How to fix WhatsApp breaking after restart with “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file” error on Windows PC?

I, too, have this problem. It started late last year when Whatsapp was updated. You can temporarily fix it by going to Settings - Apps - Whatsapp - Advanced Options and Reset (Repair does not work). However, next time you re-boot the "Windows cannot access...." will be back. I have tried everything mentioned and in addition I have tried

"Taking ownership" of the two 5319275A files

Deleting every reference to Whatsapp in Registry Editor

Whitelisting the two 5319275A files in Malwarebytes

It's nice to know I am not the only one.

[Windows 10 pro 22H2 Build: 19045.6466]

.

Hello Monit Bisht, thanks for posting this in the community.

Please try removing the corrupted AppX package completely. Even if you uninstalled via Settings, remnants often remain. Open PowerShell as admin and run:

Get-AppxPackage *WhatsApp* | Remove-AppxPackage

After that, check if the folder still exists by running:

Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*WhatsApp*" }

If the folder is still there, let me know so we can run additional commands. If it is gone, try reinstalling WhatsApp through the Microsoft Store.

Kind regards

John Oli

To resolve the issue with WhatsApp breaking after a restart and showing the error "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file," you can try the following steps:

1. Check Permissions: Since the error may relate to permissions on the C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsApps folder, ensure that the necessary permissions are set correctly. You can do this by:
   • Navigating to the folder in File Explorer.
   • Right-clicking on the folder and selecting Properties.
   • Going to the Security tab and ensuring that the user or users required to access this folder have the appropriate permissions.
2. Remove Zombie Folders: If the folder remains after uninstalling WhatsApp, you may need to manually delete it. To do this:
   • Open a command prompt as an administrator.
   • Use the command rd /s /q "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\5319275A.WhatsAppDesktop_2.2587.9.0_x64_cv1g1gvanyjgm" to remove the folder. Make sure to replace the path with the correct one if it differs.
3. Reinstall WhatsApp: After removing the old folder, try reinstalling WhatsApp from the Microsoft Store or the official website. Ensure that you install it with administrative privileges.
4. Check for Group Policy Issues: If Group Policy is managing permissions, you may need to check if there are any settings that restrict access to the folder. You can do this by running gpresult /h <path>\gpreport.html in an administrative command prompt and reviewing the permissions set under Computer Settings > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings.
5. System File Checker (SFC): Since you mentioned running an SFC scan, ensure that it completed successfully. If it found issues, you may need to run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the Windows image.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider more extensive troubleshooting, but a full Windows Repair Install should be a last resort.

References:

• Windows cannot access specified device, path, or file error launching Office
• Microsoft Store Apps fail to start if default registry or file permissions modified
• Modern, Inbox, and Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooting guidance
• How to fix Package Support Framework Filesystem Write Permission errors