Windows 10: Windows Apps folder is 128Gb with many duplicate folders - I NEED this space back!!!

So something funky is going on with my Windows install.


Wondering why I was running out of space with a 512GB drive, I found that 128 Gb of that is being used in the WindowsApps folder for: MS Edge 8.5Gb, Spotify 8.5Gb, Skype 8.5Gb, GameBar 8.5Gb, Python 8.5Gb, Python 3 8.5Gb, many of which are duplicated.

See disk map:





All the folders are an IDENTICAL size 8,589,934,592 bytes, which is far, far, far to large for the programs they say they are required for.


Does anyone have any idea: a why these ridiculously bloated install files are on my computer?

And b If I can go ahead and delete them while keeping the programs they reference installed.


I'd kinda like the hard drive space back!


Cheers, TR

:)

 

Duplicate Public Folders

Hope this helps someone identify the problem.

• Q: What happens when you delete the duplicate folders?
• A: Nothing. They're successfully deleted.

• Q: Does it happen to all of your folders or only those with pictures?
  • A: Only the default Public Folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos).
  • A: All of the Public Folders have customized folder icons.
  • A: The above image shows yellow, empty folder icons (duplicates).

• Q: Any steps you've tried to troubleshoot this issue?
  • Actually, this has been a problem since Windows 7.
  • What I noticed then is that certain Windows programs created the duplicates:
    • Windows Media Player (stopped using)
    • Internet Explorer (stopped using)
    • Plus others, which I can't recall.
  • Only certain programs for Windows 10, as well:
    • Microsoft Edge (don't use it often)
      
    • Groove Music (never intentionally use it)
      
    • Plus others, which I haven't tracked.
      • I only notice it when I go to Public Folders.
      • By then, I've long since forgotten what was accessed.
  • I've googled for answers but most of those only address
    moving the Public Folders to another Drive.

 

Add a Folder from Windows 10 HDD

Ok yea, just use a shortcut. Right click the folder you want to show in documents and select "create shortcut" and move that shortcut to the documents folder.

If you copy folders to documents, the entire folder contents is copied, use shortcuts instead so you dont use up hard drive space having duplicate folders in 2 separate places.

 

Hidden folders

I installed `Kane and Lynch` on my PC twice in Program Files(x86) folder but I can`t find them (2 folders with game). But free space on my HDD is lower. So there`re those folders on my hdd. I use option `unhide` hidden folders but still can`t find them. Any suggestions? How can i delete those hidden folders?

When I run istallation for this game I can see those folders in Program Files(x86) folde.

I`m using Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit.