Windows store app path

Recently, I faced a problem to choose a Windows Store app as the default app for a specific file type. The app was not found by using neither Windows 10’s Settings page or the “Open With” option from the right-click menu of the files. So I need to go for the “Look for another app on this PC” and locate where is the program (.exe) file.

Windows typically installs conventional programs to C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86), while it stores the store apps in a different folder called WindowsApps under the C:\Program Files directory. You can find the folder by enabling the display of hidden files in File Explorer, but Windows will alert that you do not have permission to access the folder. To browser the folder, you might change the owner and the permission under its Advanced Security Settings. However, it can turn your system at risk. A better way is to look for the installation path from the Windows Registry.

Find the key using Registry Editor

The Windows Registry contains the keys and values for all store apps, including their installed locations. You can find them by following this procedure:

1. Press Start, search for regedit.exe and then open it.

2. Registry Editor will open.

3. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Repository\Packages.

4. Look for the key with the app name, or press Ctrl + F to use the “Find” dialog for a quick search under the registry tree.

5. Open the app key you found, there should be a subkey called PackageID and another called PackageRootFolder, shown as the example below.

6. Double-click the name of the subkey PackageRootFolder, and copy the value data to the clipboard.

Use the “Open With” command to change the default program for the specific file type

1. In File Explorer, right-click on a file whose default program you want to change. Select Open With > Choose Another App.

2. Scroll down and click on Look for another app on this PC.

3. In the “Open with…” dialog, paste the copied path to the field “File name:” and hit Enter.

4. The app root folder will open. Find and choose the Program (.exe) file inside the folder and in its subfolders, for the application you want to make as the default.

The specific file type should now associate with the application. You can try to double-click a file to open it with the default program.

Have a question or suggestion? Let us know in the comments below.

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. 

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

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

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

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

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• 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.

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.

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.

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• 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.

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.

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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.

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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

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Unlike regular downloading from a web browser or installing regular programs, when we download a certain app from Windows Store (also known as Microsoft Store), it just downloads the app, without asking where we want to install it.

So, if you want to change the install location of Windows 10 Store apps, you have come to the right place.

Can I change where Microsoft Store installs apps?

Long story short, you cannot change the download location of Windows Store apps ‘normally,’ because there’s no option for that in Windows Store, but there is a workaround for this, so the answer is “yes”.

Read on to find out how to do this right now.

How can I change the install location of Windows 10 Store apps?

You’ll have to perform a good old registry tweak to change the install location of Windows Store apps. Here’s what you need to do to change the default download location of Windows Store Apps:

1. Go to Search, type regedit, and open Registry Editor
2. Navigate to the following path:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx
3. Right-click on Appx folder and choose Permissions
4. Check Full Control to take the full ownership of this registry folder
5. Now, right click on PackageRoot and choose Modify
   

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6. Now just choose the new path for download location and enter it to Value data:

Users report that this workaround to change where Windows Store installs apps doesn’t work in Windows 8.1, but I tested it in Windows 10, and I didn’t have any problems.

Only thing I noticed is that after changing the default location, downloading takes a lot more time, so if you want to change the default download location, you’ll have to wait longer to download apps.

However, if this registry tweak don’t work for you, you can check this TechNet’s alternative solution, which requires some work in Microsoft PowerShell.

If you decided to follow these steps, and managed to change the default install location of Windows 10 Store apps, tell us your experience, did everything work fine?

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.

When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.