diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 105c855..e8d265f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 docs
 dist
 kafkactl
+kafkactl.exe
 
 ### Configs
 .kafkactl.yml
diff --git a/.goreleaser.yml b/.goreleaser.yml
index b717dd9..33de3ae 100644
--- a/.goreleaser.yml
+++ b/.goreleaser.yml
@@ -82,6 +82,25 @@ brews:
 
     skip_upload: false
 
+winget:
+  - name: kafkactl
+    publisher: Device Insight GmbH
+    short_description: A command-line interface for interaction with Apache Kafka
+    license: Apache-2.0
+    publisher_support_url: https://github.com/deviceinsight/kafkactl/issues
+    package_identifier: deviceinsight.kafkactl
+    homepage: https://www.device-insight.com/
+    repository:
+      owner: deviceinsight
+      name: winget-pkgs
+      branch: "kafkactl-{{.Version}}"
+      pull_request:
+        enabled: true
+        base:
+          owner: microsoft
+          name: winget-pkgs
+          branch: master
+
 dockers:
   -
     skip_push: false
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ea64acd..d8fcdd7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## 5.0.6 - 2024-03-14
+
 ## 5.0.5 - 2024-03-12
 
 ## 5.0.4 - 2024-03-12
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bc87f73..8e59911 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 BUILD_TS := $(shell date -Iseconds --utc)
 COMMIT_SHA := $(shell git rev-parse HEAD)
 VERSION := $(shell git describe --abbrev=0 --tags || echo "latest")
+OS ?= linux
 
 export CGO_ENABLED=0
-export GOOS=linux
+export GOOS=$(OS)
 export GO111MODULE=on
 
+binary := $(if $(filter-out windows,$(OS)),kafkactl,kafkactl.exe)
+
 module=$(shell go list -m)
 ld_flags := "-X $(module)/cmd.Version=$(VERSION) -X $(module)/cmd.GitCommit=$(COMMIT_SHA) -X $(module)/cmd.BuildTime=$(BUILD_TS)"
 
@@ -43,7 +46,7 @@ integration_test:
 
 .PHONY: build
 build:
-	go build -ldflags $(ld_flags) -o kafkactl
+	go build -ldflags $(ld_flags) -o $(binary)
 
 .PHONY: docs
 docs: build
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ docs: build
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
-	rm -f kafkactl
+	rm -f $(binary)
 	go clean -testcache
 
 # usage make version=2.5.0 release
diff --git a/docs/kafkactl_docs.md b/docs/kafkactl_docs.md
index a1037a4..bc4edb3 100644
--- a/docs/kafkactl_docs.md
+++ b/docs/kafkactl_docs.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ A command-line interface the simplifies interaction with Kafka.
 ### Options
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -h, --help                 help for kafkactl
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ alter topics, partitions
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ kafkactl alter partition TOPIC PARTITION [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ kafkactl alter topic TOPIC [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ kafkactl attach [flags]
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ clone topics, consumerGroups
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ kafkactl clone consumer-group SOURCE_GROUP TARGET_GROUP [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ kafkactl clone topic SOURCE_TOPIC TARGET_TOPIC [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ kafkactl completion [bash|zsh|fish|powershell]
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ show and edit configurations
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ kafkactl config current-context [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ kafkactl config get-contexts [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ kafkactl config use-context [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ kafkactl config view [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ kafkactl consume TOPIC [flags]
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ create topics, consumerGroups, acls
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ kafkactl create access-control-list [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ kafkactl create consumer-group GROUP [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ kafkactl create topic TOPIC [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ delete topics, consumerGroups, consumer-group-offset, acls, records
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ kafkactl delete access-control-list [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ kafkactl delete consumer-group-offset CONSUMER-GROUP --topic=TOPIC --partition=P
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ kafkactl delete consumer-group CONSUMER-GROUP [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ kafkactl delete records TOPIC [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ kafkactl delete topic TOPIC [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ describe topics, consumerGroups, brokers
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ kafkactl describe broker ID [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -831,7 +831,7 @@ kafkactl describe consumer-group GROUP [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ kafkactl describe topic TOPIC [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ get info about topics, consumerGroups, acls, brokers
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ kafkactl get access-control-list [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ kafkactl get brokers [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ kafkactl get consumer-groups [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ kafkactl get topics [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -1051,7 +1051,7 @@ kafkactl produce TOPIC [flags]
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ reset consumerGroupsOffset
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -1109,7 +1109,7 @@ kafkactl reset consumer-group-offset GROUP [flags]
 ##### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ kafkactl version [flags]
 #### Options inherited from parent commands
 
 ```
-  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
+  -C, --config-file string   config file. default locations: [$HOME/.config/kafkactl $HOME/.kafkactl $APPDATA/kafkactl $SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl $SNAP_DATA/kafkactl /etc/kafkactl]
   -V, --verbose              verbose output
 ```
 
diff --git a/internal/global/config.go b/internal/global/config.go
index 2e6a792..e7f77cd 100644
--- a/internal/global/config.go
+++ b/internal/global/config.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/deviceinsight/kafkactl/v5/internal/output"
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ var projectConfigNames = []string{"kafkactl.yml", ".kafkactl.yml"}
 var configPaths = []string{
 	"$HOME/.config/kafkactl",
 	"$HOME/.kafkactl",
+	"$APPDATA/kafkactl",
 	"$SNAP_REAL_HOME/.config/kafkactl",
 	"$SNAP_DATA/kafkactl",
 	"/etc/kafkactl",
@@ -83,6 +85,10 @@ func (c *config) Init() {
 
 	viper.Reset()
 
+	if c.flags.Verbose {
+		output.IoStreams.EnableDebug()
+	}
+
 	configFile := resolveProjectConfigFileFromWorkingDir()
 
 	switch {
@@ -93,10 +99,6 @@ func (c *config) Init() {
 		configFile = &envConfig
 	}
 
-	if c.flags.Verbose {
-		output.IoStreams.EnableDebug()
-	}
-
 	if c.flags.Verbose && os.Getenv("SNAP_NAME") != "" {
 		output.Debugf("Running snap version %s on %s", os.Getenv("SNAP_VERSION"), os.Getenv("SNAP_ARCH"))
 	}
@@ -177,13 +179,16 @@ func (c *config) loadConfig(viperInstance *viper.Viper, configFile *string) erro
 
 func resolveProjectConfigFileFromWorkingDir() *string {
 
-	path, err := os.Getwd()
+	workDir, err := os.Getwd()
 	if err != nil {
 		output.Debugf("cannot find project config file. unable to get working dir")
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	for _, projectConfigName := range projectConfigNames {
+
+		path := workDir
+
 		_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(path, projectConfigName))
 		found := true
 
@@ -249,6 +254,14 @@ func generateDefaultConfig() error {
 				break
 			}
 		}
+	} else if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		// use different configFile when running on windows
+		for _, configPath := range configPaths {
+			if strings.Contains(configPath, "$APPDATA") {
+				cfgFile = filepath.Join(os.ExpandEnv(configPath), "config.yml")
+				break
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(cfgFile), os.FileMode(0700)); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/util/plugin.go b/internal/util/plugin.go
index b8ac14e..7ed5da7 100644
--- a/internal/util/plugin.go
+++ b/internal/util/plugin.go
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ func LoadPlugin[P plugin.Plugin, I any](pluginName string, pluginSpec plugins.Pl
 		return impl, err
 	}
 
+	output.Debugf("using plugin=%s location=%s", pluginName, pluginPath)
+
 	pluginLogger := output.CreateVerboseLogger(pluginName, global.GetFlags().Verbose)
 
 	logger := hclog.FromStandardLogger(pluginLogger, &hclog.LoggerOptions{
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ func resolvePluginPath(pluginName string) (string, error) {
 	pluginExecutable := fmt.Sprintf("kafkactl-%s-plugin%s", pluginName, extension)
 
 	// search in path
-	if _, err := os.Stat(pluginExecutable); err == nil {
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath(pluginExecutable); err == nil {
 		return pluginExecutable, nil
 	}
 
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ func resolvePluginPath(pluginName string) (string, error) {
 	pluginPath := filepath.Join(workingDir, "../kafkactl-plugins/"+pluginName)
 	pluginLocationWorkingDir := filepath.Join(pluginPath, pluginExecutable)
 
-	if _, err := os.Stat(pluginLocationWorkingDir); err == nil {
+	if _, err = os.Stat(pluginLocationWorkingDir); err == nil {
 		return pluginLocationWorkingDir, nil
 	}