The Ultimate 2026 Guide: How to Install All Your Programs at Once After Formatting
Stop wasting an entire day reinstalling software. Discover the fastest, most reliable methods to automatically install all your favorite apps after formatting Windows—whether you prefer a simple checklist, a powerful one-line command, or an offline USB toolkit.
If you have ever stared at a fresh Windows desktop, dreading the hours of "Next > Next > Finish" clicking ahead of you, you are not alone. Formatting your PC is the best way to revive slow performance, remove stubborn malware, or upgrade to a new SSD. But the aftermath—re-downloading browsers, utilities, creative tools, and drivers—remains a universal pain point for beginners and IT pros alike.
What if you could walk away from your PC and return to find everything ready to go? No pop-ups. No toolbar traps. No searching through twenty browser tabs for download links.
In this guide, we rank the top five methods to mass-install software in 2026. We go beyond the basics to show you the actual scripts and tools used by system administrators to save hours of repetitive work. And we include both external references to official documentation and internal links to related resources on this site, so you can deepen your knowledge as you go.
Why Manual Installation Is Obsolete in 2026
A fresh install of Windows 11 or Windows 10 typically requires between fifteen and twenty-five essential apps: browsers, media players, cloud storage clients, password managers, development environments, and communication tools. Doing this manually means:
Time waste: Approximately two to three hours of active clicking, reading dialogs, and waiting for downloads.
Security risk: Downloading the wrong
.exefrom a fake "Download" button, which often leads to adware or worse.Tedium: Manually unchecking boxes for bloatware, toolbars, and telemetry options during every single installation.
Modern automation tools bypass all of these issues. They install apps silently, decline junk offers automatically, and pull the latest versions directly from official sources. For a deeper understanding of why automation matters in system maintenance, see our internal guide: Why You Should Automate Your Windows Post-Format Setup.
Method 1: The Visual Checklist Approach (Best for Beginners)
If you want a foolproof, zero-coding method that gives you complete visibility before you install anything, Ninite remains the gold standard in 2026.
How Ninite works
Visit the Ninite website.
Check the boxes next to every application you want (Chrome, Steam, Discord, Zoom, VLC, 7-Zip, Audacity, etc.).
Download the custom
Ninite.exeinstaller.Run that single executable.
That is it. Ninite does not ask you where to install, does not present extra checkboxes, and does not reboot your machine halfway through.
Why Ninite outranks other beginner tools
Ninite installers are reusable. Save that .exe file to a USB drive or cloud folder. If you format your PC again next month, run the same file. Ninite will automatically skip applications you already have and update the ones that are out of date. This alone saves countless hours over a multi-year period.
The secret weapon: automatic bloatware rejection
When installing Oracle Java or Adobe Reader normally, those installers try to sneak in McAfee, Ask Toolbars, or other unwanted software. Ninite automatically clicks "Decline" for you. It also selects sane default installation paths and never changes your browser homepage.
Best for: Home users, students, gamers, and small office setups where simplicity matters more than absolute control.
If you prefer a portable, no-installation approach for some of these tools, check out our article: Best Portable Apps for a Fresh Windows Install.
Method 2: The One-Line PowerShell Script (The Pro Method)
For Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, the built-in Winget tool is a game-changer. Winget is a command-line package manager developed by Microsoft, and it comes preinstalled on modern Windows versions. By combining Winget with a short PowerShell script, you can install twenty or more applications with a single command.
The ultimate automated script
We have analyzed the latest community-driven toolkits on GitHub to bring you the most efficient, battle-tested script. This script is based on the methodology found in projects like the "Windows11-Fresh-Install-Toolkit."
To install all your programs at once:
Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin)).
Copy and paste the following command, then press Enter:
$apps = @(
"Google.Chrome", "Mozilla.Firefox", "Microsoft.VisualStudioCode",
"Valve.Steam", "Discord.Discord", "Spotify.Spotify",
"VideoLAN.VLC", "7zip.7zip", "OBSProject.OBSStudio",
"Git.Git", "Slack.Slack", "Zoom.Zoom", "Microsoft.PowerToys"
); foreach ($app in $apps) { winget install --id $app --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements }What is actually happening here?
The script defines a list of application identifiers (the --id values). Winget looks up each ID from the Microsoft Community Repository, downloads the official installer, and runs it with silent switches. You will not see any pop-ups asking for installation directories, license agreements, or extra features—everything uses default settings to keep the process fast and unattended.
Advanced customization for power users
If you want to preserve space on your operating system drive, you can add a location flag:
--location "D:\Apps"
This forces Winget to install portable-friendly applications to a secondary drive. For a complete list of supported flags, refer to the official Winget documentation on Microsoft Learn.
Best for: Developers, IT technicians, DevOps engineers, and power users who value speed and repeatability above all else.
To learn how to combine Winget with scheduled tasks for automatic software maintenance, read our internal tutorial: How to Keep Your Programs Updated Automatically After a Fresh Install.
Method 3: The Portable Solution (No Installation Required)
Did you know that many popular programs do not need to be "installed" at all? Portable applications run directly from a folder. They do not write to the Windows Registry, and they do not scatter files across your system drive. If you store these portable apps on a separate physical drive (D: or an external SSD), they survive a Windows format intact.
The portable strategy
Instead of reinstalling after every format, you simply re-pin the existing portable application folders to your taskbar or start menu. Zero installation time.
Tools that excel at portable management
Two lesser-known but powerful tools in this space are Patch My PC and QuickInstaller (no longer actively maintained but still functional for legacy setups). While Ninite installs software, Patch My PC focuses on updating both installed and portable applications. It scans your system, detects outdated versions, and updates them in bulk. It even recognizes portable applications that do not appear in the Windows Add/Remove Programs list.
Building your own portable toolkit
Create a folder on your D: drive named
PortableApps.Download portable versions of tools like Everything Search, OBS Studio, GIMP, and KeePass.
After formatting Windows, simply pin these folders to your taskbar.
Best for: Users with a secondary drive, USB power users, and anyone who wants to eliminate installation time entirely.
For a curated list of the best portable apps that work immediately after a format, see our resource: Top 20 Portable Apps for Windows Power Users.
Method 4: The Universal Batch File (For Offline PCs)
What if you do not have an internet connection after formatting? Or you have specific legacy installers (.exe or .msi files) that are not available in the Microsoft Store or Winget repository? Perhaps you maintain air-gapped computers for industrial, medical, or government environments.
In these cases, the solution is a local batch script that loops through a folder full of installers.
How the offline method works
This approach was popularized by scripts on GitHub and similar repositories. The logic is simple:
Create a folder on a USB drive named
Installers.Drop all your standalone installer files into that folder (e.g.,
chrome_installer.exe,office_suite.msi,vscode.exe).Create a batch file (named
install_all.bat) that loops through the folder and runs each installer with silent flags.
Example batch script logic
@echo off
for %%i in ("%~dp0Installers\*.exe") do (
echo Installing %%i...
start /wait %%i /S /VERYSILENT /NORESTART
)
for %%i in ("%~dp0Installers\*.msi") do (
echo Installing %%i...
msiexec /i "%%i" /quiet /norestart
)
echo All installations complete.
pauseWhy this still matters in 2026
Even in a cloud-first world, many organizations have compliance rules that forbid connecting fresh machines to the internet until after security software is installed. This batch method also works perfectly for installing large suites like LibreOffice or Visual Studio Community when you have already downloaded the offline installers.
Best for: IT technicians managing air-gapped networks, users with metered or slow connections, and anyone who prefers total control over installation order.
If you frequently work with offline systems, you may also find our guide useful: How to Create a Fully Offline Windows Post-Format USB Drive.
Method 5: The Set-and-Forget Solution (Chocolatey)
While Winget is excellent and built into Windows, Chocolatey is the older, more mature package manager that has automated Windows software installation for over a decade. It is widely used in enterprise environments and offers richer scripting capabilities.
The basic Chocolatey command
Once Chocolatey is installed (a one-time setup), installing multiple programs is as simple as:
choco install firefox vlc steam 7zip notepadplusplus git -y
Why choose Chocolatey over Winget?
Chocolatey handles dependency resolution more gracefully for legacy software. For example, if you install a Python-based tool, Chocolatey knows to install the correct Python version first. Chocolatey also provides better logging and side-by-side version management for certain niche applications.
Chocolatey for advanced automation
Chocolatey configuration files (choco-packages.config) allow you to define not just application names but also specific versions, architectures (x86 vs x64), and even installation parameters. You can check these files into source control and run them on hundreds of machines identically.
Best for: System administrators managing legacy corporate environments, DevOps teams using configuration management, and users who need granular version control.
To compare Chocolatey, Winget, and Ninite side by side, see our detailed analysis: Which Package Manager Should You Use After Formatting?.
Overcoming Common Post-Format Obstacles
Driver installation
While the tools above handle applications, they do not automatically install hardware drivers. You have two excellent options:
Let Windows Update fetch most drivers automatically during the first few hours after formatting.
Add OEM tools to your automation list. For example, Lenovo Vantage and Dell Command Update can be added to your Ninite or Winget script. After those tools are installed, run them once to pull down all official drivers.
For a deeper dive, read: How to Automate Driver Installation After Formatting Windows.
Windows settings and registry tweaks
Modern automation goes beyond applications. The "Windows11-Fresh-Install-Toolkit" available on GitHub also modifies registry settings to remove taskbar clutter (Chat, Microsoft Teams buttons), enable dark mode system-wide, disable telemetry where permitted, and configure File Explorer options. These tweaks can be bundled into a single PowerShell script that runs immediately after your application installer finishes.
Restoring user data and profiles
Reinstalling programs is only half the battle. You also need your browser bookmarks, saved passwords, documents, and desktop backgrounds. We recommend combining automated software installation with a robust backup tool. For a complete workflow, see our companion article: The Complete Guide to Backing Up and Restoring User Data Before Formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does formatting delete absolutely everything?
Yes. If you perform a "clean install" (deleting all partitions during Windows setup), the drive is erased. No programs, no documents, no settings survive. This is precisely why automation is vital—you cannot rely on old files being present after a format.
Can I run these methods on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes. All methods described work on both Windows 10 (version 1809 and later) and Windows 11. Winget is included by default on Windows 11 and recent Windows 10 builds. If Winget is missing, you can install it from the Microsoft Store.
Which method is fastest for a typical home user?
For pure speed on a typical home machine with a good internet connection, the Winget PowerShell script is fastest because it installs everything in parallel and requires no manual intervention after the first paste.
Which method is safest against bloatware and malware?
Ninite is the safest for general users because it explicitly rejects toolbars, adware, and optional junk. For technical users, Winget and Chocolatey are also safe because they download directly from official publishers or verified repositories.
Can I combine methods?
Absolutely. A powerful hybrid approach is:
Use Ninite for the first wave of standard apps (browsers, runtimes, media players) because it is the most idiot-proof against bloatware.
Use a Winget script for the second wave (developer tools, niche utilities, communication apps) because it is the fastest.
Keep a USB drive with portable apps and offline installers as a backup for emergencies or offline scenarios.
Conclusion: Your Next Format Will Be Different
By adopting one or more of these methods, you can go from a blank SSD to a fully loaded productivity machine in under thirty minutes. Most of that time is spent letting the computer work while you focus on more important tasks.
Ready to reset? Save this guide. Bookmark the tools we mentioned. The next time you click "Reset this PC" or boot from installation media, you will know exactly how to fight back against the installation grind.
If you found this article helpful, explore the rest of our Windows Optimization Hub for guides on debloating, performance tuning, and long-term system maintenance.