WindowsApps is a special folder where Windows 10 keeps installed apps from the Store. If some day you need to explore its contents to troubleshoot any issues, you'll face the problem that you have no access to the folder. Here is how to resolve the issue.
Advertisеment
The WindowsApps folder is located on the operating system drive under the Program Files directory. The most common path to that folder is:C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
This folder is hidden, so you need to enable hidden files in File Explorer. Even when visible, the permissions pre-configured for this folder do not allow the user to open it. Once you open it, an error message appears "You have been denied permission to access this folder". If you want to access the WindowsApps folder, you need to adjust its file system permissions. This will require a number of steps from you. You must be signed in with an administrative account to continue.
To open the WindowsApps folder in Windows 10, do the following.
Open the Program files folder (the parent folder of WindowsApps) in File Explorer.
Find the WindowsApps folder in the list. If it is not visible, enable hidden files in File Explorer.
Now, right-click the WindowsApps folder and select Properties from the context menu.
In the Properties dialog window, go to the Security tab. There you'll see the button Advanced. Click it.
In the next dialog, click the link Change under Owner. You might be asked to enter the password of the Administrator account. Type it when prompted.
Select the Administrators group as the new owner. Click OK.
Tick the checkbox "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" and click Apply.
This should be enough to browse the contents of the folder. Open the folder and confirm the UAC prompt:
The folder contents will be accessible:
Please keep in mind that file operations in this folder can break installed Store apps and make them unusable. Do not delete or change anything in this folder unless you know exactly what you are doing.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
If you like this article, please share it using the buttons below. It won't take a lot from you, but it will help us grow. Thanks for your support!
Advertisеment
Or simply download TakeOwnershipEx from WinAero and right click, and Take Ownership, Easy ;)
haha, OKAY :)
Here’s a good one, for desktop context menu Switch to Tablet mode and back to Desktop mode ?
Good idea, but it won’t switch instantly with a Registry tweak.
I now can access the folder but… when I click on a “.exe” file it wont open and says:
You don’t have permission to open this file.
Contact the file owner or administrator to obtain permission.
Please help thanks
Just searched online and it seems Microsoft store games are sandboxed/encrypted so therefore I can’t even move the .exe file to desktop.
you have a great knowledge filled website here. a lot of registry tweaks and the above are clear and work perfect.
thank you
but I can’t change the Owner
You don’t need to change permissions if you just want to browse the contents of the folder.
Run the 7-zip file manager as adminstrator and it will let you browse the contents of this folder without having to change permissions.