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.
