В какой папке находится microsoft store в windows 10

We bet you remember there were days when you had to install your games yourself by using good old installers and wizards. However, we mostly rely on one-click solutions these days, so it is no wonder that games from the Microsoft Games Store are downloaded and installed automatically. Just open the app, choose the game you like, wait a bit, and enjoy a new adventure—that’s all you have to do. Isn’t that great?That said, you might be asking, “How to find games I’ve downloaded from the Microsoft Store?”  The thing is, some of them might be hogging too much space on your PC, which means there is a chance that you will end up wishing to relocate a game or two. If you have been toying with that idea and the question “Where are my Windows games stored?” keeps bothering you, you have come to the right place. In this very article, there are helpful tips on how to find where Windows Store games are stored on your Windows 10/11 and how to migrate them to another location if need be.

Also read:[FIXED] New Games Don’t Start or Are Not Working on Windows 10

Where Are Windows Store Apps Installed on Windows 10?

While the Microsoft Store offers a diverse range of games that cater to gamers of all ages, many users might not know where these games are stored on their systems. This information can be particularly useful for managing storage or troubleshooting. So, where does the Microsoft Store download games to? It is time for you to crack the mystery: the exact place in which your games dwell is C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

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This location might seem pretty obvious; however, the catch is, you are not allowed to access this folder.

Microsoft might think that this kind of restriction is here for a good reason since you can otherwise tamper with something crucial, thus harming your system. Nonetheless, being able to manage the contents of the folder in question may come in pretty handy in a situation where you need to free up some valuable space and move some games of yours from their default location to somewhere else or in a case where deleting the leftover files of an uninstalled entity is required. With this in mind, keep working your way down—below there is a simple way to take over the necessary folder.

How to Access the WindowsApps Directory in Windows 10?

The WindowsApps folder is heavily protected, which means you need special privileges to be able to access it. 

To gain access to the WindowsApps directory, take the following steps:

• Here is the path you should follow: C:\Program Files.

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• Go to View and check the box next to Hidden items .

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• Locate the WindowsApps folder and right-click on it.
• Select Properties from the drop-down menu.
• Select Security . Then select Advanced .

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• Go to Owner . There, click Change.
• Enter Microsoft account email address.
• Check the box next to Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
• Apply your changes.
• Locate and click on your account in the list. Click Edit.
• Check the box next to Full control.

You have just taken ownership of the folder.

How to Migrate Your Files from the WindowsApps folder?

Now it is quite easy to transfer your files from the WindowsApps folder to another location:

• Press the Windows logo + I key shortcut to invoke the Settings app.
• Once you are in it, go to Apps.
• Locate the game you wish to move.
• Click Move.

Finally, specify where your game should be stored now.

How to Change the Download Location for Microsoft Store Games?

You can change the default location for your Windows Store games in Windows 10 by using the instructions below:

• Open your Settings app and click System .
• Go to Storage .
• Locate the Change where new content is saved link.

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• Go to the New apps will save to: section.

Now you can select the partition where you would like your games to be saved.

Where Are Steam Games Stored in Windows 10?

Steam is booming these days: more and more people go there for a great gaming experience. That is why we believe you might wish to know what the download folder for your Steam games is. So, no beating around the bush—your Steam games are stored in the C:\Program Files\Steam (x86)\steamapps\common folder.

How to Create an Alternate Location for Your Future Steam Games?

You can easily change the installation path for your Steam games by tweaking the following settings:

• Launch Steam. Go to its Settings menu.
• Navigate to the Downloads tab.
• Go to the Content Libraries section. Locate and select Steam Library Folders.
• To set a new default installation path, click the Add Library Folder button.

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Now create a new path. It will be used for all your future installations.

Also read:Boost Advice: How to Effectively Speed Up Steam Downloads

How to Move Your Existing Steam Games?

If, for some reason, you want to migrate the existing games to some other location, this may involve a bit more effort than you might at first think. The point is, your games are closely tied to your Steam client application, which means you can move your games only by moving the app in question. Here is what you should do to move your Steam installation:

1. To begin with, back up your Steamapps folder in case something goes wrong. This might save you a lot of tears since you may lose your game progress while moving your Steam installation. Bad things happen, you know.
2. Log out of Steam and exit it.
3. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Steam.
4. Delete the contents of this folder except the Steam.exe file and the steamapps & userdata folders.
5. Cut your Steam folder and paste it to the new location you have chosen for it.
6. Launch Steam. Log in to your Steam account. Steam will require some time to update itself.

Finally, you should verify the integrity of your game files . Here is how you can do that:

1. Restart your PC. Open Steam.
2. Go to Library. Right-click on your game. Click Properties.
3. Proceed to Local files. Click the Verify integrity of game files… button.

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Please be patient—the verification process may take a while.

Now that you know where your Microsoft Store games are stored on Windows 10, you may also want to know, “Where are Microsoft Store apps saved in Windows 11?”

The new OS does indeed come with a number of changes and upgrades, including new widgets, multiple desktops, a redesigned Settings app, and more. However, when it comes to saving Microsoft Store apps, not much has changed on Windows 11.

Just like with Windows 10, the installation location of Microsoft Store apps is not visible. All the applications downloaded from the Microsoft Store are saved in a folder called WindowsApps located in the Program Files directory. While the folder is hidden by default, it’s quite easy to make it visible and gain access to it by following the same steps as on Windows 10. Namely:

• Go to C:\Program Files .
• Click View and check the box for Hidden items .
• Find the WindowsApps folder and right-click it.
• Go to Properties in the drop-down menu.
• Navigate to Security > Advanced .
• Select Owner and click Change .
• Log in with your Microsoft account email address.
• Check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects .
• Select Apply to save your changes.
• Find and click on your account in the list. Select Edit .
• Check the box for Full control .

Once you have unhidden the WindowsApps folder, you will have full access to the folder where all your apps are stored. If you feel uneasy that you have unhidden a protected folder and that tinkering with the files in it can cause harm to your PC, this is not the case. Many hidden folders, including the WhatsApp folder, are hidden because they may contain information that is too technical for the typical user, such as crash reports and diagnostic data. Now, if you are getting your games from Steam, you may also want to know where your downloaded files are kept. On Windows 11, just like on Windows 10, you can find your downloaded Steam files here: C:\Program Files\Steam (x86)\steamapps\common folder. If you find this inconvenient, you have the option of creating an alternate location for your future Steam games. Just like with Windows 10, all it takes is tweaking a few settings. You will need to do the following:

• Go to Steam and open the Settings menu.
• Head to the Downloads tab.
• Locate the Content Libraries section and select Steam Library Folders .
• Set a new default installation path by pressing the Add Library Folder button.
• Now you will need to create a new path. It will be used for all your future installations.

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Where Are Microsoft Store Apps and Games Installed on Windows 10/11: Answered

Hopefully, we have answered your question of “Where are Microsoft Store apps installed?” and now you have no problem accessing your game installation directories. If you want to add something or learn more about storing Microsoft Store or Steam games, do not hesitate to leave a comment below.  We are here to help you get the most out of your games.

FAQ

Windows Store apps are also known as “Modern Apps” or “Windows Apps” or “Metro apps“. These sort of Windows Apps are newly introduced in Windows 10/8. There are tons of apps to install and  you can find them in Microsoft Store.

These Windows apps are handy and can be used to organise your work, assist in projects and can help you get quick information. Some Windows Apps comes pre-installed such as Weather, Calender, Mail, Onenote, Camera, Skype, Maps and News.

Moreover, if you are that curious user who wants to know where the files of these apps are located. How can I find the executable file of Windows 10 apps? Where the folder of Windows 10 Apps are located?

We will look for the Windows apps folder location and learn how to get access to it. Also, we will look for the ways to get Windows apps executable file location. We will discuss all these queries in details below.

Let’s look after each query one by one.

Query 1: Where to find the location of Windows Store Apps folder

Basically, all Windows Store Apps are installed under the folder “WindowsApps“. And, “WindowsApps” folder is located in C:\Program files. But, these files are hidden and need administrative privilege to open it.

We will see step by step method how to get access to Windows apps location.

Firstly, Unhide the folder “WindowsApps”

Step 1: Go to c:\program files and press Ctrl + F1, it will maximize the top ribbon. Next, you need to click on view > Details > check Hidden Items. It will unhide “WindowsApps” folder

Change the Ownership of the Folder “WindowsApps”

Step 2: Right click on folder “WindowsApps” and click on “Properties“. Here, go to “Security” tab and then click on “Advanced“. Consequently, it will open “Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps“.

Step 3: In the “Advanced Security Setting for WindowsApps“, click on “change” for administrative permission.

Step 4: It will open Select User or Group dialog box. In the field “Enter the object name to select“, type in “administrators” and click on “Check Names“.

Alternatively, you can use Microsoft email address you are using to login Microsoft account in this system. Next, you have to click on “Check Names” button. Windows 10 will automatically check the existing user account and replace it with Microsoft account in the same field.

Step 5: Again, it will open “Advanced Security Setting for WindowsApps” dialog box. Here, you need to check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and click “apply” for changes.

Step 6: A new dialog will appear “Changing ownership of:“. It will change the ownership of all files and folder under “WindowsApps“.

And, at the end, once completed, it will show another dialog box “If you have just taken ownership of this object, you will need to close and reopen this object’s properties before you can view or change permissions“.

Step 7: Now, you will need to click on “WindowsApps” folder and then click “continue” as administrators. It will open the folder with the list of all apps.

Query 2: Where to find the Windows Store Apps executable file?

Windows Apps exe file help users to create shortcut on the desktop for quick access. You would like to get access to the list of all Windows apps installed on your Windows PC.

So, in order to get access to Windows apps executable files and its shortcuts follow the steps below:

Step 1: Press Windows Key + R and type in “shell:AppsFolder” to open the list of apps installed in your Windows PC.

Step 2: Now, right click on any apps and then click on “Open file location”

Step 3: It will open list of Windows apps installed in your Windows PC. It is basically the shortcuts of all Windows apps installed.

Step 4: Right click on any apps and then click on properties. Subsequently, it will open Properties dialog box. Here, you have to click on “Shortcut” and then “see the “Target” field with file location.

Step 5: You can directly go to the exe file of Windows 10 apps by clicking on “Open File Location“. It will open the existing Windows app exe files (Here, for an example we have taken Google Chrome).

Now, you have an idea of how to find the file location of Windows apps. You can now locate any executable file of Windows 10 apps and can create shortcut to desktop.

We have also discussed a similar method on how to find the location of executable file for a program installed in Windows 10 PC.

If you have any other ways to open exe files of Windows 10 apps, you can lets us know in the comment section.

Finding the location of Microsoft Store apps on your PC can be a bit tricky if you don’t know where to look. Microsoft Store apps are usually stored in a folder named ‘WindowsApps.’ This folder is tucked away in the ‘Program Files’ directory on your main Windows installation drive. It’s important to note that the folder is hidden by default to prevent users from tampering with the system files.

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Navigating to this folder requires a few steps. Open File Explorer and go to the ‘C: drive’. You’ll need to unhide the folders to see ‘WindowsApps’. Click on ‘View’, then check ‘Hidden items’. Now you should be able to see the ‘WindowsApps’ folder in the ‘Program Files’ directory.

Sometimes, you may install your apps on a different drive. If that’s the case, you’ll need to check your Storage settings. Go to ‘Settings’, click on ‘System’, then ‘Storage’. Under ‘Advanced Storage Settings’, click on ‘Where new content is saved’ and select the correct drive. This information can save time and frustration when locating where each app is stored.

Microsoft Store apps are not stored where you’d expect regular apps to be. They are saved in a special folder called WindowsApps inside the Program Files directory of the system drive, typically C:/. This folder is hidden by default, making it tricky to access.

To view the WindowsApps folder, we need to unhide it first. We can use File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to C:/Program Files.
3. Click on the View tab.
4. Check the Hidden Items box.

We should now see the WindowsApps folder.

Besides, we can locate the executable files for these apps via Task Manager:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Right-click any column header and enable Command Line.
4. Open a Microsoft Store app.
5. Find the app in Task Manager and check the Command Line column for the path.

It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, but these tricks should help us locate our precious apps. Happy hunting! 🔎

Common Locations On Different Operating Systems

Knowing where Microsoft Store apps are stored can help us manage our devices better. Let’s look at the common locations on different operating systems, focusing on what’s most important.

On Windows

On Windows, Microsoft Store apps are stored in a special folder. By default, they are placed in the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps directory. This folder is hidden, and you need special permissions to access it.

To see the folder, we need to enable viewing hidden files and folders in File Explorer. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open File Explorer
2. Go to the View tab
3. Check Hidden items

After doing that, we can navigate to C:\Program Files and find the WindowsApps folder.

Apps installed on another drive are placed in a similar directory structure. The system drive is where we usually find them, but it’s possible to move apps through Settings > Apps > Apps & features.

On MacOS

Microsoft Store apps are not available on MacOS. Instead, apps from the Mac App Store are used. These apps are typically stored in the Applications folder.

For example, if we download an app like Keynote, it will be found in:

• Macintosh HD > Applications

Like Windows, MacOS also hides some files by default. To see all files, we can press Command + Shift + Period in Finder.

There are also other folders like ~/Library/Application Support where app data might be stored. It’s good practice to back up these locations regularly.

On Mobile Devices

On mobile devices like phones and tablets, Microsoft Store apps are managed differently. For instance, on Windows Phone (now discontinued), apps were stored in the system’s AppData.

For Android and iOS devices, the apps are stored within the device’s own storage system. Each operating system handles app storage uniquely:

• Android: /data/data/[app_package_name]
• iOS: Uses a sandbox to keep app data secure and isolated, typically stored under the app’s own directory within /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application

We need access permissions to view these folders on Android, often requiring a file manager app or connecting the device to a computer. On iOS, app management and storage are controlled more tightly.

Each platform has its own way of managing app storage, and understanding this helps us make better use of our devices.

Troubleshooting The Microsoft Store App Location

Identifying where Microsoft Store apps are located can be tricky due to hidden folders and security restrictions. We’ll walk through checking the installation directory and verifying system requirements to help locate these elusive apps.

Checking Installation Directory

First, let’s locate the installation directory. Microsoft’s Store apps are typically stored in the WindowsApps folder, found in the C:\Program Files directory. This folder is hidden by default and protected for security reasons.

Here’s how to access it:

1. Unhide Folders:
   Open File Explorer and go to the ‘View’ tab. Select ‘Hidden items’ to reveal hidden folders.

2. Navigate to Folder:
   Head to C:\Program Files and look for the WindowsApps folder.

3. Change Permissions:
   You’ll need to adjust the folder’s security settings:

   • Right-click WindowsApps and select ‘Properties.’
   • Go to the ‘Security’ tab and click ‘Advanced.’
   • Change the owner to your username. Click ‘Change,’ type your username, and click ‘Check Names.’
   • Grant necessary permissions, ensuring you don’t alter settings for the TrustedInstaller user.

Unfortunately, improper changes can disrupt apps, so tread carefully.

Verifying System Requirements

Sometimes, finding the install location hinges on verifying that your system meets necessary requirements. We need to ensure that our system has the right permissions and security settings.

1. Check for Admin Rights:
   Ensure you’re logged in as an administrator. Without admin access, you can’t adjust folder permissions.

2. Security Settings:
   Verify the system’s security settings. Go to the ‘Security’ tab:

   • Ensure that TrustedInstaller maintains highest permission level.
   • Confirm that the current user has read and execute permissions.

3. System Updates:
   Sometimes, outdated systems can hide functional configurations. Ensure Windows is up-to-date by navigating to ‘Settings’ > ‘Update & Security’ > ’Windows Update.’

If permissions and security settings are correct, and you’re operating with the latest updates, it should be easier to see and manage the Microsoft Store apps.

By following these steps, we should be able to troubleshoot the location of the Microsoft Store apps effectively.

Additional Tips

In this section, we focus on ensuring your Microsoft Store apps stay updated and configuring your preferences for a smoother experience. These steps will help you get the most out of your apps.

Keeping The App Updated

Keeping your apps up-to-date is crucial for security and functionality. Outdated apps might have bugs or security flaws that can cause issues.

To make sure your apps are always updated:

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Turn on App updates.

Manually updating apps can be necessary sometimes.

1. Click on Library at the bottom left of the Microsoft Store.
2. Select Get Updates to update all your apps.

We should also pay attention to update notifications and follow through promptly. Regular maintenance ensures apps run smoothly and securely.

Setting Up Your Preferences

Customizing our device settings to suit personal preferences can enhance our experience. Let’s start with where new apps are installed.

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Storage.
3. Click on Change where new content is saved.
4. Select your preferred storage drive from the drop-down menu.

To view hidden files, which is necessary for accessing folders like WindowsApps, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click View in the top menu.
3. Check the box for Hidden items.

Additionally, manage your storage through apps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Sort and remove apps that you don’t use regularly.

Taking control of these settings helps in making your experience smoother and more organized.