Get list of installed software of remote computer - windows

Question

Is it possible to get a list of installed software of a remote computer ?
I know to do this for a local computer with use of Powershell. Is it possible with Powershell to get installed software of a remote computer and save this list on the remote computer ?
This I use for local computers:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Select-Object -Property Name
Thanks in advance,
Best regards,

Answer 1

This uses Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey to check the SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall registry key on remote computers.
https://github.com/gangstanthony/PowerShell/blob/master/Get-InstalledApps.ps1
*edit: pasting code for reference
function Get-InstalledApps {
param (
[Parameter(ValueFromPipeline=$true)]
[string[]]$ComputerName = $env:COMPUTERNAME,
[string]$NameRegex = ''
)
foreach ($comp in $ComputerName) {
$keys = '','\Wow6432Node'
foreach ($key in $keys) {
try {
$reg = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]::OpenRemoteBaseKey('LocalMachine', $comp)
$apps = $reg.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE$key\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall").GetSubKeyNames()
} catch {
continue
}
foreach ($app in $apps) {
$program = $reg.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE$key\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$app")
$name = $program.GetValue('DisplayName')
if ($name -and $name -match $NameRegex) {
[pscustomobject]#{
ComputerName = $comp
DisplayName = $name
DisplayVersion = $program.GetValue('DisplayVersion')
Publisher = $program.GetValue('Publisher')
InstallDate = $program.GetValue('InstallDate')
UninstallString = $program.GetValue('UninstallString')
Bits = $(if ($key -eq '\Wow6432Node') {'64'} else {'32'})
Path = $program.name
}
}
}
}
}
}

Answer 2

There are multiple ways how to get the list of installed software on a remote computer:
Running WMI query on ROOT\CIMV2 namespace:
Start WMI Explorer or any other tool which can run WMI queries.
Run WMI query "SELECT * FROM Win32_Product"
Using wmic command-line interface:
Press WIN+R
Type "wmic", press Enter
In wmic command prompt type "/node:RemoteComputerName product"
Using Powershell script:
Thru WMI object: Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product -Computer RemoteComputerName
thru Registry: Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall* | Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher, InstallDate | Format-Table –AutoSize
thru Get-RemoteProgram cmdlet: Get-RemoteProgram -ComputerName RemoteComputerName
Source: https://www.action1.com/kb/list_of_installed_software_on_remote_computer.html

Answer 3

Here is an article detailing how to query the list of installed programs locally and remotely.
Also, it will interest you to know the reason why the Get-WmiObject cmdlet is working anymore. It has been superseded with the CimInstance cmdlet.
https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/12/22/how-to-get-a-list-of-the-installed-program-using-powershell-in-windows-10/
When working with the CimInstance cmdlet and you encounter this error "WinRM cannot complete the operation, verify that the specified computer name is valid, that the computer is accessible over the network, and that a firewall exception for the WinRM service is enabled", I have described the steps to have it resolved in this link: WinRM cannot complete the operation, verify that the specified computer name is valid, that the computer is accessible over the network, and that a firewall exception for the WinRM service is enabled.
https://techdirectarchive.com/2023/02/03/winrm-cannot-complete-the-operation-verify-that-the-specified-computer-name-is-valid-that-the-computer-is-accessible-over-the-network/

Answer 4

No one seems to know about get-package in powershell 5.1. You'll have to use invoke-command to run it on a remote computer.
get-package | more
Name Version Source ProviderName
---- ------- ------ ------------
7-Zip 21.07 (x64) 21.07 Programs
Wolfram Extras 11.0 (5570611) 11.0.0 Programs
ArcGIS Desktop Background G... 10.8.12790 Programs
# and so on...