App updates and the server-side catalog

The App Updates page inventories the apps installed on your PC and uses Windows' built-in winget tool to find which ones have a newer version available — then lets you update them in one click. As everywhere in BRUTAL, if it can't actually check, it tells you so instead of pretending everything is current.

Scanning your apps

1. Click Scan. The app builds an inventory from Windows' installed-programs lists, the Microsoft Store (AppX), and Start Menu / Program Files.
2. It then asks winget which of those have an upgrade available, and matches the results back to your installed apps.
3. Apps with an update available are listed first, then the rest alphabetically.

The badge at the top reflects exactly what happened:

• “N UPDATE(S)” — updates were found.
• “UP TO DATE” — the check ran cleanly and nothing newer was found.
• “COULDN'T CHECK” — winget ran but didn't return a readable result (timed out, blocked, or unrecognizable output). This is not treated as “up to date”.
• “CHECK UNAVAILABLE” — winget isn't installed.
• “NOT SCANNED” — you haven't run a scan yet.

You need winget (App Installer)

App-update detection relies on winget, which ships with Windows' App Installer package. If it's missing, a hint appears with a Get winget button that opens the App Installer page in the Microsoft Store. Install it, then scan again — the app re-probes for winget on each scan, so no restart is needed.

Updating apps

1. Tick the apps you want, or use Select All (which selects only the updatable ones).
2. Click Update Selected, or use the per-row Update button for a single app.
3. Confirm. Each app is updated silently through winget upgrade, accepting package and source agreements automatically.

Self-updating apps

Some apps (browsers, Discord, etc.) update themselves. The app still shows that a newer version exists, but it won't drive the update through winget — it lets the app manage its own updater, which is the safer choice. Apps published by the Microsoft Store are likewise flagged and best left to the Store.

The server-side catalog (opt-in)

There's an optional update catalog that does version comparison on BRUTAL's server. It's off by default. When you turn it on, the app uploads a hashed inventory (winget IDs, hashed app names, and version strings — never raw names, paths, accounts, or your license key) so the server can catch updates winget's local source missed.

It is purely additive and equally honest: the catalog can only add an update the local scan didn't have — it never hides a winget result and never turns a “couldn't check” into a false “up to date”. If the server can't confirm an app, that app stays as “couldn't verify”. This is part of a broader plan to move detection server-side over time; see Keeping BRUTAL Optimizer itself updated for the related self-update path.

Common issues / troubleshooting

• “Check unavailable”. winget isn't installed — grab App Installer from the Store via the Get winget button.
• An update failed (winget exit code shown). The app is usually running — close it and retry. Some apps also need their own elevation.
• An app has no Update button. It either self-updates or has no usable winget ID; update it from the vendor directly.
• The list looks short after a clean install of winget. winget can take a moment to finish registering its sources — wait a few seconds and scan again.