Restore lost Windows apps from Windows Apps Deleted.
Restore lost Windows apps from Windows Apps Deleted.
Game Pass for PC seems to have issues. I downloaded 200gb of games, canceled the subscription, and removed all titles, yet only 123gb of space was restored. All installation files appear in a hidden folder called 'WindowApps'. I attempted to delete its contents repeatedly, but the M.2 drive still holds 77gb of data. After accidentally clearing the folder, some files remained, preventing access to Windows apps or the Microsoft Store. I tried restoring from a backup, but it didn’t work. The 'Reset this PC' option was too strict, demanding deletion of all games, which wouldn’t fit my 5.5tb downloads and slow internet speed. I need my PC to run smoothly without breaking Windows or losing my games. Can I recover the apps or find a way to reinstall the default WindowsApps folder? Also, is there a method to reset Windows without wiping my files or games? I’m concerned about missing updates and being unable to boot if I can’t access the folder contents.
The only option is to try a Windows install USB for fixing. If it fails, consider a full reinstall. I’m unsure why you’re reluctant to reinstall, especially since you likely have all your Steam games saved. Just avoid erasing the drive.
I own 1.7TB of games on my boot disk. There’s an old 2TB Firecuda I could use for backup, though that would be quite a task. I attempted to fix it using the Windows installation media, but it didn’t help.
So essentially, the only choice is to reinstall. That’s why you shouldn’t just delete things randomly and do it yourself. Or better yet, switch to Linux to avoid all the hassles with Microsoft.
I need to prepare this for future reference. I faced the same issue before, and my own chance played a big role. I own four physical drives and removed WindowsApps from two of them. These drives can't install MS Store or Xbox apps anymore since the deleted folders can't be recreated. I opened the command prompt with admin privileges, ran "xcopy /o /x /t" on an untouched WindowsApps folder (follow instructions for using xcopy), and both Xbox and Microsoft Store applications worked again. If you don’t have backups but still have a modified WindowsApps copy in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps (hidden), try connecting external drives so Windows can install from them. Otherwise, formatting the drive should let it rebuild the WindowsApps folder there, after which you can use the copying method again. Alternatively, if you format the drive, Windows might detect it and create a new copy of WindowsApps automatically.
Thank you! This was the solution for me. I installed "Solitaire" on my other D:/ drive to generate a fresh WindowsApps folder and then did " xcopy D:\WindowsApps E:\WindowsApps /o /x /t " with an elevated command line. Next it will ask "Does E:\WindowsApps specify a file name on this target (F = file, D = directory)?" Just answer with "D" It will NOT generate a confirmation upon successful copy (At least on Windows 10). You will have to manually check for your copied over "WindowsApps" folder. I then was able to install my games with no issues from Xbox Game Pass. As a side note for people trying to do this I used this website to learn xcopy: https://www.ubackup.com/backup-restore/x...-6688.html
I'm bringing this thread back after losing some useful information while removing unnecessary software from my laptop. The copy from my home PC didn't work. Could you clarify what you mean by "try to connect some external drives and tell Windows to use them for installing your apps"? It sounds like you want instructions on switching Windows settings or using the command line to create the WindowsApps folder on a new drive. How should I prompt the system to change? Also, is the command-line method still effective for this purpose?