microsoft / microsoft/winget-cli

Installed non-winget app with the same "Name" as a winget app got mistakenly identified

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Command-List Issue-Bug Possible-Duplicate
Dominant language
C++
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Description

Relevant area(s)

WinGet CLI

Relevant command(s)

winget list

Brief description of your issue

Described as in title. However, the issue appeared to me only today but not prior also seems rather off as I typically ran the commands in a daily fashion and the app had already been installed for several months.

Steps to reproduce
  1. Install Readwise Reader
  2. winget list --upgrade-available
Expected behavior
PS ~\Sync\TVs> winget list --upgrade-available
No installed package found matching input criteria.
Actual behavior
PS ~\Sync\TVs> winget list --upgrade-available
Name   Id             Version  Available Source
-----------------------------------------------
Reader hadc188.Reader 0.1.3083 1.3.1     winget
1 upgrades available.
Environment
Windows Package Manager v1.29.290
© 2026 Microsoft. All rights reserved.

Windows: Windows.Desktop v10.0.26200.9168
System Architecture: X64
Package: Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller v1.29.290.0

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing winget list --upgrade-available after installing Readwise Reader, then trace the WinGet CLI matching path for installed apps whose names collide with winget packages. Done means the non-winget Reader installation is not reported as an available upgrade, while genuine matching installations still appear.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
cli
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
68/100

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