Affinity Photo v2 .exe file location

[Dan C]

15 minutes ago, yaywalter said:

What's the reason for installing the app like this instead of in the Program Files folder like normal? Is it just meant to be pseudo-DRM?

Windows preferred install method for applications going forwards is .MSIX, though we do appreciate we are slightly ahead of the curve here.

8 minutes ago, Ian- said:

These paths you give simply are not present on the system

Please note that the [USERNAME] will need to be replaced with your actual username for the account, and the 'AppData' folder is hidden by default. The below is from my system.

[yaywalter]

2 minutes ago, Dan C said:

Windows preferred install method for applications going forwards is .MSIX, though we do appreciate we are slightly ahead of the curve here.

So that's a yes, it's just pseudo-DRM?

[aaturner]

Good morning Dan C. Using the file path you suggested results in denial of access to the surrogate .exe file (see below). Any other suggestions?

 

[BruceW]

21 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

There's a FAQ about that: 

However, you may find it necessary to create a small .bat file and have the .bat file invoke the app execution alias. Perhaps something like this:

start /b affinityphoto2.exe %1
exit

 

 

[Scruff]

Here's how I did it:

Open Affinity Photo 2

Open Task Manager and expand the Affinity Photo 2 entry

Right-click on Affinity Photo

Select 'Open file location'

On my PC this gives the location as C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe

 

[SKT7]

9 minutes ago, Dan C said:

Windows preferred install method for applications going forwards is .MSIX, though we do appreciate we are slightly ahead of the curve here.

Please note that the [USERNAME] will need to be replaced with your actual username for the account, and the 'AppData' folder is hidden by default. The below is from my system.

 

Does this mean that only the Admin account can use this app and if there is a second account in the same computer - it won't be available?


By the way: the 0KB exe files are appearing in two places on my system! pls see the screenshot.

[aaturner]

Thanks, Scruff. Your system worked for me. Now I can use that or a .bat file!

Serif must be able to simplify this procedure!

[Ian-]

What version of Windows are you on Saikat?

[Ian-]

Here's how I did it:

Open Affinity Photo 2

Open Task Manager and expand the Affinity Photo 2 entry

Right-click on Affinity Photo

Select 'Open file location'

On my PC this gives the location as C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe

Option is greyed out on my Win 10 Pro 21H1. What version of Windows are you using Scruff?

[SKT7]

16 minutes ago, Ian- said:

What version of Windows are you on Saikat?

Windows 10. 

[Scruff]

10 minutes ago, Ian- said:

Here's how I did it:

Open Affinity Photo 2

Open Task Manager and expand the Affinity Photo 2 entry

Right-click on Affinity Photo

Select 'Open file location'

On my PC this gives the location as C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe

Option is greyed out on my Win 10 Pro 21H1. What version of Windows are you using Scruff?

Yes, should have mentioned I'm on WIN 11 Pro 22H2.

[Scruff]

3 minutes ago, Scruff said:

Yes, should have mentioned I'm on WIN 11 Pro 22H2.

If 'Open file location' is greyed out you could try clicking on properties and that will also give you the location which you can copy.

[Ian-]

f 'Open file location' is greyed out you could try clicking on properties and that will also give you the location which you can copy.

I can create a shortcut as you indicate but the shortcut is not a .exe which programs like DXO are looking for as is hardware like the Stream Deck.

If I navigate in DXO to the .exe access is denied to the .exe.

Frustrating.

[Silversnapper]

The simple way I always use is to identify an image file in Explorer, right click, Open With and a list of possible apps is presented Just click on Photo 2 and the file will be opened in Photo 2. I have Capture One, and by using this procedure, Photo 2 is then automatically listed in the external apps. Always works for me...

[Scruff]

1 hour ago, Ian- said:

f 'Open file location' is greyed out you could try clicking on properties and that will also give you the location which you can copy.

I can create a shortcut as you indicate but the shortcut is not a .exe which programs like DXO are looking for as is hardware like the Stream Deck.

If I navigate in DXO to the .exe access is denied to the .exe.

Frustrating.

If you copy the location from the properties you need to add \Photo.exe to the end to point to the actual exe.

[jp.rioux]

2 hours ago, Scruff said:

Here's how I did it:

Open Affinity Photo 2

Open Task Manager and expand the Affinity Photo 2 entry

Right-click on Affinity Photo

Select 'Open file location'

On my PC this gives the location as C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe

 

This is the best solution. Also you have the option to create a desk shortcut when right-clicking on it. I'm using Elgato Stream Desk to open Affinity Photo, I did copy the file location from task Manager and it did the job.

[jimh12345]

Can anyone tell me the purpose of all this obfuscation from Microsoft's point of view? Just making things difficult for users doesn't stop the malware guys from getting in.

[PaulW61]

24 minutes ago, jimh12345 said:

Can anyone tell me the purpose of all this obfuscation from Microsoft's point of view? Just making things difficult for users doesn't stop the malware guys from getting in.

Agreed! I have always installed apps under specific folders in Program Files or Program Files (x86). For example, I have all of my business programs including accounting, spreadsheets, word processor and contact manager installed in "c:\Program Files\Business App\...". I have all of my photo editing programs including Land and Sea Scuba, Affinity Photo 1.10, NX Studio, Pixbim, etc. installed in c:\Program Files\Photo Apps\.....". This makes finding my apps simple and well organized. Now that Photo 2.0 doesn't allow me to choose the installation folder as well as making it difficult to find the installation folder, this is going to make my organized PC much less tidy and cumbersome to maintain.

 

Please allow users to select installation locations with your future releases and updates!

[Ian-]

This is the best solution. Also you have the option to create a desk shortcut when right-clicking on it. I'm using Elgato Stream Desk to open Affinity Photo, I did copy the file location from task Manager and it did the job.

Many thanks jp.rioux

I had been replacing app with AffinityPhotov2.exe

 

[JosAlp]

I don't want V2 aps installed in my system disk. At first, I thought that happened because I was installing the Trial versions, but now I see it's worst...

So, I WILL NOT upgrade to V2

[Dan C]

Please see the following FAQ regarding installing on a different drive - 

 

[inkygorilla]

none of the solutions here have worked for me. I'm using WIndows 10, the path appdata\Local\Microsoft does not exist for me. i can find it in LocalLow and Roaming but neither have anything inside related to affinity. 

Found the windowsapp folder in program files but cant access it due to permissions and windows not changing permissions for some reason. 

shouldn't have to jump through so many hoops to have this work. 

Can't set up any of my mouse/input shortcuts as can't locate the executable file....after paying 90 quid. Seems like a basic necessity for a design based suite of programs. 

[bkleeman]

3 hours ago, PaulW61 said:

Agreed! I have always installed apps under specific folders

Same! I have had windows fail on me two too many times to deal with reinstalling Windows and all my apps from scratch, so I always install my design apps to a separate SSD. Microsoft locking down their app store files is the main reason I have never willingly touched it unless a github app required it for one reason or another.

[bkleeman]

38 minutes ago, inkygorilla said:

none of the solutions here have worked for me. I'm using WIndows 10, the path appdata\Local\Microsoft does not exist for me. i can find it in LocalLow and Roaming but neither have anything inside related to affinity. 

Found the windowsapp folder in program files but cant access it due to permissions and windows not changing permissions for some reason. 

shouldn't have to jump through so many hoops to have this work. 

Can't set up any of my mouse/input shortcuts as can't locate the executable file....after paying 90 quid. Seems like a basic necessity for a design based suite of programs. 

Same here. I used a database searching software called "everything" which found the exe files with ease. The real challenge for me is getting around the permissions issue. My stream deck will just give me errors if I attempt to use the exe in any way. The "Advanced Launcher [BarRaider]" plugin supports launching MS Store UWP files, but that doesn't change the fact that I cant get the profile to auto-switch depending on what software I'm using. 

[filoplume]

7 hours ago, Ian- said:

Here's how I did it:

Open Affinity Photo 2

Open Task Manager and expand the Affinity Photo 2 entry

Right-click on Affinity Photo

Select 'Open file location'

On my PC this gives the location as C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64__3cqzy0nppv2rt\App\Photo.exe

Option is greyed out on my Win 10 Pro 21H1. What version of Windows are you using Scruff?

On my latest version of Windows 10 Home it is also dimmed out.