Solved How to access a store app?

Pocah · Apr 30, 2024

How do I find the folder of a store app?
I want to run an application but have no idea where the app is actually located on the disc.
By the way, I am not sure why Microsoft seem to want to hide this information.

cereberus · Apr 30, 2024

Pocah said:
How do I find the folder of a store app?
I want to run an application but have no idea where the app is actually located on the disc.
By the way, I am not sure why Microsoft seem to want to hide this information.

You cannot run store apps in same way as you might run a non store app.

If app is on pc, it will be listed in start menu, and you can run it from there.

Pocah · Apr 30, 2024

cereberus said:
You cannot run store apps in same way as you might run a non store app.

If app is on pc, it will be listed in start menu, and you can run it from there.

Hello!
I need to trigger it from a task, which means I need to know how to "reference" it in Task Scheduler.
Microsoft seems to try to stop any attempt at doing this.

antspants · Apr 30, 2024

I think you need to invoke/run start shell:AppsFolder\PackageFamilyName!App

App Commands List for Windows 10

List of Commands to Open Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

I want to generate a list of installed Microsoft Store Applications.

According to Windows 11 Microsoft Store Apps get-appxpackage will do that, but I get this error: 'get-appxpackage' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

www.elevenforum.com

TairikuOkami · Apr 30, 2024

Pocah said:
How do I find the folder of a store app?

Right click the app in task manager and select properties or open file location.

Pocah said:
Microsoft seems to try to stop any attempt at doing this.

MS actually made it even worse, the path changes with each update. "Great" for a firewall.

Pocah · Apr 30, 2024

TairikuOkami said:
Right click the app in task manager and select properties or open file location.

MS actually made it even worse, the path changes with each update. "Great" for a firewall.

Unfortunately they seem to have blocked that now. The location is missing from properties.
I eventually found the "Windows Apps" folder, which is hidden and of course they deny access to it.
Its full of Bing News folders, for some reason, and other stuff that no one actually wants. 225 folders of it.
Anyway, somewhere in there I suppose the app is located.
I don't understand why Microsoft do this. I mean, really, all it is doing is making me avoid anything from the Microsoft Store.
I will find a different solution.

antspants · Apr 30, 2024

Pocah said:
I don't understand why Microsoft do this. I mean, really, all it is doing is making me avoid anything from the Microsoft Store.

They aren’t doing that at all. You just need to learn how to call on the app.
If you’d of looked at the TenForum link I provided, you’d of found this link.

Launch an app with a URI - UWP applications

This section describes how to use a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to launch one app from another app.

learn.microsoft.com

Pocah · Apr 30, 2024

antspants said:
They aren’t doing that at all. You just need to learn how to call on the app.
If you’d of looked at the TenForum link I provided, you’d of found this link.

Launch an app with a URI - UWP applications

This section describes how to use a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to launch one app from another app.

learn.microsoft.com

Honestly, I don't see how that is relevant to what I am trying to do. I'm sure that's my fault, but my feelings on the matter are that if I need to read a book to just enter a parameter in Task Scheduler, then Microsoft are doing something wrong.

I have repeatedly found that not having access to application folders has caused me problems. As long as Microsoft continue to hide everything away, then I will avoid the Store as much as is humanly possible.

garlin · Apr 30, 2024

UWP (or Store) apps have a different programming and execution model. They were originally created back when Windows was supposed to run on both smartphones (Windows Phone) and PC's. The App folders are protected by folder permissions to prevent tampering.

The correct way to run UWP apps from a script is to use their registered AppID's.

1. Run this PS command to list available AppID's:

Code:

C:\Windows\System32>powershell "Get-StartApps | Where-Object { $_.AppId -notmatch '{' } |Sort-Object Name"

Name                        AppID
----                        -----
Calculator                  Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Calendar                    microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar
Camera                      Microsoft.WindowsCamera_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Clipchamp – Video Editor    Clipchamp.Clipchamp_yxz26nhyzhsrt!App
Clock                       Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Control Panel               Microsoft.Windows.ControlPanel
Cortana                     Microsoft.549981C3F5F10_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Feedback Hub                Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
File Explorer               Microsoft.Windows.Explorer
Get Help                    Microsoft.GetHelp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Get Started                 MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy!WebExperienceHost
Mail                        microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.mail
Maps                        Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Media Player                Microsoft.ZuneMusic_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneMusic
Microsoft Edge              MSEdge
Microsoft News              Microsoft.BingNews_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexNews
Microsoft Store             Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Microsoft To Do             Microsoft.Todos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Movies & TV                 Microsoft.ZuneVideo_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneVideo
Notepad                     Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Office                      Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub
OneDrive                    Microsoft.SkyDrive.Desktop
Paint                       Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Photos                      Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Power Automate              Microsoft.PowerAutomateDesktop_8wekyb3d8bbwe!PAD.Console
Quick Assist                MicrosoftCorporationII.QuickAssist_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Remote Desktop Connection   Microsoft.Windows.RemoteDesktop
Run                         Microsoft.Windows.Shell.RunDialog
Settings                    windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel
Snipping Tool               Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Solitaire Collection        Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Sticky Notes                Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Terminal                    Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Tips                        Microsoft.Getstarted_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Voice Recorder              Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Weather                     Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Windows Backup              MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy!WindowsBackup
Windows Media Player Legacy Microsoft.Windows.MediaPlayer32
Windows Security            Microsoft.SecHealthUI_8wekyb3d8bbwe!SecHealthUI
Windows Tools               Microsoft.Windows.AdministrativeTools
Xbox                        Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App
Xbox Game Bar               Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
Your Phone                  Microsoft.YourPhone_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App

2. I want to launch the Xbox app, from a command-line or script.

Code:

explorer shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App

Your scheduled task must run with Admin rights to avoid the UAC prompt.

Code:

C:\Windows\System32>schtasks /create /sc ONCE /tn RunXboxApp /tr "explorer shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.GamingApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.Xbox.App" /rl HIGHEST /st 00:00 /f
WARNING: Task may not run because /ST is earlier than current time.
SUCCESS: The scheduled task "RunXboxApp" has successfully been created.

C:\Windows\System32>schtasks /run /tn RunXboxApp
SUCCESS: Attempted to run the scheduled task "RunXboxApp".