If you lot've got a lot of apps and programs installed on Windows 10 or 11, you might want to motility them to some other drive to gratuitous up space. It may also be necessary to change your default install location. Happily, all of these things are possible.

Windows has a built-in utility that allows you lot to move modern apps to a location of your choice. Although this method doesn't work for traditional desktop programs, it's however possible to move these programs to some other bulldoze.

Let us show yous how to move an app or program to some other bulldoze on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

How to Move Apps and Programs to Some other Drive on Windows 10 and 11

The process you lot need to follow depends on what you want to motility to another bulldoze—whether it'south a native Windows 10/xi app or a third-party program.

Kickoff, we'll outline the process for Microsoft Store apps, and then nosotros will accept a look at traditional desktop programs.

How to Move Windows ten/xi Apps to Another Bulldoze

This method volition but work for apps that yous have installed from the Microsoft Store.

move apps on windows 11
  1. Press Windows central + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Apps > Apps & features. Hither you will find a list of all apps and programs installed on your system.
  3. Scroll to the app that you want to move.
    1. On Windows x, select the app from the list.
    2. On Windows 11, click the three vertical dots.
  4. Click Move.
  5. Select the new drive from the dropdown.
  6. Click Motion again.

Yous tin can repeat this process if you want to move the app back or to a different drive.

If the Move button is greyed out, it means it'southward a Windows x/11 app that can't be moved (y'all tin uninstall unnecessary Windows apps). If you see a Modify push instead, it's a traditional desktop program, and y'all'll need to follow the method outlined below.

How to Move Desktop Programs to Another Drive

Microsoft doesn't recommend moving the installed programs' file location because it can cause issues, like the program not running or data loss. A safer, albeit less efficient, method is to uninstall the program and reinstall it to your desired bulldoze.

If y'all desire to proceed, create a Windows restore point to contrary the changes if annihilation goes wrong.

We recommend using a program called Steam Mover. This was originally designed to move Steam games between drives simply will actually work on whatever programme.

windows 10 file system

Whether it's where the installed programme currently sits or where you lot want it moved to, any drive that you want to utilise with this program needs to be in the NTFS format. To check this:

  1. Printing Windows primal + E to open Windows Explorer, then navigate to This PC.
  2. Correct-click a drive and click Properties.
  3. Refer to the File system to meet if it'due south NTFS.

With that confirmed, you can now use Steam Mover to move your programs from one bulldoze to some other:

steam mover
  1. Open Steam Mover.
  2. Side by side to Steams Apps Common Binder, click the three-menstruation push button to select the folder path on the bulldoze containing the programs you want to move (for case, your Program Files on the C bulldoze).
  3. Adjacent to Alternative Folder, click the 3-period push to select the bulldoze and folder path where you want to move the program to.
  4. Select the program from the list that you want to move. Yous can select multiple programs by holding Ctrl as you click.
  5. When fix to move, click the right arrow at the bottom to begin. Command Prompt will open up and procedure the motion.
  6. When consummate, you'll come across the new binder path next to the program in the Junction Point column.

How to Alter the Default Installation Path of Apps and Programs on Windows 10 and eleven

If you but want to change the default install location on Windows 10 or Windows 11, that's simple. If you're on Windows eight or prior, you demand a third-party program.

How to Change the Default Installation Path on Windows x/11

change where new apps save on windows 11
  1. Press the Windows Cardinal + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Organisation > Storage.
    1. On Windows ten, underneath the More than storage settings heading, click Change where new content is saved.
    2. On Windows eleven, click Avant-garde storage settings > Where new content is saved.
  3. To change the default bulldoze for new apps, utilise the New apps volition relieve to dropdown.

Yous will discover that this page also allows you to change the default location of things like documents, music, and pictures.

How to Modify the Default Installation Path on Windows viii and Prior

Microsoft doesn't recommend changing the default install path for programs. Doing so could cause problems with existing programs and some Windows features. It'south best to perform this operation on a clean system. If that's not suitable, create a restore betoken and so that you tin roll back if necessary.

The majority of programs will let you change the installation path when installing them. It's a minor inconvenience to practise this each fourth dimension, perhaps, just it requires no system change.

If you do want to proceed, use a programme called Install Dir Changer. Download it from SourceForge and so run the plan:

install dir changer
  1. Click Enable Editing and and then click Yes when the User Business relationship Control window pops upwardly.
  2. You tin can set a dissimilar path for 64-fleck applications and 32-bit applications. To set the default installation path for each, click the three-menstruation button to browse to a folder path.
  3. One time you've selected your new path, click Apply Changes. Now, all new programs you install volition default to these folder paths.

Free Up Disk Infinite on Your Drive

Now that y'all know how to motility your apps and programs and how to modify their default install location, yous tin gratis up space on your drives. But remember to accept all precautions when using tertiary-party programs.

If you want to relieve even more disk space, consider deleting old Windows files and folders. Along with having moved your programs to another drive, you'll accept a superbly organized drive.

Delete These Windows Files and Folders to Costless Upwardly Disk Space

Read Next

Well-nigh The Author

Joe Keeley (883 Articles Published)

Joe was born with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing about applied science. He has a BA (Hons) in Business and is at present a full-time freelance writer who enjoys making tech uncomplicated for everyone.

More than From Joe Keeley