InstalledPackagesView Tutorial: View, Export, and Analyze Installed Packages

Comparing InstalledPackagesView with Other Package InspectorsInstalledPackagesView is a lightweight Windows utility by NirSoft that enumerates installed packages and provides detailed information about them. This article compares InstalledPackagesView to several other package inspectors and installers’ information tools, showing strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases so you can choose the right tool for inventory, troubleshooting, or automation tasks.

What InstalledPackagesView does well

InstalledPackagesView reads Windows package data (including provisioned packages, Win32 apps, and appx/appxbundle packages) and displays properties such as package name, publisher, version, installation date, package full name, package family name, and install location. It is portable (no installation required), fast, and designed for quick forensic or troubleshooting workflows.

Key strengths:

• Portable and lightweight — runs without installation.
• Fast enumeration — scans installed packages quickly.
• Detailed package fields — shows many package-specific attributes (full name, family name, publisher).
• Export options — export to CSV, HTML, XML, or plain text.
• Command-line support — allows automation or integration into scripts.

Common alternatives and what they offer

Below are several other tools and built-in utilities often used to inspect installed software on Windows systems.

• Windows Settings / Control Panel (Programs and Features)
  • Native UI for viewing installed Win32 applications and some system components.
  • Limited detail for modern appx/app packages; no easy export or scripting.
• PowerShell (Get-Package, Get-AppxPackage, Get-WmiObject/Get-CimInstance Win32_Product)
  • Extremely flexible and scriptable; can query many sources (MSI, Appx, Chocolatey, etc.).
  • Output customizable and easily exported.
  • Requires familiarity with PowerShell and sometimes elevated privileges.
• Windows Package Manager (winget)
  • Focused on installing/updating packages; can list installed packages and export manifests.
  • Growing repository and ecosystem for package management.
• CCleaner / Belarc / Speccy / other system inventory tools
  • Provide broader system information and user-friendly reports.
  • Often include software audit/export features but may install or run background services.
• Third-party enterprise inventory tools (SCCM/Intune, PDQ Inventory, ManageEngine)
  • Centralized, scalable management and reporting across many machines.
  • Require infrastructure, licensing, and setup; overkill for one-off inspections.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Practical scenarios — which to use

• Quick local inspection on a single machine: InstalledPackagesView or Control Panel.
• Scripted inventory or integration into automation pipelines: PowerShell or winget.
• Enterprise-scale auditing and compliance: SCCM/Intune/PDQ or similar.
• Detailed forensic examination of modern app packages: InstalledPackagesView or PowerShell Get-AppxPackage.
• Needing graphical, user-friendly export/reporting: InstalledPackagesView or third-party inventory tools.

Strengths and limitations of InstalledPackagesView

Strengths

• Portability and speed make it ideal for technicians who need a quick snapshot without installing extra software.
• Detailed appx/package fields are useful for troubleshooting UWP/Win32-appx interactions and identifying sideloaded packages.
• Simple exports and command-line options enable basic automation.

Limitations

• Not designed for centralized or large-scale inventory management.
• Lacks built-in update/install/remove capabilities; it’s read-only.
• UI is utilitarian and lacks advanced filtering comparable to PowerShell scripting.
• No automatic background monitoring or scheduled scans.

Examples: common tasks and how they compare

• Exporting a list of installed appx packages:
  • InstalledPackagesView: Use GUI Export or run command-line export to CSV.
  • PowerShell: Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName | Export-Csv packages.csv
• Finding packages by publisher:
  • InstalledPackagesView: Filter GUI by Publisher column.
  • PowerShell: Get-AppxPackage | Where-Object {$_.Publisher -like “Microsoft”}
• Remote wide-scale inventory:
  • InstalledPackagesView: not suitable.
  • Enterprise tools / PowerShell remoting or Intune: suitable.

When to pick InstalledPackagesView

Choose InstalledPackagesView when you need a quick, portable, read-only inventory of installed packages on a Windows system with detailed package metadata and easy export. It’s especially handy for troubleshooting UWP/Appx issues or when you want to avoid installing additional software.

When to pick other tools

• Use PowerShell when you need scripting power, complex filters, or integration with automation/orchestration.
• Use winget when you want package management plus listing and updating via a package manager.
• Use Control Panel or Settings for basic, familiar GUI inspection of classic installed programs.
• Use enterprise inventory systems when managing many machines centrally, enforcing policies, or generating compliance reports.

Conclusion

InstalledPackagesView occupies a useful niche: a portable, focused inspector for installed packages that’s fast and good for localized troubleshooting and quick exports. For automation, scale, or active package management, pair it with PowerShell, winget, or enterprise management tools depending on scope and needs.