Windows 10 Photos is a packaged Microsoft Store app, not a conventional desktop installation. Its default package location is C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, but the versioned folder and even the drive can vary. Use PowerShell to find the exact location on your computer.
Find the exact Windows 10 Photos installation folder
Open PowerShell and run:
Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName, InstallLocation
The InstallLocation value is the folder containing the installed package. It is usually under C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, but Windows also supports package volumes on another drive or at another path.
If the command returns no result, that only means the exact package name was not found for the current user. Search for all Photos-related packages instead:
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Get-AppxPackage *Photos* | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName, InstallLocation
This can show the traditional Microsoft.Windows.Photos package and, where installed, a separate package such as Microsoft.PhotosLegacy.
To search packages for every user, open PowerShell as administrator and run:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *Photos* | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName, InstallLocation
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What is inside the package folder?
The package directory contains the application’s binaries, resources, images, libraries, and manifest. Its main manifest is located at C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\<Photos-package-folder>\AppxManifest.xml. The manifest defines the package identity, entry points, executable declarations, capabilities, and file associations.
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A package may contain an executable named PhotosApp.exe, but there is no guaranteed fixed executable path. Windows activates Store apps through their package identity and manifest. A direct path can stop working after an update, package replacement, architecture change, or move to another package volume.
Why File Explorer may deny access to WindowsApps
WindowsApps is hidden and protected. Typing %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps into File Explorer may produce an access-denied message, even when the folder exists.
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Do not take ownership of WindowsApps, replace files, or delete every folder containing “Photos.” Those actions can damage package registration or prevent Photos from launching. They are not a normal repair procedure.
The Photos app folder is not where your pictures are stored
The installation directory contains Photos itself, not your image collection. Your pictures remain in their original locations, such as:
- C:\Users\<username>\Pictures;
- another folder on the computer;
- an external drive or network location;
- a cloud-synchronized folder.
Photos can display images from Windows libraries and other folders without copying the original files into its installation directory.
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Where Photos stores per-user data
For the traditional Windows 10 Photos package, the common per-user data location is C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
Depending on the app version, relevant subfolders may include:
| Folder | Typical purpose |
|---|---|
| LocalState | App-specific local state and databases |
| Settings | User settings and configuration data |
| Cache or database data | Temporary or generated content used by the app |
The exact contents can vary. Windows 10 version 1903 and later redirect newly created packaged-app data to private per-user, per-app locations.
The installation package and user-data directory serve different purposes:
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| Location | Contains |
|---|---|
| WindowsApps\<package-folder> | Application binaries, resources, manifest, and package assets |
| AppData\Local\Packages\<package-family-name> | Per-user settings, cache, local state, and app-generated data |
Deleting or editing files in the user-data directory can remove settings or cached information. Back up anything important before making manual changes.
Repair Photos without changing WindowsApps
If you are looking for the folder because Photos is not opening, repair the app through Windows 10:
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- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Open Apps & features.
- Find Photos or Microsoft Photos.
- Select the app, choose Advanced options, and use Terminate, Repair, or Reset.
Repair attempts to fix the app without normally removing its data. Reset is more disruptive: it removes the app’s stored data and restores its settings to their defaults.
Check Photos library permissions
Photos can appear broken when Windows has denied it access to the libraries it needs. Check Start > Settings > Privacy > Pictures. Also review the Videos and Documents privacy pages if you use Photos with those libraries. Turn on relevant access settings where appropriate.
Microsoft notes that denying library access can stop an app working as expected. In some cases, Windows creates a restricted unique folder inside the relevant library instead of allowing normal access.
Re-register an existing Photos package
If the package exists but its registration is damaged, an administrator can re-register it using its actual installation path:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *Microsoft.Windows.Photos* | ForEach-Object { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml” }
This registers an existing package; it does not download or install a missing copy of Photos. It can fail when the package is absent, dependencies are missing, the installation path is invalid, or PowerShell lacks the required privileges. Use the Settings repair and reset controls first.
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Why old instructions show a different Photos path
Search results often list a fixed folder such as C:\Program Files\Microsoft Photos. That is not the normal location for the packaged Windows 10 Photos app. Other outdated instructions may use one particular versioned folder, for example Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2020.19111.24110.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe. Such a path applies only to a specific package version and installation.
Updates can leave more than one versioned folder visible for a time. Windows may also use hard links and shared package storage, so visible files do not necessarily represent separate complete installations.
Windows 10 support context
Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations reached the end of general support on October 14, 2025. Version 22H2 was the final general Windows 10 release; LTSC editions follow separate lifecycle dates. Therefore, the Photos package on a Windows 10 computer may have been updated independently of the operating system’s general support status. Microsoft Lifecycle
FAQ
Where is the Windows 10 Photos executable located?
It is inside the installed Photos package. Find that package with Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Select-Object Name, InstallLocation. The package may contain PhotosApp.exe, but a fixed executable path is not guaranteed because Store apps are activated through their package identity and manifest.
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Can I open the WindowsApps folder?
You may be able to view it with suitable permissions, but Windows protects the folder and can return access denied. Do not take ownership or modify its contents simply to inspect or repair Photos. Use PowerShell to obtain the installation path and Windows Settings to repair the app.
Is the Photos app installed in Microsoft Photos?
Not normally. The packaged Windows 10 app is generally installed below C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, not C:\Program Files\Microsoft Photos. Use Get-AppxPackage to find the exact folder.
Where are Photos settings and cache stored?
They are separate from the installation files, commonly under C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe. Subfolders such as LocalState and Settings may contain app data, depending on the installed version.
What should I do if Get-AppxPackage finds no Microsoft.Windows.Photos package?
Run Get-AppxPackage *Photos* | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName, InstallLocation. The package may use a different identity, including a Legacy package, or may not be registered for the current user. To search all users, run PowerShell as administrator and add -AllUsers.
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The Windows 10 Photos installation files are normally in the protected C:\Program Files\WindowsApps package store, inside a versioned folder whose exact name changes with updates. Run Get-AppxPackage to identify the real path. Keep that package directory separate from Photos’ per-user data under AppData\Local\Packages, and do not modify or delete files in WindowsApps. For launch problems, use Photos’ Advanced options in Settings, check library privacy permissions, and re-register the package only when appropriate.
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