Program Files\WindowsApps
The Program Files\WindowsApps folder is the installation location for all apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
This folder is so protected by the operating system, that even the local Administrator account cannot access it directly. It is designed to protect the integrity of the app and user data.
Apps such as Spotify, Netflix, and Microsoft Solitaire Collection downloaded via Microsoft Store will be installed in this folder.
Packages
The Packages folder is the location where Microsoft Store apps are installed on each user account.
This folder is located at Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\Packages. Each app downloaded from the Microsoft Store has a subfolder inside the Packages that stores all the files needed to run the app.
If you have large apps like Microsoft Flight Simulator installed, you can copy the installation folder from Packages to another PC. This way, you don’t have to re-download a large app, just make sure that it is compatible with the system on the destination PC. You can use the %localappdata%\Packages address to quickly access this folder.
Windows Operating System Folder
The operating system folder in Windows 11 stores the important files needed to run and maintain the system. The two main folders to understand are System32 and WinSxS.
Windows\System32
The System32 folder is the main repository of all the files that make up the Windows operating system.
This folder stores important execution files, drivers, and other system files that are needed to run Windows. Without this folder, the operating system cannot function properly.
Examples of important files that are in it:
- cmd.exe: Command Prompt, a tool used to execute system commands.
- explorer.exe: The file responsible for the Windows graphical user interface.
- drivers: This folder contains the driver files required for the hardware connected to the computer.
Windows\WinSxS
The WinSxS (Windows Side-by-Side) folder is the location where Windows stores multiple copies of dynamic link libraries (DLLs) and other files that are essential for application and system operations.
This folder allows multiple versions of the same file to exist simultaneously, so different applications can use the version that suits their needs. This is important to maintain app compatibility when performing updates or new installations.
Over time, WinSxS folders can grow to be very large because each Windows update and new app installation can add more files to it. This large size can affect the storage space on the hard drive, but this folder is essential to ensure that applications can function properly without conflicts.
Users can use tools like Disk Cleanup to manage and reduce the size of these folders but should be careful not to delete files that are required by the system.
User Account Folder
The user account folder stores the data and settings required for different user profiles in Windows 11. The two main folders to look out for are AppData\Local and AppData\Roaming.
Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local
The AppData\Local folder is also known by the shorthand %localappdata%. This folder stores the data and settings necessary for installed apps and user profiles to function properly.
This folder stores configuration files, caches, and other data used by the app for a particular user.
As you browse the web, temporary files and web page caches are stored in subfolders AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache.