How to Enable or Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes in Windows 10


In Windows 10, users can move their installed Windows apps from the Microsoft Store to another drive.

The default location is This PC on the Windows C: drive (system volume) in the %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps (apps) and %LocalAppData%\Packages (user app data) folders.

If you like, you can allow or prevent users' app data from moving to another location when an app is moved or installed on another location.

If prevented, all users' app data will stay on the system volume, regardless of where the app is installed.

If allowed, then when an app is moved to a different volume, the users' app data will also move to this volume.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable users' app data from moving to another location when an app from the Microsoft Store is moved or installed on another location in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable moving user app data.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes using a REG file





OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes in Local Group Policy Editor



The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\App Package Deployment

Enable or Disable Moving User App Data in Windows 10-user_app_data_gpedit-1.jpg

3. In the right pane of App Package Deployment in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Prevent users' app data from being stored on non-system volumes policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 5. To Enable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes for All Users

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


 6. To Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes for All Users

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Moving User App Data in Windows 10-user_app_data_gpedit-2.png

7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor.

8. Restart the computer to apply.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes using a REG file



The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Appx

RestrictAppDataToSystemVolume DWORD

0 or delete = Enable
1 = Disable


1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Allow_user_app_data_to_be_stored_on_non-system_drives.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Moving User App Data to Non-system Volumes for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Prevent_user_app_data_to_be_stored_on_non-system_drives.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, OK (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. Restart the computer to apply.

8. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials



  • Windows 11 Tutorials