to In Windows 10, files of all default apps as well as apps that you installed from Store are saved under a folder called WindowsApps located in the drive where Windows 10 is installed.
Location of WindowsApps folder in Windows 10
The WindowsApps folder is located under Program Files directory. As you likely know, the Program Files directory can be accessed by opening up the drive where Windows 10 is installed.
Many PC users, at times, want to access WindowsApps folder so that they can edit original files of apps. Because WindowsApps folder is a system folder and contains system files, accessing it is not a straight-forward job.
When you try to access WindowsApps folder with default settings, you get “You have been denied permission to access this folder” error message. However, you can access and open WindowsApps folder by changing default permissions of the folder. Here is how to do just that.
Access WindowsApps directory in Windows 10
Complete the given below directions without any deviation to access and open WindowsApps folder in Windows 10.
Step 1: First of all, open up the Windows 10 installation drive. On most PCs, it’s “C” drive but you can easily identify the drive as the drive icon of Windows 10 drive displays a Windows logo for easy identification.
Step 2: Look for Program Files folder and double-click on the same to open it. You should now see WindowsApps folder there.
If WindowsApps folder is not appearing, click the View tab, and then check Hidden items option to see WindowsApps folder.
Step 3: As you likely know by now, the WindowsApps folder cannot be accessed directly. You need to change permissions to access the WindowsApps folder.
To get access to WindowsApps folder, please right-click on it and click Properties to open WindowsApps Properties dialog.
Step 4: Switch to the Security tab. Under the Security tab, click the Advanced button. This will open Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps folder.
Step 5: Click the Change link next to the owner. Click Yes button when you see the User Account Control dialog. If you are asked to enter the password, please enter the admin account password to proceed further.
Step 6: You can now see permissions for the WindowsApps folder. Since you want to access the folder, you need to change current permissions. To do so, click the Change link.
Step 7: Clicking Change link will open Select User or Group dialog. In the Enter the object name to select field, type administrators, click Check Names button. Click OK button.
Alternatively, if you are using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, in the “Enter the object name to select” field, type in your Microsoft email address and then click Check Names button. When you do so, Windows 10 will check if the account exists on the PC and automatically shows the actual user name of the Microsoft account in the same field.
Click OK button.
Step 8: Finally, at Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps window, check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects option.
Under Permissions (refer the picture below), under Access column, you should now see Full control.
Click Apply button. Windows 10 will start changing permissions of WindowsApps folder now.
Step 9: Double-click on WindowsApps folder and then click Continue button when you see the confirmation dialog to open WindowsApps folder.
That’s all.
Jose Carrasquillo says
Thank you very much for this helpful post, hopefully others with underlying issues can figure it out.
Someone says
Here we’re 2021 and it does work for me. How ?
I did exactly what it said on the top and ad some steps to it.
After doing all the thing on the top,
1- go to “Auditing” and click on “Add”
2- Enter ‘administrator” or your mail.
3- Give yourself “Full control”
4- Now go to “Effective Access” and” Select a user”
5- Enter ‘administrator” or your mail.
6- Apply and close the pannel
Now try to open WindowsApp and tell me if it works for you
PS: i’m not an english native to forgive my english pls.
Roy says
Well this absolutely doesn’t wok….
Justin says
When I try to move the file or copy it, it says I “need permissions from Administrators to make changes to this file”
solimanramsesfan says
hey soliman, listened to your music. it was alright
Anonymous says
God it takes forever to transfer all control lol so many files
Gahdinn says
Finally I have seized control of my own computer! Thank you!
Schoko Bratel says
Not working anymore with current 2020 Windows 10 version. It’s so ridicolous.
Uoiinnle says
Since I use an outlook account on my PC I decided to put my email instead of Administrator, worked perfect. Thanks a lot.
sabaoz says
If this guide doesn’t work for you, try this:
In step 7, instead of searching for “administrators”, search for the name of your account and follow the other steps.
The reason beeing that on many PCs there is a hidden account with the name “administrator”. In following this guide you gave access priviliges to that hidden account, but not to the one you are using.
Ian Couto de Paula says
Hi, I follow the steps exactly the way it sad to but even though I can’t get access to this folder. Could anyone help me?
Sol says
Perfect! Please, if you have time, have a listen :) soundcloud.com/solimanramses
GSU says
Thank you very much!
Pete says
Does anybody know why this is working for some and not others? Like Ruben, I followed this guide to a T and I’m still being denied access to the Windows App folder, despite having successfully changed full ownership to my admin account.
Micah says
Thank you, this was very helpful.
Ruben says
This did absolutely nothing. I followed every step to a tee and I still wasn’t granted access
I’m unable to fathom why I, the administrator on my pc, a pc that is on ever used by me, locked by passwords from A to Z, am unable to look into the folder where the Xbox app, decides to dump the installed games.
It’s a FUCKING mystery
Barbara Stender says
Thank you so much. I did it!
Moa Ramini says
how to reset the whole session when i am done with this. to make it go back to normal as it was?
Randy Garcia says
Thank you so much!!
Elie says
Thanks it was very helpful cheers!
hollis says
I have ongoing issues with my Win10 home about permissions.
I thought this might work. I do sign in with a MS account, so I used the 2nd part of step 7. So I entered my email address.
But for Step 8 after I Clicked ok, The owner is listed, NOT as my email but as a String of numbers.
Starting withS-1-5-21- It continues for 20-30 characters.
Trusted installer is listed as having Full Control. And the numbers for second permission entry is different form the one above; listed as owner.
Any ideas. I am concerned about clicking Ok , after changing the owner, but it does not seem that there is a way at this point to back out. Except I did make a system restore point prior to doing this.
Yinnon says
Thanks
Col says
Just… Thank you.
I have been trying to find some files hidden in here for weeks.
Now I can see how this happens.
Rick Francis says
I’ve done all of that and yes, I can access the folder, but the files are still locked down as read only for me. I cant figure out what needs to be done to fix the read only access. Stupid M$ and their idiotic crap like this is so lame.
RAP says
YES! Thank you!
mike says
Thanks a lot! Works like a charm.
art says
i want to remove Microsoft edge its useless and too complicated why have you made it impossible to do so,its like a secret state society .
Marvin says
Thanks for this. it works well