Access WindowsApps Folder: Full Guide

This guide shows you how to access the hidden WindowsApps folder on Windows 10 and Windows 11. This folder contains the installed files for apps from the Microsoft Store and other packaged applications, and it is normally locked down by Windows. By the end, you’ll be able to view, and if needed, take ownership of its contents.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with an administrator account.
• File Explorer (or Windows Explorer) — the standard file manager.
• Optional but recommended: a backup of any data you plan to modify inside the folder.

Step-by-Step

1. Open File Explorer. Press Win + E on your keyboard, or click the folder icon in your taskbar.
2. Navigate to the WindowsApps folder. The folder is located at: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. You can type this path into the address bar at the top of File Explorer and press Enter.
3. Deal with the access denied message. When you try to open the folder, Windows will likely show a dialog saying “You don’t currently have permission to access this folder.” Click Continue to proceed. This is normal and does not mean you are doing anything wrong.
4. View the folder contents. After clicking Continue, you should see the folder’s contents. If you only need to look at the files (not modify them), you’re done. If you need to edit or delete files, continue to the next steps.
5. Open the folder’s Properties. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder in File Explorer and select Properties from the context menu.
6. Go to the Security tab. In the Properties window, click the Security tab. This shows the current permissions for the folder.
7. Click the Advanced button. At the bottom of the Security tab, click Advanced. This opens the Advanced Security Settings window.
8. Change the owner. At the top of the Advanced Security Settings window, next to “Owner:”, click the Change link.
9. Enter your username. In the “Enter the object name to select” field, type your Windows username (e.g., Administrator or your Microsoft account email). Click Check Names to verify it, then click OK.
10. Check the replace owner box. Back in the Advanced Security Settings window, check the box that says Replace owner on subcontainers and objects. This ensures you also own the files inside the folder.
11. Apply the changes. Click Apply, then OK. Windows will take a moment to change the ownership. If you get a pop-up asking for confirmation, click Yes.
12. Close and reopen the folder. Close the Properties window and try opening the WindowsApps folder again. You should now have full access to view, edit, and delete files inside.

Common Mistakes

• Clicking “Continue” and thinking you’re done. That only gives you permission to view the folder once. To actually modify files, you must take ownership as described in steps 5–11.
• Changing ownership of the entire Program Files folder. Only change ownership for the WindowsApps folder itself, not the parent folder. Doing so can break other apps.
• Deleting files without knowing what they are. The WindowsApps folder contains system-critical app files. Deleting the wrong file can cause apps to malfunction or even affect Windows stability.
• Using the wrong username. If you type your Microsoft account email but your local user profile name is different, the ownership may not apply correctly. Use the exact username that appears in C:\Users.

Tips

• Back up before making changes. Copy any file you plan to modify to another location first. This is especially important if you’re replacing game files or app resources.
• Use the command line for a quicker method. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d y followed by icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant "%USERNAME%":(OI)(CI)F /t. This does the same as the GUI steps but faster.
• Re-enable protection after you’re done. If you took ownership to fix something, consider resetting the permissions back to the default. You can do this by running icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /reset /t as Administrator.
• Consider using a third-party file manager. Some file managers like 7-Zip can open the folder without changing permissions, but you still won’t be able to modify files without ownership.

Troubleshooting

You still get “Access Denied” after taking ownership. This can happen if the folder is in use by a running app. Close all Store apps and background processes, then try again. If it persists, restart your PC and repeat the ownership steps.

The “Change” link is greyed out. This usually means you are not logged in as an administrator. Log out and log back in with an administrator account, or right-click File Explorer and select “Run as administrator” before trying again.

You see a message about needing permission from SYSTEM. The WindowsApps folder is owned by the SYSTEM account by default. When you change the owner to yourself, make sure you also check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects”. If you skipped that, files inside may still be locked.

Apps stop working after you modify files. This is not a bug — it’s a consequence of changing app files. To fix it, try reinstalling the affected app from the Microsoft Store. If that doesn’t work, you may need to reset Windows or restore from a system backup.

You can’t find the WindowsApps folder at all. Make sure you typed the path exactly as C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. If you have Windows installed on a different drive, replace C: with the correct drive letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it safe to access the WindowsApps folder?
A: Viewing is safe. Modifying files is risky and can break apps, but with proper backups and careful changes, it’s possible to do safely.

Q: Why is the WindowsApps folder hidden?
A: Microsoft hides it to prevent users from accidentally corrupting Store apps and to maintain the integrity of the app sandboxing system.

Q: Can I delete the WindowsApps folder?
A: No. Deleting it will remove all Store apps and likely cause serious system issues. Never delete the entire folder.

Q: How do I get back to the default permissions?
A: Run icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /reset /t as Administrator. This restores the original ACLs.

Q: Will taking ownership affect my Windows updates?
A: Generally no, but if you change permissions on system files inside, updates might fail. It’s best to revert permissions after making your changes.

Q: Can I access WindowsApps on Windows 10 and Windows 11 the same way?
A: Yes, the steps are identical for both versions. The folder location and permission structure are the same.

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