As an experienced full-stack developer, I often need to tweak low-level Windows settings that are hidden from average users. One protected area that frequently trips me up is the WindowsApps folder.
Attempting to view the contents results in a common "Access Denied" error:
This inability to access critical system folders poses challenges when developing and debugging apps. So gaining entry while staying secure requires carefully bypassing permissions.
In this guide tailored for developers, I‘ll cover the technical background, safe access procedures, and troubleshooting tips for solving WindowsApps folder permission issues.
Why Windows Locks Down WindowsApps Access for Developers
Before jumping straight to taking ownership as a workaround, it helps to understand the rationale behind locking down WindowsApps from a development perspective.
Keeping Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Apps Isolated
The WindowsApps folder contains installed Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps packaged as MSIX bundles or APPX files. These modern app packages run sandboxed for security and use structured storage backed by a local database.
To prevent instability, Microsoft severely restricts access to these UWP app data stores hosted under WindowsApps. Direct modification could easily corrupt the structured storage or conflict with synchronization services for Microsoft Store installs.
As a developer working with UWP apps, I need low-level access to sideload test packages, view logs, or integrate custom functionality. But touching live production data is still extremely unadvised due to the volatility.
Guarding System Integrity
Broader than just UWP apps, the WindowsApps directory contains APPX runtimes, frameworks, and licensing infrastructure used globally across Windows 10. Uninformed changes here could cripple Microsoft Store functionality or disable built-in apps unexpectedly.
Metrics by Avanan researchers found that approximately 30% of Windows 10 users suffer stability issues after forced feature upgrades. So Microsoft justifiably locks down paths that could contribute to further problems:
As seen above, even authorized modifications from controlled updates routinely break Windows 10 configurations. Hence the ultra-protective permissions isolating WindowsApps further.
Blocking External Threats
Locked folders form part of the larger Windows Defender strategy preventing unauthorized changes that open malware or exploit vectors.
For example, the Loner worm showed how malicious software can strategically delete files in protected directories to impair scanning. So strict permissions mitigate these advanced attacks too.
As a developer probing Windows internals, I could unwittingly open similar vulnerabilities with improper tools or access procedures. So for both app stability and system security, respecting the built-in WindowsApps restrictions remains vital unless absolutely necessary.
Bypassing WindowsApps Folder Restrictions with Ownership Change
After weighing the risks, there may still be cases that justify overriding default WindowsApps behavior for developers like inspecting app assets or dependencies.
Taking ownership enables full read/write access without completely dismantling protections. However, accidentally modifying key files can still damage a system, so extreme care is mandatory.
Follow these steps to bypass permissions by claiming ownership yourself:
1. Open File Explorer at the WindowsApps Location
First, navigate to the C:\Program Files root directory typically containing WindowsApps.
Note: In some configurations, it may instead reside under C:\Users or custom disk locations.
Then open the WindowsApps folder directly if visible. If not shown, Windows hides system directories by default.
2. Unhide Hidden Folders and Verify WindowsApps
Next, enable viewing hidden files and folders:
- Open View > Options > Change folder and search options.
- Switch to the View tab and enable Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Advanced settings.
- Hit OK to apply.
Now you should see WindowsApps among other formerly obscured system directories if present.
3. Open WindowsApps Folder Properties
With WindowsApps visible, right-click the folder and select Properties:
4. Navigate to Security Tab Advanced Settings
In the folder properties, switch to the Security tab and click the Advanced button near the bottom.
This opens advanced permission settings allowing ownership changes among other special modifications.
5. Take Ownership from TrustedInstaller
In advanced security settings, the current owner shows as the TrustedInstaller system account by default with locked full control.
Click Change beside the owner label, then enter your account name which automatically checks the spelling. Hit OK to replace TrustedInstaller ownership with your user account.
6. Replace Child Object Permissions
With yourself now the owner, enable the Replace all child object permission entries option.
This critical recursive flag transfers ownership down through all underlying files and folders below WindowsApps. Leave disabled to only affect the parent container.
Finally click OK to confirm replacement across WindowsApps and contents.
7. Add Your Account with Full Control
Next, back under advanced permissions, select Add to assign explicit access:
- Choose only the name of your account resolved through the object picker.
- Allow Full control permissions.
- Hit OK to add the entry.
Repeat assigning your account for any other listed groups or system identities.
Once configured, the permissions table should show your account with full control authority superseded by ownership.
Try accessing WindowsApps again – you should now have unrestricted read and write access. But avoid modifying anything non-essential!
Working Inside WindowsApps as Developer
With barriers cleared thanks to ownership overriding inherited permissions, developers like myself can finally access WindowsApps programmatically or directly.
Here are some example cases taking advantage of the elevated folder access:
Sideload Development UWP Apps
UWP apps extremely locked down by necessity. But during development cycles, developers need deployment access and elevated capabilities enabled through manual package installation.
By taking WindowsApps ownership, I can sideload my unofficial test app packages (APPX/MSIX) without relying on Microsoft Store restrictions. This might traditionally require enabling Developer Mode, but I bypass constraints entirely via manual deployment under WindowsApps instead.
Just be warned sideloading skips security scanning – so only install trusted packages from your own build pipeline.
Direct File-Level Access
Owning WindowsApps enables directly interacting with hosted app asset files for debugging purposes or dynamic customization.
For example, I can tweak images, strings, and configuration files inside hardcoded app package directories that are usually inaccessible externally. This allows real-time adjustments without rebuild/redeployment.
However, this unrestricted internal access risks corrupting structured app storage if mishandled – so careful monitoring is critical.
Read Debug Logs
Taking ownership permits viewing detailed event viewer streams, crash dumps, usage statistics, and other debugging artifacts useful when developing apps.
For example, I can now open the Reporting/Logs subfolder to inspect various tracing helpful for diagnosing crashes:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\.[APPNAME]_[VERSION]_x64__qbz5n2kfra8p0\AppxMetadata\AppxLog
Deeper internals exposure aids advanced troubleshooting but risks privacy or stability if leaked or mishandled.
Customize Context Menus
Another handy customization is adding my own Open With menu options missing from UWP apps that ordinarily lack context handler extensibility.
By becoming WindowsApps owner, I inject entries like opening packages in my IDE or preferred text editor by targeting deployment manifests. This helps my daily usage without rebuilding an app.
However, incorrectly editing configurations could again easily destabilize packaged app behavior.
Troubleshooting Further WindowsApps Access Problems
If issues still persist when interacting with WindowsApps contents even after taking ownership, try these developer-focused mitigations:
Recheck Folder Ownership Recursively
Access blocking suggests inherited permission problems. Verify you took recursive ownership including child items – not just the parent WindowsApps container.
Right-click folders causing problems and recheck security tab ownership manually propagating the change.
Also confirm at least read access on all encapsulated files and registry keys.
Inspect Context-Aware Filtering
Windows supplements NTFS permissions with context-aware access filters that could also be blocking access unexpectedly.
Open an admin PowerShell prompt and run Get-Acl on problem paths to inspect fine-grained controls. Consider resetting using Set-Acl if misconfigured.
For example, inherited app container rules could be hiding content dynamically based on the process context rather than strict NTFS permissions that otherwise show incorrectly.
Toggle Windows Defender and Firewall
Sometimes Windows Defender antivirus, ransomware protection, or firewall rules misattribute developer tools like debuggers as threats and block access accordingly.
I often find turning off these layers briefly often resolves intermittent permission issues caused by overzealous dynamic security layers so common while developing nowadays.
Launch Tools as Admin/TrustedInstaller
Rather than fighting context rules, launch your tools explicitly with admin rights or using built-in identities like TrustedInstaller that inherently have unlocked access.
For example, extract the Write-Host Test.txt command from this script that invokes a System-level shell. This can write files I cannot touch personally even while designated owner in isolated contexts.
Isolate from Other Security Software
Other third-party antivirus tools are also notorious for blocking access to sensitive directories due to injected shell extensions or firewalling. Temporarily uninstalling this software can help isolate Windows native permission issues.
I heavily leverage virtualization to cleanly troubleshoot these toolchain conflicts without risking my host development environment.
Reinstate Default WindowsApps Security
If granting yourself WindowsApps access causes any problems with apps or system stability, immediately undo ownership changes to return to the default restricted state:
- Open folder properties and advanced security settings again.
- Choose Change owner and enter
TrustedInstalleragain to reset. - Remove any custom permission entries added earlier.
- Confirm Replace owner recursively enabled, then hit OK.
This should fully revert WindowsApps permissions and containment back to the original locked down configuration Windows requires.
Retry launching any troublesome apps – functionality should now restore with protections re-applied. Rebooting also helps ensure changes propagate across all processes and services reliably.
If issues continue plaguing Windows after reversing modifications, a system restore or Reset This PC may be necessary as a last resort. Leverage backups before resetting!
The Importance of Exercising Caution
Ultimately while the steps outlined here grant developers more convenient low-level Windows access, ignoring all warnings comes at substantial risk still.
Arguably exposing and prodding WindowsApps should be completely avoided unless critically necessary. But accessible internals can speed up certain development or debugging workflows when applied judiciously.
Just be extremely careful to not modify components and monitoring system health accordingly. Unexpected changes or deletions can still render Windows 10 partially unusable and difficult to recover cleanly. Quarantine experiments within disposable virtual machines whenever possible.
With great power comes great responsibility!
Conclusion
Hopefully this guide gave fellow developers more background on the sensitive WindowsApps folder we continually fight for access. Quick power-user tricks can bypass protections – but remaining ever-diligent around volatile system directories remains crucial.
I invite anyone still having trouble with blocked WindowsApps access even after the detailed steps here to leave any questions in the comments!