These 3 apps will keep your PC up to date with zero effort

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These 3 apps will keep your PC up to date with zero effort

Keeping your PC up to date when you first build or buy it feels like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Just a few applications here and there that need updates, and you’re good to go; nothing else to worry about. But if you’ve had your PC for a while, you know exactly how much of a pain it is to keep it running smoothly.

I thought I had everything under control when I found UniGetUI, a GUI-fronted version of the Winget command prompt. But a few helpful folks in the comments quickly pointed me in the direction of additional software that has made my life even easier. Rather than focusing on just one, I wanted to bring attention to all three of these programs. Why? Because they work well together and have made sure my PC is running at its full potential. You deserve the same treatment.

UniGetUI is a beautiful version of Winget

Get all the benefits, plus see what your PC is doing behind the scenes

UniGetUI is a wonderful program, and talking about it is what led me to these other fantastic programs I’ll be speaking about today, too. Currently, my PC has three different drives — one SSD for my OS and my most important applications, an NVMe drive that houses all of my games and less important apps, and an HDD that holds all of my photos, videos, and my budding media library that I use with Jellyfin. Trying to keep up with everything that is on these drives is a headache and a half, and admittedly, I forget to update things more often than I should. Rather than trying to remember to use Winget when I need to install these updates, UniGetUI launches at startup with my PC and lets me know if it detects software updates and upgrades that could be beneficial. From iCue to Discord and mostly everything in between, it works exactly as I would want it to. But, I also learned, after it was brought to my attention, that it may be missing out on a few crucial programs. That’s where QuickInstaller and PatchMyPC play nicely with this program, boosting it rather than hindering it.

OS: Windows
Developer: Martí Climent
Individual Pricing: Free

QuickInstaller is a simpler installer than UniGetUI

UniGetUI has more options, but QuickInstaller offers similar value

At its core, QuickInstaller is a simpler-to-use version of UniGetUI, while also offering enough of a difference to recommend installing these two programs side by side. UniGetUI offers much more customization and favors in-depth usage cases. QuickInstaller, on the other hand, has speed on its side, as well as the ability to upgrade even more programs. If I want to tinker, I can use UniGetUI, but if I just need to get things done quickly, QuickInstaller is my go-to.

It may seem overkill to have two programs like this working side by side with one another, but there’s a reason for it. UniGetUI is slower, more methodical, and allows me to customize every installation as I see fit. QuickInstaller finds additional programs, installs faster, and has a comprehensive application library that I can use to batch-install programs faster than anything else. Hilariously enough, it also catches when UniGetUI and PatchMyPC need updates, which feels strangely meta in the long haul.

OS: Windows
Developer: DEVZ AS – HC Ihlen-Abelson
Individual Pricing: Free

PatchMyPC offers free updating software for home users

It also may catch what UniGetUI or QuickInstaller may miss in the process

Much like the aforementioned programs above, PatchMyPC works great as a software updater and installer, letting me upgrade multiple applications at once. But I love PatchMyPC for the fact that it works extremely well at batch uninstalling programs, making the process of cleaning up my drives way easier than it’s been in the past. I’ve used programs like Revo Uninstaller before, which work great at clearing the junk out of the way, but PatchMyPC may be one of the easiest programs I’ve used for cleaning and maintaining my PC.

Yes, it may be overkill to have three different applications dedicated to updating and installing software, but at this point in time, PatchMyPC is primarily being used by me to uninstall and remove programs. It works just as well as UniGetUI and QuickInstaller, while offering an application store to download from trusted sources. But at the end of the day, I’d rather make sure that everything is up-to-date, rather than learning the hard way that something hasn’t been updated in far too long and is no longer usable.

OS: Windows
Price model: Free w/ Paid options
Plan Options: Free home use, paid commercial use
Services: Software Updates/Install/Uninstall

Each of these programs have their strengths, and they all deserve a spot on my PC

Three applications that all serve a similar purpose, yet are strong enough to stand on their own and claim a spot on my desktop. That’s what UniGetUI, QuickInstaller, and PatchMyPC all bring to the table. UniGetUI is for those who want to tinker, want to learn, and want to grow with their desktop. QuickInstaller is fast and furious, and updates my PC without any hassle. PatchMyPC is a great installer and an even better uninstaller at the end of the day. My 6-year-old PC is still running like it’s brand new, and thanks to these new programs that were recommended in my comments, alongside some clever tricks in the terminal on Windows for cleanup, I should be future-proofed for even longer.

Mix and match, use all three, or just use one of them — the choice is completely up to you. But I strongly suggest at least giving them all a try, so, if nothing else, you can find out which of these programs works the best for you and your usage case. Who knows, maybe you’ll be just like me and fall in love with all of them.