How to Change the Installation Location of Programs in Windows 11

• Level of Difficulty: Easy
• Applies to: Switching and changing the location of installed apps on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP and Vista.

This page shows new Windows 11 users how to change the save location for new content in Windows 11, particularly for apps like Office, Adobe software, and even some big games.  

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How to Change the Install Location in Windows 11? [4 Ways]

Based on the advice of seasoned professional Windows administrators, we've compiled four effective methods to successfully move apps in Windows 11 without losing any application data or encountering startup issues. Let's explore them:

• #1. Third-Party App Migration Tools
• #2. Apps & Features in Windows 11
• #3. Command Prompt (CMD) Command Line
• #4. Registry Editor

Which of these four methods is best for you? This comparison chart can help you decide.

As you can see from the comparison table, third-party app migration software is the most comprehensive solution for Windows 11 users to change the installation location of installed apps. However, if you're looking for a simple and efficient method, Method 1 is not to be missed. Now, let's see how to migrate apps in Windows 11 and change the program installation location.

#1. Use an App Migration Tool

A professional application migration tool can directly help you move programs, software, and even games installed on the C drive to another local disk on your computer without booting issues. What you need is a utility with an “Application Migration” feature – Todo PCTrans Professional.

It allows you to move multiple programs and applications directly from the C drive to the D drive, or even to a second hard drive on your computer, without losing any personal data or encountering boot issues. Here are the detailed steps:

Step 1: Run Todo PCTrans on your computer.

Go to "App Migration" and tap "Start" to proceed.

Select the application migration transmission mode

Step 2: Choose the programs you want to move from the C drive to another drive

1. Select the C drive and check the programs you want to move (labeled "Yes").

2. Click the triangle icon and select another disk on your computer as the target location, then click “Transfer” to start the process.

Select the apps to transfer

Step 3: Complete the transfer

Wait for the transfer to complete, then click “OK” to confirm.

When finished, if necessary, restart your computer to apply the changes, preserving all of your data on the hard drive, and allowing you to run the program from another hard drive without having to reinstall.

Aside from that, you can also use the Todo PCTrans tool to:

• Move an app from another drive to the C drive
• Move the Desktop folder to a different drive
• Transfer apps or programs to another computer
• Backup and rescue data and programs when Windows 11 fails
• More...

#2. Use the Apps & Features tool

"Apps & Features" is a built-in Windows tool that helps change the location of some programs installed on your Windows computer. Users of Windows 11 can also use this tool to move some programs installed on the C drive to another drive.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings, then click on System and select Apps & features.

Step 2: Wait for “Apps & Features” to open, select the program or app you want to move, and click on “Move.”

Step 3: Select the disk you want to move the program to, for example, Disk D:.

Step 4: Click “Move” to confirm.

If you need to move several programs, you'll have to repeat the process a few times. For a more efficient method, you can fully trust the tool Todo PCTrans.

#3. Using the CMD Command Line

Another effective but more complex way to move apps in Windows 11 is by running CMD commands. Proceed with caution when performing the steps below on your computer.

Some seasoned Windows admins recommend creating a restore point if you're having trouble moving apps in Windows 11.

Here are the steps to move an app in Windows 11 using CMD: 1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator:** - Press `Win + X` keys together on your keyboard. - Click on "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu that appears. 2. **Type the Move Command:** - In the Command Prompt, type the following command, replacing "SourcePath" with the current location of the app and "DestinationPath" with the folder where you want to move the app: ``` move "SourcePath" "DestinationPath" ``` 3. **Example:** - If the app is located in `C:\Program Files\MyApp` and you want to move it to `D:\Apps`, the command would be: ``` move "C:\Program Files\MyApp" "D:\Apps" ``` 4. **Execute the Command:** - Press `Enter` to execute the command. The app will be moved to the specified destination. 5. **Confirm the Move:** - Check the destination folder to ensure the app has been successfully moved. Remember that moving system apps or those installed through the Microsoft Store may require additional permissions or steps, as they are often tightly integrated with the operating system. For standard user applications, the above method should work.

Step 1: Open the C drive and find the application that you want to move to another drive.

Step 2: Create a text file and copy and paste both commands into it:

• Use Robocopy to copy from "Source" to "Destination" with secure copying enabled, move idle files, and recursively copy all subdirectories: `/sec /mov /e`
• Create a symbolic link, linking "Source" to "Destination," using the `/j` option to create a directory junction: `mklink /j Destination Source`

Replace "Source" with the file path of the target program on your C drive.

Replace "Destination" with the path to where you want to move the application on your computer.

Step 3: Type cmd in the search box, right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator.”

Step 4. Once you have the Command Prompt open, type the first line of text from your file and press Enter:

• Robocopy "Source" "Destination" /SEC /MOV /E

Select the app that you want to move

Step 5. Type the second line at the command prompt, and press Enter:

• Mklink "Source" "Destination" /j

Wait for the process to finish. Afterwards, you can open the target new drive and check if the selected application folder was successfully moved here.

Caution: Be very careful when running commands in the Command Prompt. If something goes wrong, it's likely because Windows doesn't allow you to do this. If that happens, stop and seek help through Method 1 instead.

#4. Launch the Registry Editor

The last workaround to move apps from the C drive in Windows 11 is by using the Registry Editor. Before you start, make sure you know where you want to move the app.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box, type regedit, and then click "OK".

Step 2: After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry folder:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion"

Step 3: Double-click the ProgramFilesDir (x86) key, and change its default value of "C:\Program Files" to the new drive path.

Step 4: Click “OK”.

Step 5: Double-click “ProgramFilesDir” and change the default value of “C:\Program Files” to your new path.

6. Click “OK” to close the Registry Editor and then restart your computer.

Additional Tip: How to Change the Default Installation Folder in Windows 11 During installation, Windows 11 typically saves all files and settings in the "Program Files" or "Users" folder on the C drive. To change this default location and alleviate pressure on the C drive, follow these steps: 1. **Create a new partition or extend the C drive:** - Search for "Disk Management" in the Start menu and open it. - If you have unallocated space, right-click on the C drive and select "Extend Volume" to expand it. Alternatively, you can create a new partition. - Ensure the new partition has enough space to store applications and user files. 2. **Change the default user folder location:** - Press `Win + I` to open "Settings." - Go to "System" > "Storage" > "Advanced storage settings." - Under "Change where new content is saved," select the drive you want for "New users' personal files" and "New app installations." - Click "Apply" to save the changes. 3. **Change the program installation location:** - This part involves using the Registry Editor, so exercise caution. - Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog, type `regedit`, and press Enter. - Navigate to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion`. - Locate the keys named `ProgramFilesDir` and `ProgramFiles(x86)Dir` (if you have a 64-bit system). - Right-click each key, choose "Modify," and change the value to the path of the new partition, e.g., `D:\Program Files`. - Restart your computer, and new programs will be installed in the designated location. Please note that altering these settings might affect some programs' compatibility and functionality. Before making any changes, ensure you have backed up important data and seek professional guidance if unfamiliar with the Registry Editor.

Aside from the four methods above to change the installation location in Windows 11, it's also crucial to modify Windows 11's default installation folder to save disk space on your C drive.

Here are the steps you can follow:

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings, and then click System > Storage.

Under “Save locations,” click the drop-down menu next to “New apps will save to” and choose a new drive to change where your default locations for Apps, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos are saved.

Change app location

Let's share this post to help users who want to change the installation location of programs in Windows 11:

Why would you need to change the location of installed programs in Windows 11?

Despite the many new features introduced in Windows 11, such as a new user-centered Start menu and taskbar, Microsoft has retained the most classic design of its Windows systems. In its latest OS, all new content continues to be automatically saved and installed on the local system C drive (This PC).

As a result, your C: drive will soon be filled with:

• Downloaded content.
• Installed apps and software.
• The operating system.
• Personal folders like Documents, Pictures, and so on.
• Desktop contents, and more.

When the C drive of your Windows 11 is full, how would you tackle this issue? You can resolve it in various ways, such as changing the default download location, moving user folders like "Documents," "Pictures," and "Desktop" to another drive, deleting unnecessary large files, and so on. Relocating installed programs in Windows 11 is also an effective method to free up significant space on your system C drive.

Conclusions

This page introduces four reliable ways to move installed programs from the C drive to another drive in Windows 11 without boot issues. Among these methods, Windows novices can fully rely on Todo PCTrans to migrate apps from the C drive to other drives.

If you only want to move some basic apps around in Windows 11, experienced Windows users might also want to try the other three methods. It is possible and easy to change the location of installed programs in Windows 11. You can do it yourself, like a pro, as long as you take the right approach.