Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10  

sister1 said:

Hello,
I'm setting up a new-to-me laptop and have just set my apps to save to my "D" drive. I haven't bought anything from the store - there's just what was automatically installed.
Anyway, my D drive now has 3 folders:
"ThinkPad" (my user name containing documents etc), "WindowsApps" and "Program Files".
I don't have the other files you show in the tutorial - are they only created when you get an app from the store?

Also, "WindowsApps" (in my D drive) shows as an empty folder (but when I click on it and get privileges I can see there's lots of things in there). Presumably this all moved over from the "C" drive as there is no "WindowsApps" folder there. %LocalAppData%\Packages is a hidden file still on the C drive. Should I be trying to move that LocalAppData folder over seeing as the "WindowsApps" folder moved itself, or just leave it alone?

Also, I want all my programs on the C drive. The "Program Files" on the D drive contains a folder called "ModifiableWindowsApps" which is empty. The "Program Files" on the C drive contains the same which is also empty. Should I be doing anything with any of these folders?

(I'm running windows 10 pro, version 2004)

Hello,

When you change apps to be install and save to another location, that location will have the WindowsApps folder created there for the apps to be installed and saved in. The other folders in the example screenshot are not related to this.

By default, you do not have access rights to the WindowsApps folder, so you will not see anything until you get privileges.

The %LocalAppData%\Packages folder is to store app settings and such for your account. It should not be moved.

The Program Files folder is for installed desktop apps instead of apps from the Microsoft Store. Only new apps installed from the Microsoft Store are affected by the settings in this tutorial.

sister1 said:

Thanks for your reply, Brink.
Sorry if I'm a bit dense, but why have I got a "Program Files" folder in my "D" drive? Can I delete it as I don't want programs there?

I'd check to see what's in the folder to make sure there's not a program that was installed there before deleting it.

If you do delete it, I would recommend to leave it in the Recycle Bin for a while to make sure there are not adverse effects from deleting it. This way you can restore it from the Recycle Bin if needed.

sister1 said:

Thanks

Whenever I change where new apps are to be installed to, Windows will immediately create a Program Files and WindowsApps folder on that drive.

After changing where Apps are to be installed I'd like to delete these folders from the previously selected drives... however they are protected by security permissions!

I can't mess with the permissions of those folders at all. I can only View Permissions and can Change Owner. So, I can't *get* permission to delete the Program Files and WindowsApps folders after they've been created and Windows doesn't wanna delete them from previously chosen drives when I change where I want Apps to be installed. So they become permanent fixtures on the HDD partitions.

I think I'd need to boot in to Linux or something to delete the folders.

Edit: It seems ICACLS can resolve the permission issue and let me delete the folders (Once I have Ownership). Only use this program if you know what you're doing!

Edit 2: Okay, I've managed to delete the folders now! Just needed to Take Ownership which can be done via the UI and then use ICACLS and Command Prompt to reset permissions for the folders, and then finally I can delete/manage permissions for the folders via the UI.

takeown /f "C:\path\to\folder" /r
icacls "C:\path\to\folder" /reset /T

The takeown command is recursive.