Windows 10: How to gain access to WindowsApps folder not in C?

Hello guys. I followed this guide to gain access for WindowsApps folder, and it worked.
Now, I changed default drive for WindowsApps, to install Gears of War and Quantum Break(in future) in a larger drive. But the method to gain access to the WindowsApps folder, seem to not work if the drive isn't C, the default one.

:)

 

What is 'windows apps' hidden folder and why can't I access it?

For some reason my 'WindowsApps folder is on my D drive with all my data. I was accessing my 'User' folder & somehow managed to move it into 'WindowsApps' folder. (don't ask). I can see the 'Users' folder there but am denied access. Have tried accessing
the 'WindowsApps' folder as per 'Gain access to to the folder C:\Program Files\WindowsApps query, (with appropriate modification) but to no avail. Cmd prompt gives

'D:\WindowsApps\Users: Bad Data.

Successfully processed 1files; Failed processing 1 files.

All my data, photos & audio is in the 'User' folder so badly need access.

 

WindowsApps Folder

Hey, how are you doing.

I've got a problem, I had a file of passwords compressed in RAR format that I was hiding under WindowsApps folder. And then one day I was unable to access that folder. It was something along the lines. They are corrupted / This user doesn't have the access
to these files anymore.

So I was fidling around under the "Advanced Security Settings for Windows Apps" to gain the full control again.

And also clicked : Replace owner on subconteiners and objects.

And now I can open the the WindowsApps folder, but it just shows as empty.

Please Help.

 

Be careful changing permissions of system directories and files. You probably shouldn't unless you really know what you're doing and know how to reverse any changes you've made. Recursive permission modifications are very indiscriminate. You can easily find yourself with a non-functional OS which is beyond your ability to repair. *Smile

Now changing permission on your own files (files folders Windows does not create itself) is totally ok and encouraged to learn how NTFS permissions work.


Anyway onto your issue. Changing permissions works for any NTFS filesystem. Are you using NTFS on the partition which you're trying to install your games to?

 

Yes, is a ntfs partition. It's same SSD where is C.

 

With Microsoft seemingly starting to take their store more seriously now and starting to include proper games in the Windows Store, one of the things I've wondered about is the game file management. SSD's in larger sizes are still quite pricy and re-downloading huge game files when buying a new computer really isn't going to be any fun at all. So I think a lot of people will want to do the same as you and store their games on a non-system drive. But it sounds a bit more tricky with Windows apps/games than it is with Steam's steamapps folder for example, due to them being more locked down.

As you mentioned, to choose a drive that future games are saved to go to Start > Settings > System > Storage and choose the drive that 'New Apps' are saved to. This will mean future apps/games will then be stored there.

But for games that you've already installed and want to move to another drive as well, I wonder whether the following method will work, as I agree with the other poster that changing file/folder permissions isn't an ideal solution.

Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > [Drive where they are stored] > Apps & Games > Click the game and then choose 'Move'.






In the above screenshot the 'Move' button is greyed out, but it's just an example. I don't have any Windows Store games installed to try, but does this give you the option to move your games to your other drive?

 

I apologise, I've just re-read your post and realised that I misunderstood what you were asking.

With regards to your question, in the past I was also unable to gain permissions to the Apps folder after creating it on another drive. For me I decided that it would be quicker to move all the data off the drive, format it to get rid of the Apps folder, then put the data back on the drive. It's a bit overkill, but once you move the apps folder to another drive, the Apps folder Windows creates is rather persistent and a nightmare to get rid of.

 

Don't worry. You explained an useful thing.
Anyway, it's really weird that just items on C can be allowed to access.

 

You can use a Linux bootable USB Drive to delete/move/write easily the WindowsApps folder. *Cool

How to create a bootable USB stick on Windows | Ubuntu