What is the MSIXVC Folder in Windows (And How to Delete It)

But be careful as it can make things worse

If you’ve discovered the WindowsApps or MSIXVC folders on your Windows PC, you might wonder why they take up so much space on your hard drive and whether or not you can delete them.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the MSIXVC folder and how you can delete it.

What Is the MSIXVC Folder, and Where Is It Found?

MSIXVC stands for Microsoft Installer for Xbox Virtual Console. It’s found in Windows 10 and 11 and stores the data from your Xbox Game Pass account, including install files for your games and other critical files associated with the Microsoft Store and Game Pass apps.

Unfortunately, the Game Pass file system is less than perfect, and even after uninstalling a game, the install files might remain, taking up significant disk space. If you’re running out of disk space and desperately need to find something to delete, the MSIXVC folder is a tempting candidate. However, we don’t recommend deleting the MSIXVC folder because it can break not only your Game Pass games but also your Xbox Game Pass app and Windows Store.

If you don’t use Xbox Game Pass or the Windows Store, you may be comfortable deleting the folder and risking them no longer working.

If you’re confident that you want to delete the folder, you can find it on your system drive atC:Program FilesWindowsAppsMSIXVC.

How to Delete the MSIXVC Folder

There are a few ways you can delete the MSIXVC folder. To do so, you’ll first have to grant yourselfownership of the MSIXVC folder.

You should now be able to delete the MSIXVC folder as usual by right-clicking the folder and clickingDelete. However, some users report that changing permissions doesn’t enable them to. In that case, try the following method.

Delete the MSIXVC Folder Using Safe Mode

If the first method doesn’t work, you must reboot your PC into Safe Mode. To do so:

Note:Once deleted, you can only restore the WindowsApps or MSIXVC folder via PowerShell or by performing a factory reset of your operating system.

Uninstall Your Xbox Apps

If you’re running out of free space on your hard disk or SSD, you might be looking for files to delete. And where better to look than games like Forza Horizon 5 or Halo, which are notoriously large.

Unfortunately, deleting the MSIXVC folder often causes more issues than it solves. Instead, we recommend simply uninstalling your Xbox games as they become unused. This may leave some residual files, but it will prevent you from having to troubleshoot issues with your Xbox app after you delete the MSIXVC folder!

Jake Harfield is an Australian freelance writer whose passion is finding out how different technologies work. He has written for several online publications, focusing on explaining what he has learned to help others with their tech problems. He’s an avid hiker and birder, and in his spare time you’ll find him in the Aussie bush listening to the birdsong.Read Jake’s Full Bio

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What is the MSIXVC Folder in Windows (And How to Delete It)#

What Is the MSIXVC Folder, and Where Is It Found?#

How to Delete the MSIXVC Folder#

Delete the MSIXVC Folder Using Safe Mode#

Uninstall Your Xbox Apps#