Solved Change administrator account permissions

BEH · Mar 9, 2024

I am trying to view the contents of a Windows folder - WindowsApps. I am logged on as the default user (first account at Windows setup time) and
am shown as being in the administrator group (I used cmd - net user to display all users and I'm listed as an adminstrator.

I am receiving a pop-up message indicating I don't have read permissions to the folder.. from what I have learned about the permission levels
of any account in the administrator group, I believe I should have.. ?? I've tried to change the permissions for the account and I only see greyed out
permissions.. I have been unable to find a way to edit the permissions for this account. So, I've tried everything I can think of and require some
assistance for this issue.

THANKS BEH

antspants · Mar 9, 2024

Hi, BEH
I’d be very careful playing around with user/admin privillages. Too many times I have seen it come to grief. However I believe there is a way to reset the permissions.
You could try “Take Ownership” but I personally wouldn’t recommend it.

The links I have posted are onsite in the “Tutorials” section.

Flashorn · Mar 9, 2024

You might try the Hidden Admin:

Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the built-in Administrator account in Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a hidden built-in Administrator account that serves as the local system administrator with elevated rights by default without needing Run as administrator or UAC (User...

www.elevenforum.com

antspants · Mar 9, 2024

Flashorn said:
You might try the Hidden Admin:

Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the built-in Administrator account in Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a hidden built-in Administrator account that serves as the local system administrator with elevated rights by default without needing Run as administrator or UAC (User...

www.elevenforum.com

I was looking and couldn’t find it. Good job!

Flashorn · Mar 9, 2024

antspants said:
I was looking and couldn’t find it. Good job!

Yes, I know what you mean. I had another link but, decided to see if our beloved @Brink had something up his sleeve for us.
Didn't take too long. I think it's the wording. I find this to on web searches.
And yes, i agree with you that permissions are something not to mess with.

Bree · Mar 9, 2024

BEH said:
I am receiving a pop-up message indicating I don't have read permissions to the folder.. from what I have learned about the permission levels of any account in the administrator group, I believe I should have.. ??

There are a few folder for for which even an administrator doesn't have access, or even the permission to change permissions to gain access. Another example is the hidden 'System Volume Information' folder at the root of the C: drive. These are folders that you should be very careful about messing with, as @antspants says, as they are important for the smooth running of the system.

However, if you're curious and just want to look inside there is an easy way. Run TreeSize Free as an administrator and it can see inside them.

I prefer the Portable App version as it doesn't require an install.

TreeSize – Official Download

TreeSize is a disk space analyzer for Windows with customizable file search and several exporting and reporting possibilities. Download for free today!

www.jam-software.com

TreeSize Free Portable | PortableApps.com

Every hard disk is too small if you just wait long enough. TreeSize Free tells you where precious disk space has gone. TreeSize Free shows you the size of and drive or folder, including its subfolders. Expand folders in an Explorer-like fashion and see the size of every subfolder. All results...

portableapps.com

FreeBooter · Mar 9, 2024

In this video, i will guide on how to access the WindowsApps folder.

glasskuter · Mar 9, 2024

It makes absolutely no sense to me why anyone would change permissions on trusted installer owned folders. We've seen the damage it can cause. If I ever did have need to manipulate one of the files owned by trusted installer I certainly would not do it within Windows but with a live Linux distro. Permissions of such folders and messing with the files inside them can put you in a hole you can't find your way out of. If one knows what he's doing and absolutely feels they have to, I strongly recommend making a full system image first.

Try3 · Mar 10, 2024

Flashorn said:
You might try the Hidden Admin:

Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the built-in Administrator account in Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a hidden built-in Administrator account that serves as the local system administrator with elevated rights by default without needing Run as administrator or UAC (User...

www.elevenforum.com

No. There's no point.
The Built-in Admin account has no greater privileges than an Admin account created by the user.

Bree said:
Run TreeSize Free as an administrator and it can see inside them

I agree with Bree.

Denis

antspants · Mar 10, 2024

Brink said:
The Administrator account has full control of the files, directories, services, and other resources on the local computer.

From that link, so where lies the confusion?

Try3 · Mar 10, 2024

antspants said:
From that link, so where lies the confusion?

What is it that you are confused about?

Denis

antspants · Mar 10, 2024

Well, @Brink states that the elevated admin account, by his definition, will allow access to what it is the OP is trying to access, full control of the files, directories, services, and other resources on the local computer. Where is the confusion as to what shawn is saying in that tutorial and what the OP wants to do?

Don’t worry, I get it now.

Try3 said:
The Built-in Admin account has no greater privileges than an Admin account created by the user.

Try3 · Mar 10, 2024

antspants said:
Well, @Brink states that the elevated admin account, by his definition, will allow access to what it is the OP is trying to access, full control of the files, directories, services, and other resources on the local computer. Where is the confusion as to what shawn is saying in that tutorial and what the OP wants to do?

Brink stated the true situation in the equivalent TenForums tutorial ~~but has not yet copied those words over to~~ <and> the ElevenForum tutorial.
~~@Brink - People pay attention to your words. antspants just accepted them as gospel. Please, please add the same words that you added to the TenForums tutorial~~

Brink said:
The hidden built-in default local Administrator account is an elevated account for the system administrator. It is basically the same as an administrator account above with UAC turned off.

The Built-in admin has no more access & is no more powerful than any Admin user account you create yourself. This can be tested fairly easily.
BiA is just an Admin - my post #8 - ElevenForum - last tested in Windows 11 September 2022
BiA is just an Admin - my post #13 - TenForums - last tested in Windows 10 Version 1909

This aspect of Built-in Admin behaviour is stated in

Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account - TenForumsTutorials

~~but not yet explicitly stated~~ <and in>

Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account - ElevenForumTutorials

<and> ~~but~~ the same test yields the same result.

The Built-in Admin exists for one reason & one reason only, to be enabled by Windows to appear on the Safe mode login screen if Windows cannot detect any other Admin account on the computer.
This behaviour is stated in Administrator account status, Safe mode considerations - MSDocs

antspants said:
… and you changed your post?

I added the comment that I agreed with Bree.
<And I've just changed this one aswell.>

All the best,
Denis

Try3 · Mar 10, 2024

Spiffing addition to
Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account - ElevenForumTutorials

BrinkTheExcellent said:
The built-in "Administrator" account is basically the same as a normal administrator account with UAC turned off

Denis

LesFerch · Mar 10, 2024

Do NOT mess with the permissions! Access WindowsApps as TrustedInstaller using PowerRun:

PowerRun v1.9 (Run with highest privileges)

PowerRun is a tool to launch any program/script files with the same privileges as the TrustedInstaller /SYSTEM. it is a Portable and free

www.sordum.org

Edwin · Mar 10, 2024

BEH said:
I am trying to view the contents of a Windows folder - WindowsApps.

The folder contains 100's of app packages which are, or have been installed on your computer.
There is 1000's of folders and, 10,000's of files consisting of a endless amount of app data, which most users can't even fathom.
There is nothing you can do with them or about them. Best to leave it be.

LesFerch · Mar 10, 2024

Edwin said:
The folder contains 100's of app packages which are, or have been installed on your computer.
There is 1000's of folders and, 10,000's of files consisting of a endless amount of app data, which most users can't even fathom.
There is nothing you can do with them or about them. Best to leave it be.

The most common reason I see users wanting access to WindowsApps is to apply a mod to game. Modders are better off using a version from anywhere other than the Microsoft Store, such as Steam, but sometimes the MS Store is where they could get the best deal or just didn't know there was another option, etc.

Edwin · Mar 10, 2024

LesFerch said:
The most common reason I see users wanting access to WindowsApps is to apply a mod to game.

I hadn't thought of that, course, I'm not a gamer, so...

BEH · Mar 10, 2024

Well, I see I've received quite a few replies to my issue. I am well aware of two obscure but meaningful IT theorums;
1. If you don't know and are not sure, then research, don't just 'do'.
2. He or she who backs up, laughs last.

I simply wanted to locate where an app was installed by default, in this case it was Windowsapps. Bottom line for all of
this was: I wanted to create a shortcut to my desktop for ease of use. I have done more research and found a method
using task manager so all is well. To ALL who replied... thanks for your time, advice and suggestions. The common thread
across all replies was a high level of concern for me and the state of my laptop!! Once again, thanks for taking your time
to help me. This has reaffirmed my belief that this forum is a very valuable source of information and aid.

My issue has now been solved.

Edwin · Mar 10, 2024

BEH said:
I wanted to create a shortcut to my desktop for ease of use.

Ah!!!
You could have pasted shell:appsfolder into a Run box and created a shortcut from there.

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