How to clean up WindowsApps folder?

einstein1969 · 11 Sep 2021

Hi,

I have a strange situation: analyzing the space on C: I saw that some apps that I had uninstalled still exist in the windowsApps folder and even old versions of some apps are there taking up space.

At first I tried to reinstall the app and remove it but the space didn't free it.

With the old version of an app I tried to move it to another volume, but he moved the latest version and the old one stayed there.

I tried to make a list of apps with powershell, but they don't show up in the list.

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *asphalt* | Select Name, PackageFullName

I also tried the cleaning start from the memory sensor but it didn't remove the apps

How should I proceed?

dalchina · 11 Sep 2021

It seems you have gained access to a protected Windows folder.

analyzing the space on C: I saw that some apps that I had uninstalled still exist in the windowsApps folder and even old versions of some apps are there taking up space.

- a screenshot could be of interest.

You have two options:
a. 'hack it and hope' - delete folders related to those apps and hope nothing bad happens. Make appropriate backups. You might gain some space, if that's significant enough to merit the effort, but not delete everything related to the app.
b. Try using an uninstaller that can uninstall UWP apps (not all do, especially not free versions).

Some that can (not free) are
a. Soft Organiser

How to clean up WindowsApps folder?-1.jpg

b. Revo Uninstaller Pro v4 (I seem to remember - I only have v3).

These may help remove these, but as they are remnants, not completely installed, I cannot say for sure, never having tried that with UWP apps.

c. IOBIT uninstaller.
- I can't tell if the free version does this from a quick search
How to Remove Windows 10 Built-in Apps Easily and Freely

However there's a 6month license giveaway for the pro version:
Software Giveaway & Coupon Code | WinningPC

There is a tutorial for removing apps using Powershell for the built-in apps, but you may be referring to others you've obtained and uninstalled.

einstein1969 · 11 Sep 2021

I have used treesize (administrator mode) for view.

the red signed are or deinstalled or are old version

How to clean up WindowsApps folder?-image1.png

the asphalt9 game i have moved in other volume:

How to clean up WindowsApps folder?-image2.png

before there were two folder in C: version * 300 * and version * 600 *

dalchina · 11 Sep 2021

Thank you for your reply.

Ok, that's fair enough as a tool- and you may even be able to use that to delete folders - not tried that myself.

But you should ask yourself whether you are happy to delete folders like that, or whether you should see if one of the uninstall tools might help.

The free offer is for a very limited time..

einstein1969 · 11 Sep 2021

I tried iobit uninstaller, but there aren't any that I uninstalled in the list. For the old versions it gives me the latest one.

Here for example, there is asphalt9 ver * 600 * "only" and the path is wrong as it says it is on disk C: instead of Q: as you see in the previous image.

How to clean up WindowsApps folder?-image3.png

I tried with powershell but the applications are not listed ...

I recently did an "on place" installation to not reinstall everything from scratch, maybe something happened? (I swear my patience is tested, windows is full of bugs).

- - - Updated - - -

here is an example with powershell, I have highlighted in red those that are not

How to clean up WindowsApps folder?-image4.png

I do not know what to do...

- - - Updated - - -

of iobit uninstaller I also performed the procedure to see partial uninstalls (software integrity) etc, but did not find anything ...

- - - Updated - - -

i'm trying revo pro in 30 day trial. Unfortunately he does not see the installations

How to clean up WindowsApps folder?-image5.png

dalchina · 11 Sep 2021

Where possible reinstall the program, then uninstall it with an uninstaller.

Normally with 'desktop' programs there's an option of a forced uninstall, where you point the uninstaller at either an exe file or a folder and then let it scan for and remove remnants. I have no idea or experience of this for UWP apps.. but you can see if that exists.

** Note this explanation of where these large folders may originate:
windows 10 - WindowsApps folder still contains large folders from deleted Microsoft Applications - Super User

If you wish to simply delete those folders, it seems Treesize can't do it; rather than change permissions, boot from a live boot disk and then there are no permissions problems.

Steve C · 12 Sep 2021

The WindowsApps folder often contains multiple versions of the same app for no obvious useful reason. Is there a utility to clean out the redundant old versions?

dalchina · 12 Sep 2021

There are many such questions about cleaning apparently redundant folders... this is a typical answer:
How to safely free up space in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps - Quora

Perhaps there is a need for one... but this is something Windows should maintain without intervention.

Steve C · 12 Sep 2021

dalchina said:

There are many such questions about cleaning apparently redundant folders... this is a typical answer:
How to safely free up space in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps - Quora

Perhaps there is a need for one... but this is something Windows should maintain without intervention.

Windows should maintain it but obviously does not do so.

mngerhold · 12 Sep 2021

I can only touch on it here, as it is complex, and it appears MS does not want you, the ordinary user, messing about - or they would have made it easier. What follows is only an extract from the enormous amount of information on the links already provided by others. Firstly, to see all the available apps, you must run Powershell as an administrator:
Get-AppxPackage -allusers * | Select Name, PackageFullName
will show a long list. I have removed everything I can (in the past, new rubbish may have appeared since), but there are still 121 (yes, one hundred and twenty one) apps listed. Many of these are services and other things one should not interfere with. To remove apps (packages) that are amenable, there are two steps:

First one must uninstall (for the current user) with something like
Get-AppxPackage *zunemusic* | Remove-AppxPackage
but that only uninstalls (despite the name of the command), it does not remove from disk. Once the app is not installed for any user (and that can be tricky), one can 'de-provision' it. To find out which apps are provisioned (ready to be installed for new users), use
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -online | select packagename
Mine shows only two:

PackageName
-----------
Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable_93.0.961.44_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.ScreenSketch_2020.814.2355.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

These can be de-provisioned with something like :
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online -packagename <string>
but note that the command does not take wildcards as easily as the Get-AppxPackage command (the <string> must be the full package name). This operation prevents the app re-installing for new users. If it is not installed for anyone, it will (may) eventually disappear of its own accord from the WindowsApps folder. There will (I think) always be something left in that folder.

There are a number of (often Powershell-based) tools out there to help you, I have tried some but can't recommend any, as I have not tested them that much, I have done it the hard way. What is annoying is how multiple versions seem to hang about in the folder, no matter how many times one runs the built-in cleaup process, or uses DISM commands. My WindowsApps folder is only ~400MB, and I can't be bothered to trim that.