Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10  

    Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10

    Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10

    How to Enable or Disable Changing Apps Save Location in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    02 Apr 2018
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable Changing Apps Save Location in Windows 10


    In Windows 10, users can select where Windows apps from the Store will install or moved to and save data to by default instead of on the default Windows "This PC (C)" drive location.

    You can select to install new or move existing Windows apps to any internal or external drive, including SD cards, USB drives, and USB flash drives. You cannot use mapped network drives, and you can only use one location at a time to save apps to.

    What happens when changing new Windows apps save location is enabled:
    • This is the default setting.
    • The default apps save location for new apps of users will automatically be changed back to the previous save location before being disabled.
    • Users will be able to change the new apps save location for their account.
    • Apps installed and saved to any other available locations can now be opened again.

    What happens when changing new Windows apps save location is disabled:
    • Users will no longer be able to change the new apps save location for their account.
    • The default apps save location for new apps will automatically be changed back to the default "This PC (C)" system drive location.
    • Any apps installed and saved to any location other than "This PC (C)" will be offline and cannot be opened.

    Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10-we_couldnt_move_app.jpg
    Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10-this_app_cant_open.png

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable users from being able to change the storage location where apps from the Store will be moved or installed to and save data to in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable changing apps save location.


     CONTENTS:

    • Option One: Enable or Disable Changing Windows Apps Save Location in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Two: Enable or Disable Changing Windows Apps Save Location using a REG file


    EXAMPLE: Change New Apps Save Location Enabled and Disabled
    Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10-apps_save_location_enabled.jpg Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10-apps_save_location_disabled.jpg




    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable Changing Windows Apps Save Location 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 Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10-apps_storage_location_gpedit-1.jpg

    3. In the right pane of App Package Deployment in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Disable installing Windows apps 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 Changing Windows Apps Save Location

    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 Changing Windows Apps Save Location

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

    Enable or Disable Changing Save Location of Apps in Windows 10-apps_storage_location_gpedit-2.jpg

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

    8. Restart the computer to apply.






    OPTION TWO

    Enable or Disable Changing Windows Apps Save Location 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

    RestrictAppToSystemVolume DWORD

    0 or delete = Enable
    1 = Disable


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


     2. To Enable Changing Windows Apps Save Location

    This is the default setting.

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

    Enable_Change_App_Save_Location.reg

    Download


     3. To Disable Changing Windows Apps Save Location

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

    Disable_Change_App_Save_Location.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






  1. Posts : 42,637
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #1

    Hi, would it be worth explaining the issues arising for someone who has specified this be on another drive, and then clean installs Win 10?

    Similarly for
    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10

    Thanks!
      My Computers


 

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