Windows 10: Delete WindowsApps folder in 2020?

I'm absolutely baffled by this issue. Short story:

• I have 4 SSDs in my desktop.
• Reinstalled Windows 10 to a new SSD.

I had the Xbox Game Pass for a few months and installed various games to my D, E, and F drives. They're all sitting in WindowsApps taking up a ton of space.

I don't have the Xbox Game Pass anymore and this is a fresh install of Windows 10.

Absolutely NOTHING I can do allows me to delete those goddamn WindowsApps folders filled with unplayable games on D, E, and F. Take ownership, I can browse, but not delete the folders. Safe mode, no go. Powershell, no go. Give Everyone Full permission and cascade permissions? No go. They all yell at me that "the file is open in System" or I "require permission from myPC\myself" to make changes to the folder.

I've done enough googling and nothing I've read has worked. All the threads about it seem to just trail off with no solution. There was a thread about using a Linux boot disk and deleting them that way, and I'm fine doing that, but that seems like a pretty long stretch for an average user who just wants to recover 200gb+ of disk space after reinstalling their computer.

What's the proper way to do this in 2020? Thanks!

submitted by /u/decker12
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:)

 

Trouble deleting a folder

Thanks for the suggestion but it says "delete folder failed for E:\....." for each folder I try.

*Confused

Will I be forever stuck with these unnecessary folders? *Oh Well hwell:

 

WindowsApps folder says permissions are corrupted and need to be deleted, is this normal or critical?

According to your description, I suggest you try the following steps:

1. Navigate to the location C:\Program Files.
   
2. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder, and select Properties.
   
3. Turn to Security tab and click on Advanced.
   
4. Click on Change and then type Users in Enter the object name to select area.
   
5. Click on OK, then click Apply > OK. You can also add the TrustedInstaller to the users list and check if it takes effect.
   

However, you might be still not able to access the files. The workaround is to go inside the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\, and repeat the same way with the Microsoft.WindowsStore* folders.

 

Deleting the WindowsApps folder on secondary drive?

Hmm, which is faster. I attempted a Live Linux Drive already but it was very slow and would not boot, not to mention I don't know a thing about using linux.

Would option 2 be easier? I looked at Macrium, but the install steps themselves are confusing me, and I fear not knowing how to navigate it once I boot to it.

EDIT: I installed Macrium Reflect Free, went through these steps to create the media.
Don't forget to check the UEFI/MBR box if you are attempting this yourself.
I then booted to it, "browsed my files for an image", but for real, navigate to the WindowsApps folder on your secondary drive, and delete it. It doesn't disappear instantly, but when you exit the drive, and log back into windows, the folder will be gone.

Thanks for the suggestion cereberus!