Problems with file permissions in WindowsApps (Xbox Beta Windows 10 App install directory)

Mark Stanbrook · May 2, 2020

The XBox Beta software for Windows will only install to 'special' folders that it recognises as 'software install' locations. I can't just say I want this game installed in E:\Games and this one in H:\Games. I don't see any reason why the install directory
should be in any way linked to system settings. No other games platfrom requires this and it's useful to put high performance games on PCI-E, medium ones on SATA-SSD and completely unintesive ones on Mechanical SATA drives.

Please remove this requirement that install locations are in some way special.

Second issue. The default location for the installs is c:\Program Files\WindowsApps. This folder is owned by a special user 'TrustedInstaller'. This account was created without permission which is obnoxious behaviour but more importantly I, the user and
administrator of the system, have no rights to the folder. Even after taking over ownership of the folder and propogating those changes down through the tree the rights do not extend fully - something prevents them populating. I own as far as the next two
levels down but beyond that the actual content of the programs in there I have no access to.

Even using PowerShell with elevated priviledges you have nothing - only 'list' ability.

e.g.

------ 23/04/2020 15:56 7147 Longshot.csv

You can't even read the file's contents and this prevents a lot of features and facilities from working. For me the most annoying is that I cannot mod the games. Not even by hand which I'm happy to do.

So in conclusion...

1. Remove the 'special' nature of the install destinations.

2. Remove the lock-out of the user and host administrator from accessing their purchased software - there should NEVER be data on my PC that I cannot access - or that my security software cannot scan - and it almost certainly puts users in breach of the
Investigatory Powers Act (2016).

3. Implement an equivalent of Steam's workshop ASAP!

I appreciate that there is value in having a Game Pass but with these poor design choices and lack of access to my own storage I will be uninstalling at the end of this month if fixes are not forthcoming.

:)

Obsessive Power

@Lionheart jr

Do you own the game or are you trying it via the PC Game Pass? If its via the Game Pass are you trying to download via the Game Pass App? Do you get an error code or does nothing happen? Can you download and install other Windows 10 apps and games?

As for the Game directory, you won't find it with a search. Windows 10 Apps and games are stored in the hidden WindowsApps folder located in C:\Program Files on the OS hard drive or in the root directory of any other drives you've installed Windows Apps
and games to.

You can gain access to this WindowsApps folder by changing its permissions, but I would only attempt this if you know what you're doing. Incorrectly changing the permissions can make these folders no longer work with the Windows 10 App Store.

Eric Molitor

It appears to be a permissions issue the game and WindowsApps/TrustedInstaller. I was able to fix it by changing the install location or by taking ownership of the WindowsApps directory the latter option is likely risky but should get the game working until
they sort this out.

The following link shows you how to take ownership of the WindowsApps folder

https://www.maketecheasier.com/access-windowsapps-folder-windows-10/

Obsessive Power

Hi

The error "this drive has apps from another device and that it needs to be deleted". is a common access denied error and error code 0x80070005 is a Windows
access denied error code.

It suggests to me that the D:\ drive already has Windows Apps installed from a previous PC or a previous Windows installation.

Have you either performed a fresh Windows 10 install recently or moved a hard drive from another machine into this one that used to have Windows Applications installed to the D:\ drive?

All Windows Apps including games are installed to a hidden protected folder called WindowsApps. The WindowsApps folder on the C: drive will be located in
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. On other drives on the PC it will be in the root directory of the drive, so for D:\ it will be
D:\WindowsApps

To use your D:\ drive again you'll need to take control of this hidden folder on your D:\ drive, and delete it.Take a look at

this guide.

Remember however, that in your case you need to take permission of the WindowsApps folder on D:\ drive, there is no need to change anything on the WindowsApps folder on C:\ drive. Everything else in the guide is the same.

Christopher Revoredo

All Windows Apps including games are installed to a hidden protected folder called WindowsApps. The WindowsApps folder on the C: drive will be located in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. On other drives on the PC it will be in the root directory of the drive, so for D:\ it will be D:\WindowsApps

To use your D:\ drive again you'll need to take control of this hidden folder on your D:\ drive, and delete it.Take a look at this guide.

Remember however, that in your case you need to take permission of the WindowsApps folder on D:\ drive, there is no need to change anything on the WindowsApps folder on C:\ drive. Everything else in the guide is the same

https://www.intowindows.com/how-to-access-windo...

NOTE: This is a third party link that is not Microsoft's property, so you might encounter advertising on the website.

Obsessive Power

Hello

There isn't a workaround as unfortunately the WindowsApps folder encryption does not pass over to a fresh Windows 10 install. You'll need to take over permission of the folder, remove it and download the games again.

WindowsApps folder can be found in the root directory along with two other folders 'WpSystem' and WUDownloadCache. So for example, if your drive is D:\ it will be located in D:\WindowsApps. This folder is not hidden as it is on the C:\ drive, but it is still encrypted and protected.

As you've installed Windows 10 again from scratch, your previous WindowsApps folder will no longer be accessible and Windows 10 will not be able to see any games installed to the folder.

Please follow this guide to help you delete your current WindowsApps folder. Once done you will also need to the delete the previously mentioned 'WpSystem' and 'WUDownloadCache' folders.

Once your old folder is deleted you should be able to change the drive where Apps are installed to in Windows 10 to the previos drive. Doing this will create a new WindowsApps folder on that drive.

Please let us know how you get on.

Problems with file permissions in WindowsApps (Xbox Beta Windows 10 App install directory)

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