If you are thinking of upgrading your PC, you should know some essential things before doing so. One useful feature Windows 10 or Windows 11 has, is that it lets users move the installed Microsoft Store apps to any other drive. You can also change the path of the default installation directory, for new apps. This post shows how to move installed Microsoft Store Apps to another Drive in Windows 11/10.
Move Windows Apps to other Drive
There was a not-so-easy way to change the default installation location for apps, but it worked for some and not for others. Windows 11/10 has made it easy to get things done. The new Settings window has all the options to move the Windows 11/10 apps to any other drive.
Windows 11
To move the installed Microsoft Store app to another drive, do the following:
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings
- Select Apps settings
- Click Aoos and features
- Scroll down and locate the app
- Click on the 3-dotted line and select Moce
- Next, select the drive you want to move the app to and press Move
- The app will be moved.
Please note that this option is not available for all apps.
Windows 10
Press Win + I to open the Settings panel. Then, click on the System button.
Next, go to Apps & Features section and wait for Windows to determine the app size. Now, find the app that you want to move to another drive. Then, click on the app and select Move.
Next, select a drive and click on Move.
It will take a few moments to complete since this depends on the app size.
Once the process is completed, the Windows Store app will be moved to a new location.
If you are suffering from the low space issues after upgrading, you can use this technique to move apps from the default system drive to another drive, and even direct new installs to another location.
UPDATE: Move installed apps setting appears to be grayed out for many, including me, in the final version of Windows 10. Caleb adds in comments that Microsoft has decided to postpone offering this setting for the moment.
Related reads:
- Relocate installed programs using Application Mover
- How to move installed programs using FolderMove
- How to Move Steam Games to another Drive.
PS: Also, see how you can change the default Program Files installation directory location or Pick a Drive for installation in Windows Store before downloading the app.