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When I run winget list on Windows 10, I get the following output (in French, but the important column is ID):

Nom                                            ID                                                  Version            Disponible Source
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...
Messages Microsoft                             Microsoft.Messaging_8wekyb3d8bbwe                   4.1901.10241.1000
Visionneuse 3D                                 Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer_8wekyb3d8bbwe           7.2107.7012.0
Microsoft Edge                                 Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable_8wekyb3d8bbwe        98.0.1108.50
...
Python 3                                       Python.Python.3                                     3.9.2150.0         3.10.2150… winget

As you can see, Microsoft packages have a series of letters and numbers in their ID (8wekyb3d8bbwe in this example). What does this refer to?

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8wekyb3d8bbwe is the Publisher ID for Microsoft.

You can see more detail if you run the Get-AppXPackage PowerShell cmdlet.

These IDs should align with Microsoft Store publishers, and should be unique per publisher.

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The string 8wekyb3d8bbwe is a random string chosen by Microsoft to differentiate the names of its applications from user applications. It has no other purpose except avoiding conflicts with user IDs. Some Microsoft employee seems to have had some fun with the keyboard while inventing it.

You will see this string repeated for all the applications in the Microsoft applications list at
Package names for apps provisioned in Windows 10, version 1709.

The origin of this string is unknown and unexplained by Microsoft.

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Winget supports packages from 2 sources - its 'own' repositories, and the windows store. For windows store apps, the apps have a guid, and in a sense, I suspect this was for ease of having the 'same' package for 'different' formats, and that the windows store seems to be an extension of a windows phone appstore.

Interestingly there seem to be 3 different formats (or more?) in winget, and package names seem arbitrary.

Xbox Game Speech Window                                                                            Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe      1.21.13002.0
Microsoft Teams                                                                                    MicrosoftTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe                         22006.600.1133.7409
Windows Web Experience Pack                                                                        MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy  421.20070.45.0

Microsoft uses Microsoft.ProductName_DevID - except for MSteams MS seems to use 2 different developer IDs as well.8wekyb3d8bbwe for most things but the web experience pack is under

Except when they don't

Microsoft Edge                                                                                     Microsoft.Edge                                       98.0.1108.50                         winget
Microsoft 365 - en-us                                                                              O365HomePremRetail - en-us                           16.0.14827.20192

Admittedly these are not store apps but would some consistancy hurt? Edge uses Microsoft as the devid, edge as the product id. O365 has no dev id only a product id

7-Zip                                                                                              7zip.7zip                                            19.00                      21.07     winget

7zip here is a winget application and uses a developer.product ID Applications on a winget repository tend to have a 'simpler' publisher.name.(version?). Here it's 7zip for both.

the winget list command also shows software installed in other ways

Quake II                                                                                           Steam App 2320                                       Unknown
Windows Driver Package - Google, Inc. (WinUSB) AndroidUsbDeviceClass  (08/28/2014 11.0.0000.00000) 092555911492C6959D2596D612F52DCA71881CA2             08/28/2014 11.0.0000.00000
Cyberpunk 2077                                                                                     1423049311_is1                                       1.31
Epson Customer Research Participation                                                              {B26449A6-6007-4460-B4FE-C4776115BCEA}               1.83.0000
NVIDIA Graphics Driver 511.65                                                                      {B2FE1952-0186-46C3-BAEC-A80AA35AC5B8}_Display.Driv… 511.65

Yes, its a mix of random GUIDs, assorted identifiers and .... whatever people feel like naming it.

Looking at all that - the series of letters and numbers in a package name don't have any 'real' meaning. They're GUIDs, version numbers and package names used by the various data sources winget is calling on. Any real meaning is going to depends on the context of how the program is installed, and how the developer chooses to release it

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  • You might want to update your answer to indicate the publisher ID is added onto the package name.
    – Ramhound
    Commented Feb 14, 2022 at 15:22
  • The other answers seem to cover it for Ms/windows store. I might swap out 7zip for something else without a publisher and app name identical. It's just so inconsistent ._.
    – Journeyman Geek ♦
    Commented Feb 14, 2022 at 15:48

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