Windows 8: where are the apps stored?

If you download an app under Windows 8, the icon lands on the start screen. In this practical tip, you can read where the associated app data is stored.

Windows 8: Find location for the apps

In order to be able to access the location of the installed apps, you first need admin rights. If you are not logged in to an administrator account or do not have the administrator's password, you cannot open the folder. The following steps can also be seen in the picture gallery below.

1. First you have to make the hidden folders visible, as the apps are hidden under Windows 8. You can read how to do this in this guide.
2. Now open Windows Explorer and select the hard drive on which your programs are installed. This is usually the "C:" hard disk. Now open the "Programs" and "WindowsApps" folders.
3. When trying to open the "WindowsApps" folder, a security warning appears. Confirm this by clicking on "Continue".
4. You will then receive another warning that access has been denied. Click on the blue "Security" link in the warning so that a new window opens.
5. If you click on the "Advanced" button at the bottom right, a window will open again. If you select the "Next" button, you will be taken to the security settings.
6. Select the blue "Change" link above. Here you have to enter your computer name and user name in the following format in the input field: "PC-NAME \ user name". You can find out how to find your PC name in this practical tip.
7. Once you have made the entry, click on "OK" and activate the checkmark in front of the item "Replace owner of objects and subordinate containers".
8. If you close all windows with "Apply" or "OK", you will then have access to all apps. These are individually packed in folders.

This practical tip shows you how to start directly on the desktop under Windows 8.1 and thus skip the often annoying start screen.

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Show the hidden folders so you can find the Windows apps.

Open the "WindowsApp" folder and confirm the message.

Click the "Security" button to change the settings.

Select the "Advanced" button to change the permissions for the folder.

Click "Next" to display the hidden security information.

Select "Change" above so that not only the system but also you can access the apps.

Enter your computer name and username This is how the system knows that it should grant you access.

Check this box so that the setting also applies to the apps and not just to one folder.