Where, o where, are Affinity2.0 apps installed on my Windows 11 PC?

[karlbu]

My Canon scan utility allows me to open up a specific application after scanning an image.  I previously (and easily) pointed to the Affinity Photo installation folder here: C:\ Program Files \ Affinity \ Affinity Photo.  Therefore, after I scanned an image, Affinity Photo opened for editing.  Slick!

No longer.  The aforementioned Affinity folder is now empty. 

A deep, deep, deep, scan of my operating system indicates that Affinity 2.0 is installed here:  C:\ Program Files \ WindowsApps \ SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64_3cqrzy0nppv2rt\App\Resources

But wait!  Attempting to target the 'WindowsApps' folder yields "Access Denied."  Any further attempts to penetrate this veil of secrecy is stonewalled.  Neither can I change the security access permissions for the folder.

Serif has reduced the functionality of its Affinity 2.0 applications by hiding and locking the installation locations, and disallowing other applications to automatically open them.

Why? 

And is there any way around this obfuscation?

[Pšenda]

There are hundreds of posts on this topic. Try searching for topics with MSIX and accessing from other apps.

 

 

[karlbu]

Thank you.  Your post was very helpful.

[VGG]

I am unable to register Affinity Photo V2 with NX Studio, in order to open images in Affinity.  Using Windows 11.  I've tried the various work-arounds (as far as is reasonable for a non-tech person), and have had no luck - either the file paths don't exist at all, or NX Studio says it is unable to access the file.

Please advise what the status of this problem.

[Pšenda]

Try instal MSI/EXE version.

 

 

[VGG]

OK, well I just found the AF Launcher app, and it is working.  So delete last comment.

[StargateCOlorado]

For whatever reason, Windows will not let me access the path listed above (C:\ Program Files \ WindowsApps \ SerifEuropeLtd.AffinityPhoto2_2.0.0.1640_x64_3cqrzy0nppv2rt\App\Resources).  It says I don't have permission to see it, even though it's my computer!

What I'm really after is the location of the .autosav files. They were readily available in AP 1.x, but now I can't find them.  I suspect they're somewhere under the above path.

I don't understand *why* the applications are now so hard to access.

--Ernie

[Pšenda]

29 minutes ago, StargateCOlorado said:

I don't understand *why* the applications are now so hard to access.

Because you probably installed a "sandboxed" MSIX version. If you don't like this type, try the MSI/EXE version.

This has been mentioned many times here on the forum, so try searching for detailed information.

For example:

 

 

 

[RobWu]

As the links from @Pšenda will tell, is that the MSIX apps are a different 'beast' from the old .exe installers most of us are used to.

So simply said, every MSIX app (from the MS store) runs in the C:\ Program Files \ WindowsApps environment, and is heavily locked down by the OS after installation.
Good for preventing shenanigans from stuff like viruses or trojans, maybe not very practical if you want to acces the folder as a user.

If you don't like this behavior, switch back to the .exe installers Affinity is still providing for the v2 software. That will 'move' the application back to the regular Program Files or Program Files(x86) environment.

rob

[walt.farrell]

However, if you move back to the EXE/MSI installer, be very careful when the programs notify you that an update is available. When you click Download, and are directed to the website to manually download/install the new installer, it is very easy to choose the wrong one and get the MSIX version instead.

[Alfred]

2 hours ago, RobWu said:

If you don't like this behavior, switch back to the .exe installers Affinity is still providing for the v2 software. That will 'move' the application back to the regular Program Files or Program Files(x86) environment.

<pedantry>
Program Files only, since the Affinity apps are all 64-bit. Program Files (x86) is where 32-bit applications are installed on 64-bit versions of Windows.
</pedantry>

[RobWu]

3 hours ago, Alfred said:

<pedantry>
Program Files only, since the Affinity apps are all 64-bit. Program Files (x86) is where 32-bit applications are installed on 64-bit versions of Windows.
</pedantry>

<pedantry>
I know, I was just explaining both 'regular' locations for .exe Windows applications within Windows. Otherwise somebody could start looking in the wrong folders again...  
</pedantry>