Windows 10: How can I fix Program Files\WindowsApps?

So I wanted to be able to access the WindowsApps folder so I could access a game launcher inside.


I took ownership of the folder, and wasn't able to find my launcher. I realised that this was a bad decision.


Now whenever I start my machine, I get all these error messages about C:\Program Files \ WindowsApps\e.g Microsoft.SkypeApp


The parameter is incorrect.


I don't know how to fix this. I know the original owner of the folder was TrustedInstaller, but I am not able to reset the owner. It cannot find TrustedInstaller


Can anybody please help?

:)

 

Unnecessary apps in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

I see a lots of versions of the same app in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. These are apps that I don't even have installed. Overall they are taking up about 10GB.

1. How can I remove these apps completely?
2. Or can I keep only the most recent version?

The storage sense
suggested here or disk cleanup of system files has not helped.

Here is the log of some of the unnecessary apps with sizes in MB

Code:

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.24.2401.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

86M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.24.2401.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.24.2401.1000_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

54M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.24.2401.1000_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2500.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

83M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2500.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2503.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

84M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2503.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2504.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

84M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2504.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2505.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

84M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.25.2505.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.26.2600.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

85M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.26.2600.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.26.2601.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

85M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.26.2601.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.26.2603.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

85M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.26.2603.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2700.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

84M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2700.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2701.0_neutral_split.scale-125_ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2701.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

84M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2701.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2702.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

236M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2702.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2703.0_neutral_split.scale-100_ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2703.0_neutral_split.scale-125_ytsefhwckbdv6

1M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2703.0_neutral_~_ytsefhwckbdv6

234M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/828B5831.HiddenCityMysteryofShadows_1.27.2703.0_x86__ytsefhwckbdv6

67M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/89006A2E.AutodeskSketchBook_1.8.5.0_x64__tf1gferkr813w

559M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.3.0.7_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

532M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.4.0.12_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

531M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.4.1.1_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

531M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.4.2.1_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

562M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.5.0.8_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

563M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.5.1.2_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

570M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.6.0.9_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

569M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.6.1.1_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

583M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.7.0.8_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

15M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.DisneyMagicKingdoms_3.7.1.1_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

185M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.MarchofEmpires_3.5.0.11_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

142M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.MarchofEmpires_3.6.0.11_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

141M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.MarchofEmpires_3.6.1.1_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

142M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.MarchofEmpires_3.6.2.3_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

143M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.MarchofEmpires_3.7.0.7_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

150M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/A278AB0D.MarchofEmpires_3.8.0.13_x86__h6adky7gbf63m

185M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1340.3.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

167M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1340.5.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

167M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1341.1.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

170M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1360.3.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

173M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1371.1.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

181M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1380.6.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

178M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1390.3.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

181M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1400.5.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

186M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1410.4.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

186M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1411.1.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

186M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1420.4.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

189M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1430.6.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

191M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1440.2.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

191M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1440.3.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

137M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1440.4.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

189M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1450.4.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

189M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1450.5.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

192M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1461.3.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

192M    ./Program Files/WindowsApps/king.com.CandyCrushSaga_1.1461.4.0_x86__kgqvnymyfvs32

 

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.

 

Getting full access to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

Hey x509,
IIRC ... it's not actually a corrupt entry, but a special permission/condition (Exists:WIN://SYSAPPID) for Users(Pc-Name\Users) and shouldn't be removed. If you must change permissions on the WindowsApps folder and/or sub folders/files .... I suggest you get familiar with ICACLS first and save the current WindowsApps Folder / Sub Folders / File permissions to a acl.txt file, so you can restore them in case you break something (which is very likely when messing with permissions)

ICACLS - iCacls - Modify Access Control List - Windows CMD - SS64.com