There is this long-running issue in Windows 10 where you get the error “Windows cannot find C:/Program Files/WindowsApps/Microsoft.549981C3F5F10” whenever you start up your PC.
This bug seems to be associated with Cortana, and it can be easily fixed by resetting Cortana in Apps and Features as explained below:
- Right-click on the Start button and select Settings.
- In the Settings window, click on Apps.
- In the Apps window, click on Apps & Features.
- Find Cortana, and click on the Advanced Settings button under it:
- Browse down to Reset, and click on the Reset button:
Now restart your PC to make the changes, and you shouldn’t see this error message. If this didn’t fix, try the solutions below.
(Another common error message in Windows is “the specific procedure could not be found” in the Photos app when trying to open a .jpg and .mp4 files, I’ve written an article on how to fix that.)
How to Fix “Cannot Find Files WindowsApps Microsoft 549981c3f5f10…”
Windows offers different tools to repair or clean corrupted files; three tools can help you fix this issue: Disk Cleanup, System File Checker, and the DISM clean tool.
I recommend you run these three tools in the order below:
Method 1: Use the Disk Cleanup tool
- Launch the Run dialog by pressing Win + R.
- Type cleanmgr on the Run dialog, then press Enter to open the Disk Cleaner:
- Check the Setup log files, Temporary Files, and the Recycle Bin boxes.
- Click on the Clean up system files button and wait for a while:
- Reboot your PC.
Method 2: Run the System File Checker
- Type Command Prompt on Windows Search, then click on Run as Administrator:
- Enter the following command on the Command Prompt:
sfc /scannow
- Press Enter and wait patiently while Windows check your system for corrupted files.
Method 3: DISM clean tool
- Type Command Prompt on Windows Search, then click on Run as Administrator.
- Enter the following command on the Command Prompt and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Scanhealth
- Then enter the following command and press Enter again:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - Wait.
Conclusion
To fix the “Windows cannot find C:/Program Files/WindowsApps/Microsoft.549981C3F5F10” error, you need to reset Cortana. You can do this in Settings -> Apps and Features -> Cortana Advanced Settings -> Reset.
If this doesn’t work, you can try running Windows maintenance tools such as Disk Cleanup, System File Checker, and DISM.
If you often see a pop-up with the error message “C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsApps\Microsoft.YourPhone(…) \PhoneExperienceHost.exe”, check the article I’ve written on it.
In the case of having BSOD errors, check my article on how to disable automatic restart on system failure so you can carefully read the error messages displayed on the screen.
