Microsoft introduced the Windows Store apps called ‘Metro Apps’ with Windows 8. Microsoft later decided to call them ‘Modern Apps’. And as of today, in Windows 10, the store apps are simply called as “Windows Apps”. Microsoft uses a hidden folder named WindowsApps to install these Metro/Modern apps. The folder is located within the Program Files folder in the system drive (C:\). Data for all of the Modern Apps are stored in the AppData folder under the user’s profile.
Installation and temporary data folders for Windows Apps
As with older programs, Windows uses different folders to store an app’s installation files and the data (such as sessions, in-app downloads; etc). Here are the details:
Installation folder – Apps are installed to the WindowsApps folder. You can find it at this location – C:\Program Files.
Temporary data folder (Isolated storage) – Modern apps save their data at the following location – C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Packages.
Do note that both folders are hidden. They will not show under the list of folders unless you enable the display of hidden files in Windows 10. If you have enabled the hidden items, then the folders will appear in a lighter color, indicating that it is a hidden item.
You have found the WindowsApps folder. But you cannot access it yet. When you try to open, Windows will notify that you do not have permission to access the folder. You will click on Continue hoping that you would gain authority, but Windows will block your way by throwing the Permission Denied notice.
Why is it inaccessible? It is because you do not have permission to read or write to the folder. When you click continue, Windows tries to gain permission using an elevated (administrator) request, but since you’re not an owner of the folder, it gets denied again.
How to Access WindowsApps folder
You need to jump into the folder’s security settings and make yourself the owner in order to access it normally. Just follow the few steps below to get yourself in.
- Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and switch to the security tab.
- Click on Continue and then click on Change in front of the owner.
- Add yourself as the owner. If you are unsure about what to choose, click again on Advanced. Then click on Object Types and uncheck all other options except Users. Then click on Find now. Select your username from the list of search results and press OK to proceed.
- You will be added as the owner of the folder and you should now be able to access it. Simply go back and double click on the WindowsApps folder; then proceed by clicking on Continue on the permission prompt.
It will be a good idea to revert the change and make TrustedInstaller as the owner after you’re done accessing the folder. This will ensure that the app installs stay in good shape and remain free from viruses or malware.
Thank you so much! Amazing article and it worked!!
I managed to get easy acess to it myself and then checked here to make sure i didnt screw up.
But all that effort to find a single .exe was all a waste since no matter where i look for or what i do, not a single one of the files in that folder constains a single .exe file, not even the ones already installed by windows itself.
Whats the point of making it such a hassle to simply get inside the folder if theres nothing of any use in it anyway.
The Windows store apps aen’t based off exe anymore. That is why you cannot find an exe in their folders. The files are xap or appx, similar to how Android packs its apps as apk.
No Need to change the owner. Install Treesize Free. It will go into those otherwise inaccessible folders and show you all you need to know. All you need to do is run it as administrator
Hello MicroSoft,
Windows 10 has brought me to edge of converting to Linux many times. Everything I find necessary to use in your OS is “hidden” and a pain in the neck to use. Everything in Linux is transparent. It is no wonder that you have managed to lose most of your customer base.
Near the Edge (and not MS Edge, the browser, which I never use)
I have two PCs. In my latest machine the MS Store app will not initialize.
My older, although successfully updated to 2004 has a functioning MS Store. Can I copy files/folders to the machine where the Store doesn’t function?
worked for me…thanks
My problem is that I have no idea what the apps do, and why they are installed on my new laptop in the first place. Games?? Booking .com?? Groove music?? wtf. Do they think we are all robots. That we all live in the mainstream?? Just sell me the comp. Don’t install anything beyond what makes it work? The nerve of some people> That live in houses that all look the same., with their uniforms of the day. Is there anyone that thinks for themselves anymore? I LIVE FOR MYSELF. MY PLEASURE. I NEED NO ONE TO TELL ME WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THE APP MEANS AND WHAT IT DOES AND MAYBE I WILL TRY IT
groove music is windows 10’s mp3 player
Thanks very much for these detailed instructions. In true Microsoft style, the method of reverting to TrustedInstaller seems to have changed again (1909 V10.0.18363.900).
The item NT Service\TrustedInstaller no longer exists. In fact, no item includes “TrustedInstaller”. What do I do now?
Don’t you love when you’re not able to add minecraft dungeons to the steam library because of this fucking shit
Thank you. It worked.
How do I revert it though? Idk which one is the “Trusted Installer” in the object list
Search for ” NT Service\TrustedInstaller ” and add it as owner and remove your previous user with full control.
It simply does not work. The instructions do not match what I see on the screen. There are things that Microsoft does not want us to understand. Why not address directly the issue of accessing the executable of simple programs? And why bury simple things that way? What are the risks of not doing it?
Thank you. Very helpful.
Oh, Microsoft, go to hell, please do. I downloaded VLC through Windows Apps, and gone it was. Still can’t open videos using the effing app I downloaded through Windows store or wherever the hell it automatically gets the apps. So where do I find VLC now? Was it even installed? Oh, what’s the point when you can just get it from the VLC homepage. Then you get to choose where to save it and open the program. Microsoft, jump off a bridge, asap.
I´m absolutly with your opinion.