Where Does Windows Store Install Games?

When you download a game from the internet using your Windows computer, it usually appears in the “Downloads” folder. However, this isn’t the case with games downloaded from the Microsoft Store. So it’s no surprise that many users wonder where Windows stores games downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

If you’re interested in learning the answer, you’ve come to the right place. This article explains the exact location and reveals why the folder is protected. Plus, the article will show you how to modify the download location for your games.

Windows Store Installation Location for Games

As mentioned, finding the games downloaded from the Microsoft Store may be harder than you thought. Sure, you can start the games differently, but if you want to find the actual folder they’re placed in, you’ll have difficulties.

Windows stores the games you’ve downloaded from the Microsoft Store in a “secret” folder called WindowsApps. Here’s where this folder is located: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps.

Windows made accessing this folder a bit more complicated than simply clicking it. When you open Program Files, you probably won’t see this folder. Why? Because this folder contains valuable data, and tinkering with it could harm your system if you’re not careful enough. Microsoft lowered the risk of unintentional system failures by making it invisible.

However, many users want to access this folder when they want to move the game to a different location or free up some space. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to access it:

1. Open Program Files.
   
2. Select the “View” tab in the top-left corner.
   
3. Mark the box next to “Hidden items” in the Show/Hide section.
   
4. The folder should appear in Program Files. If you don’t see it, type “WindowsApps” in the search bar at the top-right corner.
   

If you try to access the folder, you’ll probably see the “You don’t currently have permission to access this folder” message. Here’s how to change this:

1. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and choose “Properties.”
   
2. Open the “Security” tab.
   
3. Choose “Advanced.”
   
4. Enter the e-mail address for your Microsoft account.
   
5. Mark the checkbox next to “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and apply the changes.
   

Now, you’ll be able to access and manage the WindowsApps folder. Remember that this folder contains files from all default applications installed on your computer. To avoid harming your system, you must work in this folder with utmost caution.

FAQ

How do I change the download location for my games?

By default, Windows saves your games to the C: drive. If you don’t want this, you can quickly change it by following the steps below:

1. Launch the Start menu and press the gear icon to access Settings.

2. Go to “System.”

3. Select “Storage.”

4. Press “Change where new content is saved.”

5. Select the arrow pointing downwards under “New apps will be saved to” and choose the download location.

Here, you can also customize the download location for documents, music, photos, videos, offline maps, etc.

Find the Game

The Microsoft Store offers a wide range of games you can download in only a few clicks. However, the default download folder also contains valuable information that ensures a smooth operation of your computer, so Windows protects it by restricting access. Fortunately, you can work around this restriction and manage the folder as you please. Always be careful when working with the folder because tampering with certain files can harm your system.

Do you like the Microsoft Store game collection? What websites do you use for downloading games? Tell us in the comments section below.

Original publication: Source article