diff --git a/e2e/backend/test_backend_missing_deps b/e2e/backend/test_backend_missing_deps
index fc160b6f61..bb77baad68 100644
--- a/e2e/backend/test_backend_missing_deps
+++ b/e2e/backend/test_backend_missing_deps
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-# Test that package manager backends show helpful errors when their dependencies are missing
+# Test that package manager backends show helpful warnings when their dependencies are missing
 
 # Create a PATH that has mise but not package managers
 # ROOT is set by run_test script
@@ -38,21 +38,16 @@ test_error_message() {
 	fi
 }
 
-# Helper function to test a command that should fail with expected error
-test_backend_error() {
+# Helper function to test a command that should show a warning
+test_backend_warning() {
 	local backend_name=$1
 	local command=$2
-	local expected_error=$3
+	local expected_warning=$3
 
 	local output
-	if output=$(eval "$command" 2>&1); then
-		echo "ERROR: $backend_name command should have failed but succeeded"
-		TEST_FAILED=1
-		return 1
-	else
-		output=$(eval "$command" 2>&1 || true)
-		test_error_message "$backend_name shows correct error" "$output" "$expected_error"
-	fi
+	# Commands will succeed but show warnings, capture stderr
+	output=$(MISE_LOG_LEVEL=warn eval "$command" 2>&1 || true)
+	test_error_message "$backend_name shows correct warning" "$output" "$expected_warning"
 }
 
 # Test npm backend
@@ -60,22 +55,22 @@ test_npm() {
 	echo "Testing npm backend with missing npm..."
 	check_command_missing "npm"
 
-	# Test ls-remote
-	test_backend_error "npm" "mise ls-remote npm:test-package" "npm is required but not found"
+	# Test ls-remote - should show warning but continue
+	test_backend_warning "npm" "mise ls-remote npm:test-package" "npm may be required but was not found"
 
 	# Check for helpful install instructions
 	local output
-	output=$(mise ls-remote npm:test-package 2>&1 || true)
+	output=$(MISE_LOG_LEVEL=warn mise ls-remote npm:test-package 2>&1 || true)
 	test_error_message "npm suggests installing node" "$output" "mise use node@latest"
 	test_error_message "npm mentions npm is needed for queries" "$output" "npm is required for querying package information"
 
-	# Test install
-	test_backend_error "npm" "mise install npm:test-package@latest" "npm is required but not found"
+	# Test install - should show warning but continue
+	test_backend_warning "npm" "mise install npm:test-package@latest" "npm may be required but was not found"
 
 	# Test with bun mode enabled but npm still missing
 	echo "Testing npm backend with bun mode enabled but npm missing..."
 	export MISE_NPM_BUN=true
-	test_backend_error "npm (bun mode)" "mise ls-remote npm:test-package" "npm is required but not found"
+	test_backend_warning "npm (bun mode)" "mise ls-remote npm:test-package" "npm may be required but was not found"
 	output=$(mise ls-remote npm:test-package 2>&1 || true)
 	test_error_message "npm (bun mode) shows npm is required for queries" "$output" "npm is required for querying package information"
 	unset MISE_NPM_BUN
@@ -97,7 +92,7 @@ test_cargo() {
 	export PATH="$new_path"
 
 	check_command_missing "cargo"
-	test_backend_error "cargo" "mise install cargo:tiny@latest" "cargo is required but not found"
+	test_backend_warning "cargo" "mise install cargo:tiny@latest" "cargo may be required but was not found"
 }
 
 # Test go backend
@@ -116,7 +111,7 @@ test_go() {
 	export PATH="$new_path"
 
 	check_command_missing "go"
-	test_backend_error "go" "mise ls-remote go:github.com/test/test" "go is required but not found"
+	test_backend_warning "go" "mise ls-remote go:github.com/test/test" "go may be required but was not found"
 }
 
 # Run all tests
@@ -125,7 +120,7 @@ test_cargo
 test_go
 
 if [ $TEST_FAILED -eq 0 ]; then
-	echo "✓ backend dependency error test passed"
+	echo "✓ backend dependency warning test passed"
 else
 	echo "✗ Some tests failed"
 	exit 1
diff --git a/src/backend/cargo.rs b/src/backend/cargo.rs
index b985484118..a4f43ccbee 100644
--- a/src/backend/cargo.rs
+++ b/src/backend/cargo.rs
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@ impl Backend for CargoBackend {
 
     async fn install_version_(&self, ctx: &InstallContext, tv: ToolVersion) -> Result<ToolVersion> {
         // Check if cargo is available
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             &ctx.config,
             "cargo",
             "To use cargo packages with mise, you need to install Rust first:\n\
               mise use rust@latest\n\n\
             Or install Rust via https://rustup.rs/",
         )
-        .await?;
+        .await;
 
         let config = ctx.config.clone();
         let install_arg = format!("{}@{}", self.tool_name(), tv.version);
diff --git a/src/backend/dotnet.rs b/src/backend/dotnet.rs
index a75b39725c..9722e28e53 100644
--- a/src/backend/dotnet.rs
+++ b/src/backend/dotnet.rs
@@ -65,14 +65,14 @@ impl Backend for DotnetBackend {
         Settings::get().ensure_experimental("dotnet backend")?;
 
         // Check if dotnet is available
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             &ctx.config,
             "dotnet",
             "To use dotnet tools with mise, you need to install .NET SDK first:\n\
               mise use dotnet@latest\n\n\
             Or install .NET SDK via https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download",
         )
-        .await?;
+        .await;
 
         let mut cli = CmdLineRunner::new("dotnet")
             .arg("tool")
diff --git a/src/backend/gem.rs b/src/backend/gem.rs
index 0876a66b2c..e95fe0b4d6 100644
--- a/src/backend/gem.rs
+++ b/src/backend/gem.rs
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ impl Backend for GemBackend {
         Settings::get().ensure_experimental("gem backend")?;
 
         // Check if gem is available
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             &ctx.config,
             "gem",
             "To use gem packages with mise, you need to install Ruby first:\n\
               mise use ruby@latest",
         )
-        .await?;
+        .await;
 
         CmdLineRunner::new("gem")
             .arg("install")
diff --git a/src/backend/go.rs b/src/backend/go.rs
index 4fb9bd92c1..4bc3e2e651 100644
--- a/src/backend/go.rs
+++ b/src/backend/go.rs
@@ -33,14 +33,14 @@ impl Backend for GoBackend {
 
     async fn _list_remote_versions(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Vec<String>> {
         // Check if go is available
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             config,
             "go",
             "To use go packages with mise, you need to install Go first:\n\
               mise use go@latest\n\n\
             Or install Go via https://go.dev/dl/",
         )
-        .await?;
+        .await;
 
         timeout::run_with_timeout_async(
             async || {
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ impl Backend for GoBackend {
         Settings::get().ensure_experimental("go backend")?;
 
         // Check if go is available
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             &ctx.config,
             "go",
             "To use go packages with mise, you need to install Go first:\n\
               mise use go@latest\n\n\
             Or install Go via https://go.dev/dl/",
         )
-        .await?;
+        .await;
 
         let opts = self.ba.opts();
 
diff --git a/src/backend/mod.rs b/src/backend/mod.rs
index 43db2813cf..16a33b4cc8 100644
--- a/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -715,22 +715,42 @@ pub trait Backend: Debug + Send + Sync {
         b.which(config, &tv, bin).await.ok().flatten()
     }
 
-    /// Check if a required dependency is available and return a helpful error if not.
-    /// This provides a consistent error message format across all backends.
-    async fn ensure_dependency(
+    /// Check if a required dependency is available and show a warning if not.
+    /// This provides a consistent warning message format across all backends.
+    /// Changed to warning instead of error to avoid CI failures on Windows.
+    async fn warn_if_dependency_missing(
         &self,
         config: &Arc<Config>,
         program: &str,
         install_instructions: &str,
-    ) -> eyre::Result<()> {
-        if self.dependency_which(config, program).await.is_none() {
-            bail!(
-                "{} is required but not found.\n\n{}",
-                program,
-                install_instructions
+    ) {
+        let found = if self.dependency_which(config, program).await.is_some() {
+            true
+        } else if cfg!(windows) {
+            // On Windows, also check for program with Windows executable extensions
+            let settings = Settings::get();
+            let mut found = false;
+            for ext in &settings.windows_executable_extensions {
+                if self
+                    .dependency_which(config, &format!("{}.{}", program, ext))
+                    .await
+                    .is_some()
+                {
+                    found = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            found
+        } else {
+            false
+        };
+
+        if !found {
+            warn!(
+                "{} may be required but was not found.\n\n{}",
+                program, install_instructions
             );
         }
-        Ok(())
     }
 
     async fn dependency_env(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<BTreeMap<String, String>> {
diff --git a/src/backend/npm.rs b/src/backend/npm.rs
index a2404ca571..3865933fc6 100644
--- a/src/backend/npm.rs
+++ b/src/backend/npm.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ impl Backend for NPMBackend {
         // Currently bun info requires a package.json file, so we always use npm.
         // Once bun provides a way to query registry without package.json, we can
         // switch to using bun when npm.bun=true
-        self.ensure_npm_for_version_check(config).await?;
+        self.ensure_npm_for_version_check(config).await;
         timeout::run_with_timeout_async(
             async || {
                 // Always use npm for listing versions since bun info requires package.json
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ impl Backend for NPMBackend {
     async fn latest_stable_version(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> eyre::Result<Option<String>> {
         // TODO: Add bun support for getting latest version without npm
         // See TODO in _list_remote_versions for details
-        self.ensure_npm_for_version_check(config).await?;
+        self.ensure_npm_for_version_check(config).await;
         let cache = self.latest_version_cache.lock().await;
         let this = self;
         timeout::run_with_timeout_async(
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ impl Backend for NPMBackend {
     }
 
     async fn install_version_(&self, ctx: &InstallContext, tv: ToolVersion) -> Result<ToolVersion> {
-        self.check_install_deps(&ctx.config).await?;
+        self.check_install_deps(&ctx.config).await;
         if Settings::get().npm.bun {
             CmdLineRunner::new("bun")
                 .arg("install")
@@ -156,12 +156,12 @@ impl NPMBackend {
     }
 
     /// Check dependencies for version checking (always needs npm)
-    async fn ensure_npm_for_version_check(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn ensure_npm_for_version_check(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) {
         // We always need npm for querying package versions
         // TODO: Once bun supports querying packages without package.json, this can be updated
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             config,
-            NPM_PROGRAM,
+            "npm", // Use "npm" for dependency check, which will check npm.cmd on Windows
             "To use npm packages with mise, you need to install Node.js first:\n\
               mise use node@latest\n\n\
             Note: npm is required for querying package information, even when using bun for installation.",
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ impl NPMBackend {
     }
 
     /// Check dependencies for package installation (npm or bun based on settings)
-    async fn check_install_deps(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) -> Result<()> {
+    async fn check_install_deps(&self, config: &Arc<Config>) {
         if Settings::get().npm.bun {
             // In bun mode, only bun is required for installation
-            self.ensure_dependency(
+            self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
                 config,
                 "bun",
                 "To use npm packages with bun, you need to install bun first:\n\
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ impl NPMBackend {
             .await
         } else {
             // In npm mode, npm is required
-            self.ensure_dependency(
+            self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
                 config,
-                NPM_PROGRAM,
+                "npm", // Use "npm" for dependency check, which will check npm.cmd on Windows
                 "To use npm packages with mise, you need to install Node.js first:\n\
                   mise use node@latest\n\n\
                 Alternatively, you can use bun instead of npm by setting:\n\
diff --git a/src/backend/pipx.rs b/src/backend/pipx.rs
index 65d9e7c8b1..e952bec420 100644
--- a/src/backend/pipx.rs
+++ b/src/backend/pipx.rs
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ impl Backend for PIPXBackend {
             && tv.request.options().get("uvx") != Some(&"false".to_string());
 
         if !use_uvx {
-            self.ensure_dependency(
+            self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
                 &ctx.config,
                 "pipx",
                 "To use pipx packages with mise, you need to install pipx first:\n\
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl Backend for PIPXBackend {
                 Alternatively, you can use uv/uvx by installing uv:\n\
                   mise use uv@latest",
             )
-            .await?;
+            .await;
         }
 
         let pipx_request = self
diff --git a/src/backend/spm.rs b/src/backend/spm.rs
index 003d7e3373..b9ec9c2a86 100644
--- a/src/backend/spm.rs
+++ b/src/backend/spm.rs
@@ -58,14 +58,14 @@ impl Backend for SPMBackend {
         settings.ensure_experimental("spm backend")?;
 
         // Check if swift is available
-        self.ensure_dependency(
+        self.warn_if_dependency_missing(
             &ctx.config,
             "swift",
             "To use Swift Package Manager (spm) tools with mise, you need to install Swift first:\n\
               mise use swift@latest\n\n\
             Or install Swift via https://swift.org/download/",
         )
-        .await?;
+        .await;
 
         let repo = SwiftPackageRepo::new(&self.tool_name())?;
         let revision = if tv.version == "latest" {