Где хранятся windows apps

Table of contents

  • Where Are Windows Store Apps Installed on Windows 10?
  • How to Access the WindowsApps Directory in Windows 10?
  • How to Migrate Your Files from the WindowsApps folder?
  • How to Change the Download Location for Microsoft Store Games?
  • Where Are Steam Games Stored in Windows 10?
  • How to Create an Alternate Location for Your Future Steam Games?
  • How to Move Your Existing Steam Games?
  • Where Are Microsoft Store Apps and Games Installed on Windows 10/11: Answered
  • FAQ

We bet you remember there were days when you had to install your games yourself by using good old installers and wizards. However, we mostly rely on one-click solutions these days, so it is no wonder that games from the Microsoft Games Store are downloaded and installed automatically. Just open the app, choose the game you like, wait a bit, and enjoy a new adventure—that’s all you have to do. Isn’t that great?That said, you might be asking, “How to find games I’ve downloaded from the Microsoft Store?”  The thing is, some of them might be hogging too much space on your PC, which means there is a chance that you will end up wishing to relocate a game or two. If you have been toying with that idea and the question “Where are my Windows games stored?” keeps bothering you, you have come to the right place. In this very article, there are helpful tips on how to find where Windows Store games are stored on your Windows 10/11 and how to migrate them to another location if need be.


Also read:[FIXED] New Games Don’t Start or Are Not Working on Windows 10


Where Are Windows Store Apps Installed on Windows 10?

While the Microsoft Store offers a diverse range of games that cater to gamers of all ages, many users might not know where these games are stored on their systems. This information can be particularly useful for managing storage or troubleshooting. So, where does the Microsoft Store download games to? It is time for you to crack the mystery: the exact place in which your games dwell is C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

.

This location might seem pretty obvious; however, the catch is, you are not allowed to access this folder.

Microsoft might think that this kind of restriction is here for a good reason since you can otherwise tamper with something crucial, thus harming your system. Nonetheless, being able to manage the contents of the folder in question may come in pretty handy in a situation where you need to free up some valuable space and move some games of yours from their default location to somewhere else or in a case where deleting the leftover files of an uninstalled entity is required. With this in mind, keep working your way down—below there is a simple way to take over the necessary folder.

How to Access the WindowsApps Directory in Windows 10?

The WindowsApps folder is heavily protected, which means you need special privileges to be able to access it. 

Warning

If you are considering making any changes to the WindowsApps directory, we strongly suggest that you first create a System Restore Point to protect your system should anything go wrong. 

To gain access to the WindowsApps directory, take the following steps:

  • Here is the path you should follow: C:\Program Files.

Here is the path you should follow: C:Program Files

  • Go to View and check the box next to Hidden items .

Go to View and check the box next to Hidden items

  • Locate the WindowsApps folder and right-click on it.
  • Select Properties from the drop-down menu.
  • Select Security . Then select Advanced .

Select Security, then select Advanced

  • Go to Owner . There, click Change.
  • Enter Microsoft account email address.
  • Check the box next to Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
  • Apply your changes.
  • Locate and click on your account in the list. Click Edit.
  • Check the box next to Full control.

You have just taken ownership of the folder.

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How to Migrate Your Files from the WindowsApps folder?

Now it is quite easy to transfer your files from the WindowsApps folder to another location:

  • Press the Windows logo + I key shortcut to invoke the Settings app.
  • Once you are in it, go to Apps.
  • Locate the game you wish to move.
  • Click Move.

Finally, specify where your game should be stored now.

Make sure to check that the new location has enough storage space for all the files you will be moving.

How to Change the Download Location for Microsoft Store Games?

You can change the default location for your Windows Store games in Windows 10 by using the instructions below:

  • Open your Settings app and click System .
  • Go to Storage .
  • Locate the Change where new content is saved link.

Change where new content is saved

  • Go to the New apps will save to: section.

Now you can select the partition where you would like your games to be saved.

Where Are Steam Games Stored in Windows 10?

Steam is booming these days: more and more people go there for a great gaming experience. That is why we believe you might wish to know what the download folder for your Steam games is. So, no beating around the bush—your Steam games are stored in the C:\Program Files\Steam (x86)\steamapps\common folder.

You can also view this path directly from the Steam client under Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders for clarity.

How to Create an Alternate Location for Your Future Steam Games?

You can easily change the installation path for your Steam games by tweaking the following settings:

  • Launch Steam. Go to its Settings menu.
  • Navigate to the Downloads tab.
  • Go to the Content Libraries section. Locate and select Steam Library Folders.
  • To set a new default installation path, click the Add Library Folder button.

Now create a new path. It will be used for all your future installations.


Also read:Boost Advice: How to Effectively Speed Up Steam Downloads


How to Move Your Existing Steam Games?

If, for some reason, you want to migrate the existing games to some other location, this may involve a bit more effort than you might at first think. The point is, your games are closely tied to your Steam client application, which means you can move your games only by moving the app in question. Here is what you should do to move your Steam installation:

  1. To begin with, back up your Steamapps folder in case something goes wrong. This might save you a lot of tears since you may lose your game progress while moving your Steam installation. Bad things happen, you know.
  2. Log out of Steam and exit it.
  3. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Steam.
  4. Delete the contents of this folder except the Steam.exe file and the steamapps & userdata folders.
  5. Cut your Steam folder and paste it to the new location you have chosen for it.
  6. Launch Steam. Log in to your Steam account. Steam will require some time to update itself.

Finally, you should verify the integrity of your game files . Here is how you can do that:

  1. Restart your PC. Open Steam.
  2. Go to Library. Right-click on your game. Click Properties.
  3. Proceed to Local files. Click the Verify integrity of game files… button.

Proceed to Local files, click the Verify integrity of game files…button

Please be patient—the verification process may take a while.

Now that you know where your Microsoft Store games are stored on Windows 10, you may also want to know, “Where are Microsoft Store apps saved in Windows 11?”

The new OS does indeed come with a number of changes and upgrades, including new widgets, multiple desktops, a redesigned Settings app, and more. However, when it comes to saving Microsoft Store apps, not much has changed on Windows 11.

Just like with Windows 10, the installation location of Microsoft Store apps is not visible. All the applications downloaded from the Microsoft Store are saved in a folder called WindowsApps located in the Program Files directory. While the folder is hidden by default, it’s quite easy to make it visible and gain access to it by following the same steps as on Windows 10. Namely:

  • Go to C:\Program Files .
  • Click View and check the box for Hidden items .
  • Find the WindowsApps folder and right-click it.
  • Go to Properties in the drop-down menu.
  • Navigate to Security > Advanced .
  • Select Owner and click Change .
  • Log in with your Microsoft account email address.
  • Check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects .
  • Select Apply to save your changes.
  • Find and click on your account in the list. Select Edit .
  • Check the box for Full control .

Once you have unhidden the WindowsApps folder, you will have full access to the folder where all your apps are stored. If you feel uneasy that you have unhidden a protected folder and that tinkering with the files in it can cause harm to your PC, this is not the case. Many hidden folders, including the WhatsApp folder, are hidden because they may contain information that is too technical for the typical user, such as crash reports and diagnostic data. Now, if you are getting your games from Steam, you may also want to know where your downloaded files are kept. On Windows 11, just like on Windows 10, you can find your downloaded Steam files here: C:\Program Files\Steam (x86)\steamapps\common folder. If you find this inconvenient, you have the option of creating an alternate location for your future Steam games. Just like with Windows 10, all it takes is tweaking a few settings. You will need to do the following:

  • Go to Steam and open the Settings menu.
  • Head to the Downloads tab.
  • Locate the Content Libraries section and select Steam Library Folders .
  • Set a new default installation path by pressing the Add Library Folder button.
  • Now you will need to create a new path. It will be used for all your future installations.

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Where Are Microsoft Store Apps and Games Installed on Windows 10/11: Answered

Hopefully, we have answered your question of “Where are Microsoft Store apps installed?” and now you have no problem accessing your game installation directories. If you want to add something or learn more about storing Microsoft Store or Steam games, do not hesitate to leave a comment below.  We are here to help you get the most out of your games.

FAQ

Can I move Microsoft Store games to an external drive?

Yes. To move Microsoft Store games to an external drive on Windows 10/11:

  • Connect your external drive.
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  • Find the game, click it, and select Move.
  • Choose your external drive and confirm by clicking Move again .

How do I place Microsoft Store apps on the desktop in Windows 11?

To place Microsoft Store apps on your desktop in Windows 11:

  • Open the Start menu and find the app.
  • Drag the app icon to the desktop to create a shortcut.

If drag and drop doesn’t work:

  • Use File Explorer to navigate to shell:AppsFolder .
  • Find the app, right-click it, and choose Create shortcut .
  • Agree to place the shortcut on the desktop when prompted.

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  • Where Are Windows Store Apps Installed on Windows 11/10?

By Stella | Follow |
Last Updated

You can directly download many commonly-used apps from Microsoft Store. However, apps from Windows Store are stored in a specified location. Where are Windows Store apps installed? How to access the Windows 11/10 Store apps location? MiniTool Software will show you the answers in this post. Besides, you can want to recover data on Windows 11/10, you can try MiniTool Power Data Recovery.

Where Are Windows Store Apps Installed on Windows 11/10?

Microsoft has updated the Microsoft Store app (you can also call it Windows Store) on Windows 11/10. More and more apps have been added to Windows Store. It is safe to download and install your needed apps from Microsoft Store. At times, you may want to know the Windows 11/10 Store apps location to perform some operations. Well then, where are Microsoft Store apps installed or where does Windows 11/10 install apps?

The apps installed from Microsoft Store are saved to a folder in drive C. The specified location is C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. However, this folder is a hidden folder on your computer. That is, you need to show hidden folders on your Windows 11/10 computer and then you can see the WindowsApps folder in drive C. Besides, you can’t directly open this folder. You must have Read permissions to view this folder.

Where are Windows Store apps installed? Quick Answer: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps.

Windows 11/10 Store apps location

How to Access the WindowsApps Folder in Drive C?

In this part, we will show you how to open the WindowsApps folder in drive C to view the apps installed from Microsoft Store.

Step 1: Show Hidden Files and Folders on Windows 11/10

Show hidden files and folders on Windows 11

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Click the 3-dot menu on the top toolbar and select Options.

click Options

3. The Folder Options interface pops up. Then, you need to switch to the View tab.

4. Under Hidden files and folders, you need to make sure that the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option is selected.

5. Click Apply.

6. Click OK.

Show hidden files and folders on Windows 10

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. From the top toolbar, go to View > Options > Change folder and search options.
  3. Switch to the View tab.
  4. Select Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Hidden files and folders in the Advanced settings
  5. Click Apply.
  6. Click OK.

Step 2: Gain the Read Permissions to Open the WindowsApps Folder

After showing hidden files and folders in File Explorer, you can go to the Windows 11/10 Store apps location (that is C:\Program Files\WindowsApps). You can see that you can only access the Program Files folder. When you click the WindowsApp folder, you will see an interface pops up, saying You don’t currently have permission to access this folder. Click Continue to permanently get access to this folder.

Now, we will show you how to obtain the permissions to open this folder.

1. Click the Continue button.

click Continue

2. On the next interface, click the security tab link to continue.

click security tab

3. WindowsApps Properties interface pops up. Switch to the Security tab and click the Advanced button to continue.

click Advanced

4. Click the Change link to continue.

click Change

5. Click Advanced on the next interface.

click Advanced

6. Click Find Now.

7. Select the user name you want to permit to open the WindowsApp folder.

select user name

8. Click OK.

9. Click Apply.

10. Click OK.

11. Click OK.

12. Close File Explorer. Then, go to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. This time, you should open the WindowsApps folder successfully.

open the WindowsApps folder

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If your files or folders get lost by mistake on Windows 11/10, you use the free file recovery tool, MiniTool Power Data Recovery, to get them back. This software is specially designed to rescue your lost and deleted files from different kinds of data storage devices.

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Bottom Line

Where are Windows Store apps installed? After reading this post, you should know the answer. You can also use the method mentioned in this post to access that folder to see the details in it. Should you have other related issues, you can let us know in the comments.

About The Author

Position: Columnist

Stella has been working in MiniTool Software as an English Editor for more than 8 years. Her articles mainly cover the fields of data recovery including storage media data recovery, phone data recovery, and photo recovery, videos download, partition management, and video & audio format conversions.

You need to access the WindowsApps folder if you wish to take a backup of your Windows Apps or clear some space from the computer hard disk drive (HDD).

The Microsoft Windows operating system comes with some restricted and hidden folders that usually contain files that help run Windows 11 or 10 smoothly. Disturbing these files could result in system errors or complete Windows OS malfunction.

Some of these folders are Program Data, System32, AppData, WindowsApps, etc. Among these folders, WindowsApps is of particular interest since this drive use ups a lot of disk storage when you do not restrict app installations from Windows Store.

Let’s learn more about the WindowsApps folder, its purpose, and how to access the WindowsApps folder should you need to take backup or clear some disk space.

What Is the WindowsApps Folder?

The WindowsApps folder is available in Program Files of your Windows 10 or 11 OS installation directory and stores app files for Windows Apps. Since Windows 8 OS, Microsoft introduced a set of apps that function differently than conventional software.

In the past, Microsoft called these apps Metro-style apps, Windows Store apps, Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, and now simply Windows apps. Windows 10 or 11 OS stores Windows Apps and other UWP apps like Your Phone in the WindowsApps folder.

What Is the WindowsApps Folder

The folder is a highly secure location within your Windows OS installation directory and is protected by multiple layers of security. First of all, you will not see the folder unless you unhide it.

Secondly, normal user and system administrator user accounts do not have the necessary files access rights to access the folder or check its size, subfolders, files, etc. Microsoft reserved the necessary rights for the TrustedInstaller user account, which is a system account.

TrustedInstaller controls write and read access of the WindowsApps folder so that Windows Apps can smoothly function without any intervention from the user.

What Is the Purpose of the WindowsApps Folder?

WindowsApps folder is the safe house for all Windows apps that you install or come with the factory version of your Windows 10 or 11 OS copy. Here are the use cases of this folder:

Stores UWP Packages

Like the Program Files and Program Files (x86) for usual Windows PC software, WindowsApps is the default file location for all Windows apps or UWP packages. However, the subfolder naming convention is different than the Program Files.

For example, the Windows apps Netflix will have multiple folders with the following naming: app name, version number, CPU architecture (x64), and the Microsoft Store ID. More than one folder exists to differentiate the same app with different CPU architectures.

Works as Windows Apps Sandbox

Conventional Windows software like a data recovery tool or computer troubleshooter has the power to override system values and make visible changes in the Windows OS ecosystem. That’s why Windows features like User Account Control (UAC), user account rights, and Windows Security exists to keep them in check.

Works as Windows Apps Sandbox

However, Windows apps can not make huge changes in the operating system. Microsoft achieved this by keeping these apps sandboxed inside the WindowsApps folder. These apps cannot themselves access computer hardware or data and need permissions in all the steps.

User Convenience

Most Windows apps do not come with executable files like the traditional software. Instead, they are a combination of automatic command prompt scripts and Java programs. Users may find it challenging to run such apps.

Also, users may make irreversible changes to these system files unknowingly if they can access the Windows apps files. Therefore, Microsoft Windows shows you app icons in the Start Menu and hides all the back-end data for safety and convenience.

How to Access WindowsApps Folder

There are multiple ways to access the WindowsApps folder. The steps are identical for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems.

Using the Task Manager Program

Accessing the WindowsApps folder for a specific app from the Task Manager program is the simplest way. It also takes less effort. However, you must run the target UWP (Universal Windows Platform) or Windows app in the background to access its folder. Here are the quick steps that you can follow on your Windows 11 pr 10 PCs:

Step #1: Run the UWP app or Windows app for which you want to access the WindowsApps folder. In this tutorial, it is the WhatsApp app. You can try this or try others like Netflix, Instagram, Skype, etc.

Step #2: To launch the Task Manager program, you can press this shortcut key: Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Alternatively, you can find the Task Manager folder by searching the Search Bar.

Searching For Task Manager And Opening It

Step #3: Look for the app’s process in the Task Manager by scrolling the list or sorting it according to their names.

Step #4: Click on the drop-down arrow beside the app’s name to expand its processes. If there is no drop-down arrow, move on to the next step.

Going to File Location of WhatsApp

Step #5: Right-click on the app’s icon and select Open file location from the context menu that follows.

Step #6: Windows Explorer will take you to the sandboxed WindowsApps subfolder for the target app. In this case, the WhatsApp app.

Got Access to Windows Apps Folder of WhatsApp

Accessing the WindowsApps folder through the Task Manager gives you viewing permission. For example, you can go through all the files and folders of the UWP app and check their size. This step is good if you want to take a backup of the app’s files and folders.

The process does not let you delete or move files from the WindowsApps folder. To gain write and delete access, you need to follow any of the below-mentioned steps.

Using Windows File Explorer

The most practical and user-friendly way of gaining access into the WindowsApps folder is through the Windows File Explorer program. This process gives you a full read and write access to this folder. Thus, you can make any kind of change that you want.

This process is also reversible, should you need to restrict the access to the WindowsApps folder after making the changes you need. The File Explorer-based method has two phases. In the first phase, you need to unhide the WindowsApps folder.

In the second phase, you need to gain exclusive read and write rights of the folder by changing folder ownership. By default, Microsoft assigned the read and write permission to the TrustedInstaller user account of your Windows 10/11 computer. Without further ado, let’s unhide and take control of the folder of interest:

Step #1: Click on the File Explorer of the Taskbar to access This PC window.

Step #2: On the top ribbon, select View.

Step #3: You will see Options in the View menu. Click on that.

Step #4: Now, click on the Change folder and search options to open the Folder Options window.

Accessing Folder Options from File Explorer

Step #5: You will see three tabs in the Folder Options window. Select the one in the middle, the View tab.

Step #6: The View tab has two sections: Folder Views and Advanced Settings.

Step #7: In the Advanced Settings section, select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option.

Unhiding Hidden System Files

Step #8: Now, click the Apply button to save the changes.

Step #9: If you go to the Program Files folder in the Windows 11 installation directory, you should now find the WindowsApps folder in the unhidden state.

Revealing WindowsApps Folder

The WindowsApps folder is now visible. But, you can not access it yet. You need to manually take ownership of the folder to get read and write access.

For ownership changing purposes, you need a user account with administrative rights. If you are a non-admin user of your computer, you need to log out from that account. Then login again using the administrator account.

Error message When Open WindowsApps Folder

Once you are done switching the Windows user account, you can go ahead with the following steps for ownership transfer of the WindowsApps folder:

#1. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and click on Properties.

#2. While on the Properties screen, click on the Security tab to reveal Advanced options. Click on Advanced.

Windows Apps Properties Security Tab

#3. In the Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps screen, click on Change.

Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps

#4. You will see the Select User or Group screen.

#5. In the Object Name field, enter the name of the user account of your PC that has administrative rights.

#6. You can simply write down the name of the user account in small letters. The system will automatically recognize it. However, you need to type the correct user name.

#7. Now, click on Check Names to populate the full user account address.

Choosing Name in The Object Name field

#8. Click Ok to apply the changes.

#9. You will now see your user account name in the Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps window.

#10. Beneath your user account name, you will see a checkmark filed for Replace owner on sub containers and objects. Checkmark that box.

Replace Owner on Sub Containers and Objects

#11. Now click on Apply button and hit Ok to initiate the ownership change process.

#12. Once the process finishes, click Ok on the notification that follows.

Completing the Ownership Transfer Process

#13. Refresh your PC and try to access the WindowsApps folder again from Program Files by double-clicking on it.

Opened Windows Apps Folder

#14. You will get full access to the folder with read and write permissions.

You can now move or delete files from the WindowsApps folder if you have taken ownership of the WindowsApps folder using the process mentioned above. However, practice caution when making any changes in the subfolders. Because if you delete vital app files, the respective Windows app may not function anymore.

This step is particularly useful when you need to clean up disk space. If you have stopped using certain Windows apps or have uninstalled them, you can delete their back-end files from the WindowsApps folder to save disk space.

Using Windows Powershell

The Windows File Explorer-based ownership change process for the WIndowsApps folder is somewhat tricky. You need to follow the steps correctly, or you will waste valuable time.

There is an easy and automated process that you can also try by using Windows Powershell. It is a robust configuration and task automation program for Windows. All Windows operating system versions since Windows 7 come with this program.

View of Windows Powershell

Therefore, you can apply this process to take ownership of the target folder on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. You also do not need to unhide hidden files, folders, and drives.

In situations where you can not take the risk of unhiding Windows system files, the Powershell-based method is a perfect choice. Here are the steps to execute a Powershell command that assigns the necessary permissions to you to access and change the WindowsApps folder:

Step #1: Click on the magnifying glass of your Windows 11 Search.

Step #2: Type in Powershell and wait for the app to come up.

Step #3: You will see the Windows Powershell app on the right side of the search console.

Openning Powershell as Administrator

Step #4: The app will show options like Open, Run as administrator, Open file location, etc.

Step #4: Click on Run as administrator to open the program.

Copying the Command to Windows Powershell

Step #6: Once the program is up and running, execute the following command. You can copy the below command and paste it as is in Powershell and hit Enter.

takeown /f “C:\Program Files\WindowsApps” /r

Step #7: The Powershell command takeown restores file or folder ownership to the system administrator. Advanced users utilize this command to facilitate ownership transfer for batch files.

Step #8: After the takeown syntax, you need to use /f parameter to specify the file, folder, or directory name.

Step #9: The closing /r parameter tells Powershell to transfer ownership of all the files and subdirectories to the administrator.

Completed Transferring Ownership to Admin in Powershell

Step #10: Powershell will take some time to transfer the ownership of the WindowsApps folder and its content to your administrator user account.

Step #11: A flashing cursor will show up when the process is complete.

The access you gain by executing the above process is similar to that of the Windows File Explorer-based method. You have just automated the process and eliminated unhiding of system files. Now you can backup, clear some space, or make changes in the Windows apps back-end files.

Final Words

Now that you have an in-depth understanding of the WindowsApps folder, you can make changes in your Windows 10 or 11 OS responsibly. Before deleting any files from this folder, it is necessary that you know the folder inside out so that you do not make any fatal mistake that could damage the entire operating system.

Should you face any Windows 10 issues and need some automatic tools to resolve those problems, you can check out these 7 repair tools to solve Windows 10 problems.

FTC disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Windows Store apps are also known as “Modern Apps” or “Windows Apps” or “Metro apps“. These sort of Windows Apps are newly introduced in Windows 10/8. There are tons of apps to install and  you can find them in Microsoft Store.

These Windows apps are handy and can be used to organise your work, assist in projects and can help you get quick information. Some Windows Apps comes pre-installed such as Weather, Calender, Mail, Onenote, Camera, Skype, Maps and News.

Moreover, if you are that curious user who wants to know where the files of these apps are located. How can I find the executable file of Windows 10 apps? Where the folder of Windows 10 Apps are located?

We will look for the Windows apps folder location and learn how to get access to it. Also, we will look for the ways to get Windows apps executable file location. We will discuss all these queries in details below.

Let’s look after each query one by one.

Query 1: Where to find the location of Windows Store Apps folder

Basically, all Windows Store Apps are installed under the folder “WindowsApps“. And, “WindowsApps” folder is located in C:\Program files. But, these files are hidden and need administrative privilege to open it.

We will see step by step method how to get access to Windows apps location.

Firstly, Unhide the folder “WindowsApps”

Step 1: Go to c:\program files and press Ctrl + F1, it will maximize the top ribbon. Next, you need to click on view > Details > check Hidden Items. It will unhide “WindowsApps” folder

Change the Ownership of the Folder “WindowsApps”

Step 2: Right click on folder “WindowsApps” and click on “Properties“. Here, go to “Security” tab and then click on “Advanced“. Consequently, it will open “Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps“.

Step 3: In the “Advanced Security Setting for WindowsApps“, click on “change” for administrative permission.

Step 4: It will open Select User or Group dialog box. In the field “Enter the object name to select“, type in “administrators” and click on “Check Names“.

Alternatively, you can use Microsoft email address you are using to login Microsoft account in this system. Next, you have to click on “Check Names” button. Windows 10 will automatically check the existing user account and replace it with Microsoft account in the same field.

Step 5: Again, it will open “Advanced Security Setting for WindowsApps” dialog box. Here, you need to check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and click “apply” for changes.

Step 6: A new dialog will appear “Changing ownership of:“. It will change the ownership of all files and folder under “WindowsApps“.

And, at the end, once completed, it will show another dialog box “If you have just taken ownership of this object, you will need to close and reopen this object’s properties before you can view or change permissions“.

Step 7: Now, you will need to click on “WindowsApps” folder and then click “continue” as administrators. It will open the folder with the list of all apps.

Query 2: Where to find the Windows Store Apps executable file?

Windows Apps exe file help users to create shortcut on the desktop for quick access. You would like to get access to the list of all Windows apps installed on your Windows PC.

So, in order to get access to Windows apps executable files and its shortcuts follow the steps below:

Step 1: Press Windows Key + R and type in “shell:AppsFolder” to open the list of apps installed in your Windows PC.

Step 2: Now, right click on any apps and then click on “Open file location

Step 3: It will open list of Windows apps installed in your Windows PC. It is basically the shortcuts of all Windows apps installed.

Step 4: Right click on any apps and then click on properties. Subsequently, it will open Properties dialog box. Here, you have to click on “Shortcut” and then “see the “Target” field with file location.

Step 5: You can directly go to the exe file of Windows 10 apps by clicking on “Open File Location“. It will open the existing Windows app exe files (Here, for an example we have taken Google Chrome).

Now, you have an idea of how to find the file location of Windows apps. You can now locate any executable file of Windows 10 apps and can create shortcut to desktop.

We have also discussed a similar method on how to find the location of executable file for a program installed in Windows 10 PC.

If you have any other ways to open exe files of Windows 10 apps, you can lets us know in the comment section.

While most software are installed in Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders, WindowsApps folder is dedicated to apps installed using the Microsoft Store. This is a hidden folder and can’t be accessed even when you are logged in as an administrator.

In this guide, we discuss how to show, access and delete (troubleshoot) WindowsApps folder in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Table of Contents

What is WindowsApps folder?

WindowsApps folder is a system folder where Windows installs UWP apps. Windows keeps all UWP apps data in a single folder for the purpose of sandboxing and making the whole system more secure.

WindowsApps folder permissions only allow trusted installer service to make changes to the folder. Allowing Microsoft Store apps limited access to the file system ensures overall security of the system.

Check out how to run any process as system or TrustedInstaller in Windows

Where is WindowsApps folder located?

WindowsApps folder is located in C:\Program Files\ folder. It is hidden by default. If you want to access the folder without showing hidden files, simply open Windows file explorer and paste the following into the address field:

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

This should open the WindowsApps folder. If you don’t have the correct NTFS permissions, you will get an access denied error.

WindowsApps permissions access denied

WindowsApps permissions access denied

This is due to WindowsApps folder permission restrictions. To gain access to the folder, you will need to take ownership of the folder.

Check out: What are user privileges in Windows?

Get access to WindowsApps folder

There are a lot of reasons you would want to gain access to the WindowsApps folder. The system drive size is one of the major reasons you’d like to access and cleanup the folder. We will discuss this in detail later.

Another reason to access this folder is when the folder content becomes corrupted and you want to backup some configurations and data.

To gain visible access to WindowsApps folder, you will need to do two things:

  1. Make WindowsApps folder visible
  2. Take ownership of WindowsApps folder

Make WindowsApps folder visible

Windows 11 makes it very easy to show hidden files. To show hidden files in Windows 11, open File Explorer, click on the View dropdown menu on the ribbon, and select Show –> Hidden items.

Show hidden files in Windows 11

Show hidden files in Windows 11

After you have selected the Show hidden items option, go to C:\Program Files\ and you will be able to see the WindowsApps folder.

Windows 10 comes with a slightly different way of showing hidden files. From the same File Explorer ribbon, you need to select the View tab and then select show/hide option.

Take ownership of WindowsApps folder

While you’ll be able to see the folder, accessing it will still get you the same access denied error as we discussed earlier.

To gain complete access to the folder, you will need to take ownership of the folder.

  1. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and select Properties.
  2. Select the Security tab and then click on the Advanced button.
  3. You will get the following prompt:
    You must have Read permissions to view the properties of the object.<br>Click Continue to attempt the operation with administrative privileges.
    Unable to display current owner

    Press the Continue button.

  4. Click Change beside Owner: TrustedInstaller.
  5. Enter your Windows username and click on Check Names. Windows will automatically find the exact username. Make sure Replace owner on sub containers and objects checkbox is selected. Press OK to continue.
    Taking ownership of WindowsApps folder

This will grant you ownership of the folder with read/write permissions. After doing these steps, you will be able to open the folder. Make sure you don’t change other permissions in this folder otherwise TrustedInstaller will not be able to access WindowsApss folder and you will get an error while opening or installing new Windows Store apps.

To open WindowsApps folder, press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog and enter the following command:

%programfiles%\WindowsApps

How to delete WindowsApps folder (Cleanup)

Since WindowsApps is a system folder and contains core app files like Yourphone.exe, it is never advisable to completely delete the folder. If you are getting any error messages like Bad data error or any other data corruption error, you should try uninstalling the app from Microsoft Store.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, then you should try cleaning up the WindowsApps folder using Windows Cleanup utility.

To open the Windows Cleanup utility, press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Enter the command cleanmgr. This will open Disk cleanup. Select the drive (should be the same where WindowsApps folder is located). Run the cleanup and try opening the faulty Windows app again.

You can also use CCleaner for WindowsApps folder cleanup.

Next, you can also use Windows Troubleshooter to troubleshoot UWP apps issues. To open the appropriate troubleshooter, open Windows Settings (Windows key + i) –> System –> Troubleshoot –> Other Troubleshooters. Click on Run beside Windows Store Apps.

Windows Store Apps troubleshooter in Windows 11

Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter for Windows 11

If this doesn’t fix your issue, then you should try deleting the specific folder related to the app.

Understanding WindowsApps folder structure

Before you delete anything from the folder, make sure you know the WindowsApps folder structure.

Native Windows apps are installed in the Program Files folder by default. But most of the time, the user has the option to change the default installation folder. Since Microsoft does not give any option to choose the folder name before installing any UWP app, it is named according to Microsoft’s own conventions. The Microsoft Store app folder naming structure follows a pattern like this:

App name + Version number + Architecture + Microsoft Store publisher ID

It is not mandatory that Microsoft include all the items in the folder name but most of the items are included. By following this naming convention, you can easily identify which folder belongs to a specific app.

Verdict

There is no need to touch the WindowsApps folder unless you are having issues with the installed Microsoft apps. Since this is a system folder, changing something can result in a disaster. So it’s advisable not to touch this folder until you have no other way left.

Why do you want to open the WindowsApp folder?

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