Get List of Installed Applications of System in C#

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Introduction

In this tip, we will explain how to list the installed applications of your system and their setup details in C# language.

Background

This tip is based on a Registry key whose address is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and you can find there many subkeys which help us to have different details of installed applications.

Using the Code

So for doing what we want, we must follow the steps given below:

1. Add a listviewer and a button to your design form.
2. We want use "RegistryKey" class, so add "using Microsoft.Win32" to your project usings.
3. Put this code in your button click event:

   string uninstallKey = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall";
               using (RegistryKey rk = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(uninstallKey))
               {
                   foreach (string skName in rk.GetSubKeyNames())
                   {
                       using (RegistryKey sk = rk.OpenSubKey(skName))
                       {
                           try
                           {
   
                               var displayName = sk.GetValue("DisplayName");
                               var size = sk.GetValue("EstimatedSize");
   
                               ListViewItem item;
                               if (displayName != null)
                               {
                                   if (size != null)
                                       item = new ListViewItem(new string[] {displayName.ToString(), 
                                                          size.ToString()});
                                   else
                                       item = new ListViewItem(new string[] { displayName.ToString() });
                                   lstDisplayHardware.Items.Add(item);
                               }
                           }
                           catch (Exception ex)
                           { }
                       }
                   }
                   label1.Text += " (" + lstDisplayHardware.Items.Count.ToString() + ")";
               }  

   Explanation: In this code, at first, we defined a registry command in a specific address (uninstallKey). Then, we use DisplayName and EstimatedSize subkeys which show us Name and Size of all installed apps, and at the end, the result will be shown in listviewer.

4. You can use all subkeys in the below list:

   Value / Windows Installer property
   
   DisplayName ==> ProductName property
   DisplayVersion ==> Derived from ProductVersion property
   Publisher ==> Manufacturer property
   VersionMinor ==> Derived from ProductVersion property
   VersionMajor ==> Derived from ProductVersion property
   Version ==> Derived from ProductVersion property
   HelpLink ==> ARPHELPLINK property
   HelpTelephone ==> ARPHELPTELEPHONE property
   InstallDate ==> The last time this product received service. 
   The value of this property is replaced each time a patch is applied or removed from 
   the product or the /v Command-Line Option is used to repair the product. 
   If the product has received no repairs or patches this property contains 
   the time this product was installed on this computer.
   InstallLocation ==> ARPINSTALLLOCATION property
   InstallSource ==> SourceDir property
   URLInfoAbout ==> ARPURLINFOABOUT property
   URLUpdateInfo ==> ARPURLUPDATEINFO property
   AuthorizedCDFPrefix ==> ARPAUTHORIZEDCDFPREFIX property
   Comments ==> Comments provided to the Add or Remove Programs control panel.
   Contact ==> Contact provided to the Add or Remove Programs control panel.
   EstimatedSize ==> Determined and set by the Windows Installer.
   Language ==> ProductLanguage property
   ModifyPath ==> Determined and set by the Windows Installer.
   Readme ==> Readme provided to the Add or Remove Programs control panel.
   UninstallString ==> Determined and set by Windows Installer.
   SettingsIdentifier ==> MSIARPSETTINGSIDENTIFIER property

Source: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa372105(v=vs.85).aspx

Note: Also, you can have this method in your code instead of the above code:

try
    {
      string[] row = { sk.GetValue("DisplayName").ToString() , 
      sk.GetValue("EstematedSize").ToString()};
      var listViewItem = new ListViewItem(row);
      lstDisplayHardware.Items.Add(listViewItem);
    }

catch (Exception ex)
    { }

Now you build your program!