WindowsApps C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

Default install location of MSIX packages and Microsoft Store apps. Locked folder: access is denied, even to administrators.

Updated on 12 November 2026 By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

MSIX packages, and so Microsoft Store apps, install here by default: each package gets its own C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\<package full name> folder holding the executable. Data the app modifies is not stored here but in the profile, under AppData\Local\Packages.

What it contains

One folder per package, named after its full name (name, version, architecture, publisher ID).
The application files: executables, libraries, resources and manifest.
The folder is hidden, and its permissions are strict enough to deny access even to administrators.

Risks and best practices

Once deployed, a package’s files are read-only. Windows refuses to launch an app whose files were tampered with, so patching them by hand is pointless.
Do not take ownership of the folder to empty or move it. Uninstall apps through Settings or with Remove-AppxPackage.
A package volume on another drive is possible; choose the location in the storage settings.
For inventory or troubleshooting, query Get-AppxPackage rather than opening the folder.

Useful commands

# List packages and their location (read-only)
Get-AppxPackage | Select-Object Name, Version, InstallLocation | Sort-Object Name

# All users (as administrator)
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select-Object Name, PackageUserInformation, InstallLocation

# Uninstall an app (as administrator; test first with -WhatIf)
# Get-AppxPackage *AppName* | Remove-AppxPackage -WhatIf

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