure you didn’t miss anything important for the audit.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Several issues can skew results: 1) WMIC not listing some apps because they aren’t Windows Installer-based; 2) 32-bit apps installed on 64-bit Windows may live under WOW6432Node; 3) Portable apps that don’t require installation may not appear in either list; 4) Registry entries can linger after uninstallation; 5) The output may include system components or updates that aren’t traditional applications. To mitigate, always collect both WMIC and registry outputs, perform cross-checks, and compare with the Apps & features panel in Settings. Running the REG tool with /s ensures a recursive scan, but you might want to filter to a few key names to keep the result usable. If you see licensing entries or trial versions, mark them separately for procurement reviews.

Quick-start checklist for DIYers

1. Open an elevated CMD window. 2) Run 'wmic product get name,version' and save output. 3) Run registry queries for 64-bit and 32-bit uninstall entries and save. 4) Consolidate, sort, and deduplicate. 5) Cross-check with Settings > Apps & Features. 6) Export final master list to a shareable file. 7) Review any missing programs and note portable apps as exceptions. This approach gives a practical, auditable inventory you can rely on when troubleshooting software issues or planning an upgrade.