Here are the quick steps that you can follow on your Windows 11 pr 10 PCs: However, you must run the target UWP (Universal Windows Platform) or Windows app in the background to access its folder. Using the Task Manager ProgramĪccessing the WindowsApps folder for a specific app from the Task Manager program is the simplest way. The steps are identical for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. There are multiple ways to access the WindowsApps folder. Therefore, Microsoft Windows shows you app icons in the Start Menu and hides all the back-end data for safety and convenience. Users may find it challenging to run such apps.Īlso, users may make irreversible changes to these system files unknowingly if they can access the Windows apps files. Instead, they are a combination of automatic command prompt scripts and Java programs. Most Windows apps do not come with executable files like the traditional software. These apps cannot themselves access computer hardware or data and need permissions in all the steps. Microsoft achieved this by keeping these apps sandboxed inside the WindowsApps folder. However, Windows apps can not make huge changes in the operating system. That’s why Windows features like User Account Control (UAC), user account rights, and Windows Security exists to keep them in check. Works as Windows Apps SandboxĬonventional Windows software like a data recovery tool or computer troubleshooter has the power to override system values and make visible changes in the Windows OS ecosystem. More than one folder exists to differentiate the same app with different CPU architectures. However, the subfolder naming convention is different than the Program Files.įor example, the Windows apps Netflix will have multiple folders with the following naming: app name, version number, CPU architecture (圆4), and the Microsoft Store ID. Like the Program Files and Program Files (x86) for usual Windows PC software, WindowsApps is the default file location for all Windows apps or UWP packages. Here are the use cases of this folder: Stores UWP Packages WindowsApps folder is the safe house for all Windows apps that you install or come with the factory version of your Windows 10 or 11 OS copy. What Is the Purpose of the WindowsApps Folder? TrustedInstaller controls write and read access of the WindowsApps folder so that Windows Apps can smoothly function without any intervention from the user. Microsoft reserved the necessary rights for the TrustedInstaller user account, which is a system account. Secondly, normal user and system administrator user accounts do not have the necessary files access rights to access the folder or check its size, subfolders, files, etc. First of all, you will not see the folder unless you unhide it. The folder is a highly secure location within your Windows OS installation directory and is protected by multiple layers of security. Windows 10 or 11 OS stores Windows Apps and other UWP apps like Your Phone in the WindowsApps folder. In the past, Microsoft called these apps Metro-style apps, Windows Store apps, Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, and now simply Windows apps. Since Windows 8 OS, Microsoft introduced a set of apps that function differently than conventional software. The WindowsApps folder is available in Program Files of your Windows 10 or 11 OS installation directory and stores app files for Windows Apps. Let’s learn more about the WindowsApps folder, its purpose, and how to access the WindowsApps folder should you need to take backup or clear some disk space. Among these folders, WindowsApps is of particular interest since this drive use ups a lot of disk storage when you do not restrict app installations from Windows Store. Some of these folders are Program Data, System32, AppData, WindowsApps, etc. Disturbing these files could result in system errors or complete Windows OS malfunction. The Microsoft Windows operating system comes with some restricted and hidden folders that usually contain files that help run Windows 11 or 10 smoothly. You need to access the WindowsApps folder if you wish to take a backup of your Windows Apps or clear some space from the computer hard disk drive (HDD).
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