Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 10 123 ... LastLast
    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10

    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10

    How to Change Location where New Apps will Install and Save to in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    02 Sep 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Location where New Apps will Install and Save to in Windows 10


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

    You can select to install new 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.

    Windows 10 will only install new apps to the currently selected location. Existing apps do not get moved to the new location by default, but you can select to move apps to another drive.

    If you disconnect the drive you selected to install Windows apps to, then any app installed to that drive will no longer work until the drive is connected again.

    If you disconnect the drive you selected to install Windows apps to, then Windows will install new apps to This PC until the drive is connected again. Any apps installed to "This PC" during this time will remain on "This PC", and will not be moved to the other location.

    Window will create the folders below on the root of the drive you selected to install new apps on. When a new Windows app from the Store is installed to the selected location, Windows 10 will create a WindowsApps folder at that location. The files and folders for apps in the WindowsApps folder will be encrypted with EFS, so no one but your account is able to access the data.

    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10-save_location_on_drive.jpg

    You will need to make sure that the new storage location has been formatted using NTFS before changing the save location to it.


    This tutorial will show you how to change the location of where new Windows apps from the Store will install and save data to for your account in Windows 10.


    For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

    Change Where New Apps will Save to in Windows 11




    Here's How:

    1 Open the Settings app, and click/tap on the System icon.

    2 Click/tap on Storage on the left side, and click/tap on the Change where new content is saved link under More storage settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10-w10_storage_save_locations-1.jpg

    3 Select the drive you want New apps will save to. (see screenshot below)

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

    If the storage locations are empty, then check to make sure that the Storage Service service is enabled and set to Start (running) and manual.

    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10-w10_storage_save_locations-2.png

    4 Click/tap on the Apply button to apply. (see screenshot below)

    Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10-w10_storage_save_locations-3.png

    5 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #1

    The other Save locations (Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos) make it easier to move the User files to a new location.

    When I tried it, a new folder with my Profile name (Slartybart) was created on the partition I selected and a corresponding folder (Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos) was placed under that folder. I think the contents were automatically moved, but need to confirm that (it was a while ago and my memory is getting worse )

    This beats selecting the folder property page, selecting the location tab, typing in the new location and answering the "Do you want to move the contents" question.

    The default save location in Libraries is updated to the new location as well.

    It would be nice if you could specify a fully qualified location instead of only being offed a partition, but that's a techie talkin'
    Say I wanted G:\Users\Slartybart... instead of G:\Slartybart...
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 33
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2

    In my installation the "New apps will save to" button is greyed out. What can I do?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hello TheOne, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Microsoft has temporarily delayed this feature to be able to save apps to removable locations until a later release.

    Microsoft Postpones Windows 10 Ability to Install Apps on SD - Thurrott.com
    Last edited by Brink; 05 Oct 2015 at 09:03. Reason: updated link
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 33
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    But I just want to install the apps to a different internal drive. I do not want to waste precious SSD space to useless fluff. Is this not yet possible?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    It was, but it's not known yet when it will be again.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 1
    Win10
       #6

    TheOne320 said:
    But I just want to install the apps to a different internal drive. I do not want to waste precious SSD space to useless fluff. Is this not yet possible?
    I would like to echo this concern - I too have an SSD drive - for which I'm grateful to easily move docs/pix/vids but I'll run out of space soon with apps and app data that's not stored on my other internal drive. What is your feeling about editing the registry to allow permission changes to appx?
    Last edited by lyoung72; 01 Aug 2015 at 11:31. Reason: Left something out
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 8
    Windows 10 (64 Bit)
       #7

    "EX: C:\Users\Matt\AppData\Local\Packages" where all the Apps come to life, and store useful data.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 27
    Windows 10, 8.1, 7
       #8

    You can still change where you install the programs and apps I thought, but you have to do it manually I thought by changing the drive letter?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    Windows 10
       #9

    This broke it for me. It was bad enough that it deleted important files for my antivirus when it updated. It almost wouldn't load and messed my whole comp up.. I fixed it a bit... Then I find out its auto sending fluff to my main drive.. No no no... And it won't let me change it...and they have no time on when they will again....no no no no no...fix it then maybe I'll try it again.. Good concept, too many issues....
      My Computer


 

Tutorial Categories

Change Save Location for New Apps in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:25.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums