Are you unable to access the WindowsApp folder in your Windows 10 & 11 PC despite administrator privileges? Then you firstly would need to know what is WindowsApps folder. WindowsApps is a hidden folder in Windows that contains all the apps and files downloaded from the Store. When moving programs to another partition in your system, another WindowsApps folder gets created in that specific drive.
But the problem arises when you try to move the apps back to the main drive. This is because, Windows wants to keep the folder and does not allow you to delete them. The reason you are not allowed to access this folder is because it belongs to Trustedinstaller and is allowed only for system users and no one else.
So, it’s recommended not to modify the folder permission and change the owner for the folder there are any apps installed here. You also cannot delete the folder that’s inside the Windows partition and you will rather comes across an error. Then, how do you access the WindowsApps folder and delete its contents? Let’s see how.
Solution: By Owning the Folder and then Delete
Step 1: Press Win + E hotkey together on your keyboard to open the File Explorer window.
Step 2: Go to the left side and click on the This PC shortcut. Now, on the right side of the pane, click on the C drive.
Step 3: Navigate to the below path to reach the WindowsApps folder:
C:\Program Files
*Note – Since WindowsApps is a hidden folder, you must unhide all hidden files. Just go to windows search box and then search file explorer options in taskbar search. Now, click on file explorer options to open it.
Now, Click on View tab. Then , Select Show hidden files, Folders and drives option and click on Apply and OK.
Step 4: Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and select Properties from the right-click menu.
Step 5: In the Properties window, select the Security tab and click on the Advanced tab.
Step 6: In the Advanced Security Settings window, under the Permissions tab, click on Continue.
Step 7: Next, go to the Owner section and press the Change link.
Step 8: In the Select User or Group window, go to the Enter the object name to select field and add you user name.
Press the Check Names button and click OK to confirm.
Step 9: You will be back to the Advanced Security Settings window. Here, go to the Owner section again and check the box next to Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
Press Apply and then OK to save the changes.
Step 10: Now, in the Advanced Security Settings window, you will see the Owner name has changed to what you added just now.
The Add button also gets highlighted. This will allow you to add permissions.
Step 11: Next, in the Permissions Entry for WindowsApps page, click on Select a principal link next to Principal.
Step 12: In the Select User or Group window, click on Advanced.
Step 13: Next, under Common Queries, click on Find Now.
Step 14: A list of Names will be auto-populated under the Search results. Select the user name you added.
Step 15: You will be back in the Permission Entry for WindowsApps page. Here the Basic Permissions section will be highlighted.
Check the box next to Full control and press OK to save the changes.
That’s all. You will now have access to WindowsApps folder and can delete the apps and files now.