Windows has long stored application data and cache files in the Program Files folder. However, with Windows 10, Microsoft moved the app data store to a protected folder called WindowsApps. The folder in question is primarily created to store data of modern applications such as UWP, Electron and PWAs. In addition, the folder is locked from user access to ensure high data integrity and security against malware. Having said that, the surprising part is that you cannot access the folder even if you have administrator privileges. In this article, we provide you a step-by-step guide on how to access WindowsApps folder in Windows 10.
Access WindowsApps Folder in Windows 10
As I said, you cannot access the WindowsApps folder even if you are an Administrator. This is because the folder is owned by the system. Except for admin privilege, There are other permissions in Windows 10 like ownership, read and execute, assign attributes, and more. So you have to share the ownership of the folder with your user account and then you can access the WindowsApps folder in Windows 10.
1. First open C:\Program Files\ and you will find the “WindowsApps” folder. Now, right click on it and Open “Properties”.
2. Next, Go to the “Security” tab and then click the “Advanced” button.
3. Here, Choose “Trusted Installer” Click on the permission entries and then the “Change” button.
4. Now, Enter your account username in the “object name” box. Do not confuse your username with account name or Microsoft account. To find the correct name, C:\Users Check the location and folder name of your account. This is your real username.
5. Next, Click the “Check Names” button and it will verify your information by adding the computer location. Now, click the “OK” button. If it fails, you are entering the wrong username. Enter the correct one and try again.
6. Now, Activate the “Change owner…” checkbox and then click “Apply” and “OK” button. It will apply all changes and share ownership with you.
7. Now, close File Explorer and Open the WindowsApps folder again and this time you will be able to access the WindowsApps folder without any problems.
Access WindowsApps Folder and Delete Unnecessary Files
That was our short guide on how to access the WindowsApps folder in Windows 10. As we saw above, the steps are pretty simple and straightforward. You can go ahead and delete the files that are taking up too much space. While this tutorial is only about the WindowsApps folder, you can follow the same steps when accessing other folders owned by the system. So that’s it from us. If you want to learn similar tricks about Windows 10, check out our linked article. If you are still encountering some issues, let us know in the comment section below.
