Windows 10: Massive residual files from uninstalled games in the WindowsApps folder. Cannot delete them.

Ive uninstalled some bigger games from the xbox app, but i have discovered that they left behind over 200 GBs of files which i cant seem to delete.Ive tried giving myself ownership, but when i try to delete them, it says i need permission from myself to do so.I would rather not format if i dont have to but im getting the idea from others that this is the only way to fix this.Could really use some help here.

:)

 

Unable to Delete WindowsApps Folder

Hi.

So I have a problem here with the WindowsApps folder.

Long story short, I've bought Forza Horizon 5 which could already be played today. Since Microsoft Store default location is in C:/, I changed the directory to D:/ in Setting - Storage - Where the content is saved because I don't have enough space in C:/

Now here is the problem: The first time it successfully downloaded and I could played it normally. I decided to reboot my system because I need to update my graphics driver and BAM! Microsoft Store and XBOX app still listed it as installed but whenever I tried to play it now it says the game is missing. Ms Store recommends me to "repair" the game by redownloading it, but now it gives me error 0x80070003 which is "The system cannot find the path specified".

Tried to find the solution everywhere but no avail, I decided to uninstall the game from the Ms Store, now listed as uninstalled, but the disk space isn't recovered.

The WindowsApps folder in D:/ still has 110GB files in it, and whenever I tried to delete it Windows denied me. Now I know that this folder isn't owned by me so I decided to take ownership it. Done but I still can't delete the folder. Maybe I need more permission? So I decided to give myself full permission setting. Now here is the problem: Setting permission of the folder gives me the same error message as the first said that "The system cannot find the path specified". WTF???

Already tried other method such as running cmd as System using psexec, trying to delete the folder from Ubuntu, trying to compress them using WinRaR or WinZip but no avail at all. All of them either said Permission Denied or the System cannot find the path specified.

How am I supposed to delete this folder then? The game already uninstalled, but I didn't get back my SSD space.

Here are some of the screenshots of my useless effort:
















My Windows is 20H2 19042.870

 

deleting files and folders from C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

Good Day!!

I do apologize for these inconvenience.

I would suggest the fastest way to delete WindowsApps folder is to format the drive.

See below steps:

>> Open Settings.

>> Click on Apps.

>> Click on Apps & features.

>> Under the "Apps & features" section, use the Filter by menu, and select the drive containing the "WindowsApps" folder.

>> Select the app and click the Uninstall button.

>> Click the Uninstall button again.

Hope it will help.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Thank you and Keep Safe.

 

uninstalled game pass games and yet they are in windowsapps ****

Why don't you take full ownership of your windowsapp folder then manually delete the game files.