Windows 10: Unable to delete 'WindowsApps' folder

I used to use the desktop Xbox app. I no longer do and it has left a 25GB folder on my drive that I can't delete. I've taken ownership of the folder, which was a hastle in the first place, but now even after taking ownership I can't delete it or it's contents. I've tried manually, I've tried going into the advanced security settings but it won't let me adjust permissions, I've tried deleting via the command prompt, and I've tried third party apps like FileAssassin. Nothing can get rid of this folder. I want my space back and this is a toxic practice by MS

:)

 

Unable to Delete WindowsApps Folder

Hi.

So I have a problem here with the WindowsApps folder.

Long story short, I've bought Forza Horizon 5 which could already be played today. Since Microsoft Store default location is in C:/, I changed the directory to D:/ in Setting - Storage - Where the content is saved because I don't have enough space in C:/

Now here is the problem: The first time it successfully downloaded and I could played it normally. I decided to reboot my system because I need to update my graphics driver and BAM! Microsoft Store and XBOX app still listed it as installed but whenever I tried to play it now it says the game is missing. Ms Store recommends me to "repair" the game by redownloading it, but now it gives me error 0x80070003 which is "The system cannot find the path specified".

Tried to find the solution everywhere but no avail, I decided to uninstall the game from the Ms Store, now listed as uninstalled, but the disk space isn't recovered.

The WindowsApps folder in D:/ still has 110GB files in it, and whenever I tried to delete it Windows denied me. Now I know that this folder isn't owned by me so I decided to take ownership it. Done but I still can't delete the folder. Maybe I need more permission? So I decided to give myself full permission setting. Now here is the problem: Setting permission of the folder gives me the same error message as the first said that "The system cannot find the path specified". WTF???

Already tried other method such as running cmd as System using psexec, trying to delete the folder from Ubuntu, trying to compress them using WinRaR or WinZip but no avail at all. All of them either said Permission Denied or the System cannot find the path specified.

How am I supposed to delete this folder then? The game already uninstalled, but I didn't get back my SSD space.

Here are some of the screenshots of my useless effort:
















My Windows is 20H2 19042.870

 

Unable to Delete WindowsApps Folder

I mean the permission screenshot.

Well, I have too frustrated right now so I decided to just format the drive. It solves the main problem about the undeletable WindowsApps folder. But I still can't set my D:/ drive as my new Microsoft Store storage with the same error code as before, even though the drive is already fully formatted. Here is the new screenshots:

 

Unable to Delete WindowsApps Folder

Hello Akip and welcome to tenforums *Smile ,

Give this a try: How to delete the 'WindowsApps' folder on Windows 10 | Windows Central