windowsapps Deleted WindowsApps, how do I restore?

[KyleRendar1138]

So Game Pass for PC is broken. I had 200gb of games downloaded, canceled my subscription, and uninstalled all the games, but Game Pass only gave me 123gb of my space back. I found that all the games installation files are stored in the hidden folder 'WindowApps'. I tried several times to delete the folders inside WindowsApps, as the WindowsApps folder took up 77gb of my precious M.2 space. I accidentally found a solution/new problem by deleting the entirety of the 'WindowsApps' folder. 

It didn't delete EVERY folder in there, it said some of them were being used at the time, and I only wanted rid of the games that Windows wouldn't let me access, for example my PC still boots up, but apps don't. I can't open any Microsoft apps, or the the Microsoft store. I tried going back to a restore point, but that didn't work. I looked into the 'Reset this PC' option, but it wanted to delete every video game I have installed, and seeing as I have 5.5tb of video games downloaded, and my max internet speed in 2MB/s, that's is NOT an option. 

I want my PC to function properly. I don't use any apps really, but I don't want Windows to be broken, and I don't want to delete 5.5tb of my steam games. Is there a way to restore the apps? Is there somewhere I could download the default WindowsApps folder? I have a CD with a Windows 10 ISO, is there a way to reset windows, without deleting ANY of my files, or my video games? 
I worry if there is a Windows Update, and I don't have the contents of WindowsApps folder, that I won't be able to boot. 

[kelvinhall05]

The only thing you can try is using a Windows install USB to repair.

 

 

If that doesn't work, time to reinstall. I am not certain why you are hesitant to reinstall when I highly doubt that you have all your Steam games on your boot drive. Just don't wipe that drive.

[KyleRendar1138]

4 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

The only thing you can try is using a Windows install USB to repair.

 

 

If that doesn't work, time to reinstall. I am not certain why you are hesitant to reinstall when I highly doubt that you have all your Steam games on your boot drive. Just don't wipe that drive.

I have 1.7TB of games installed on my boot drive. I have an old 2TB Firecuda I could back it up to I guess, but that's a lot of hassle.
I tried to 'repair' with the Windows installation disc, but that didn't work.  

[kelvinhall05]

Just now, KyleRendar1138 said:

I have 1.7TB of games installed on my boot drive. I have an old 2TB Firecuda I could back it up to I guess, but that's a lot of hassle.
I tried to 'repair' with the Windows installation disc, but that didn't work.  

Well then your only option is to reinstall. This is why you don't go deleting random shit and do it the offical way.

 

 

 

Or just use Linux so you don't have to deal with Microsoft's bs anyway 

[Wolly9102]

If you can still open powershell you could try this 

 

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-uninstall-remove-restore-built-apps-windows-10

[mathijs727]

Maybe you could install a separate instance of Windows 10 to your HDD (create a small partition to install it to).

Then copy the files in the WindowsApps folder from the new installation to the old installation.

 

[Trine]

Yo, gotta necro this for future generations.

 

I had the same problem and the thing that helped was my own dumb luck. I have 4 physical drives and deleted WindowsApps on two of them, unable to install anything MS store/xbox app related on these drives because they simply won't recreate the deleted WindowsApps folders.

I fired up the command line under admin rights, used "xcopy /o /x /t" on an unmodified WindowsApps folder (refer to google on how to use xcopy to copy folders/files) and wouldn't you know, both Xbox app and MS store can install on these drives once more.

 

If you don't have any backup, but you should have an umodified version of WindowsApps in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps (it is hidden), try to connect some external drives and tell Windows to use them for installing your apps, it should create the WindowsApps folder on a fresh drive and then you can use the copy method above. Alternatively if you format a drive Windows "should" realize it and also create a fresh copy of WindowsApps in it.

[Norrwood]

On 9/26/2021 at 11:03 AM, Trine said:

Yo, gotta necro this for future generations.

 

I had the same problem and the thing that helped was my own dumb luck. I have 4 physical drives and deleted WindowsApps on two of them, unable to install anything MS store/xbox app related on these drives because they simply won't recreate the deleted WindowsApps folders.

I fired up the command line under admin rights, used "xcopy /o /x /t" on an unmodified WindowsApps folder (refer to google on how to use xcopy to copy folders/files) and wouldn't you know, both Xbox app and MS store can install on these drives once more.

 

If you don't have any backup, but you should have an umodified version of WindowsApps in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps (it is hidden), try to connect some external drives and tell Windows to use them for installing your apps, it should create the WindowsApps folder on a fresh drive and then you can use the copy method above. Alternatively if you format a drive Windows "should" realize it and also create a fresh copy of WindowsApps in it.

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/xcopy-command-to-copy-folders-and-subfolders-6688.html

[AlexMagic]

On 9/26/2021 at 5:03 PM, Trine said:

Yo, gotta necro this for future generations.

 

I had the same problem and the thing that helped was my own dumb luck. I have 4 physical drives and deleted WindowsApps on two of them, unable to install anything MS store/xbox app related on these drives because they simply won't recreate the deleted WindowsApps folders.

I fired up the command line under admin rights, used "xcopy /o /x /t" on an unmodified WindowsApps folder (refer to google on how to use xcopy to copy folders/files) and wouldn't you know, both Xbox app and MS store can install on these drives once more.

 

If you don't have any backup, but you should have an umodified version of WindowsApps in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps (it is hidden), try to connect some external drives and tell Windows to use them for installing your apps, it should create the WindowsApps folder on a fresh drive and then you can use the copy method above. Alternatively if you format a drive Windows "should" realize it and also create a fresh copy of WindowsApps in it.

Reviving this thread, because I accidentally deleted some important stuff whilst trying to get rid of bloatware on my laptop and i tried to copy a good version from my home PC but it didnt work. Could you specify and tell how do you mean with "try to connect some external drives and tell Windows to use them for installing your apps, it should create the WindowsApps folder on a fresh drive and then you can use the copy method above."? How do you tell windows to switch? And is the solution with the command line still viable?