Change the default location of the Xbox app games install location

Games take up a lot of space, and if you’re running out of space on your system drive, here’s how you can change the default location where the Xbox app installs games. You’ll need to take a two-step approach to setting it up, but once that’s done, you won’t have to worry about space.

What is the Xbox app on Windows?

The Xbox app is the main app that makes it easy to find and install games. While this is always the Microsoft Store in the background, most games can be managed with the app. The app also makes it easy to view all games, progress, XP earned, etc. That said, with Windows installed, the main storage is mostly taken up by apps, OS files, and games that take up so much space that performance can slow down. Therefore, it is preferable to have a large partition dedicated solely to games.

Change the default location of the Xbox app games install location

The first step is to change the default location where the games are installed. The default location is set to drive C or the system drive. So when you change the location and install another game, it will be installed in a different location. Make sure to choose a driver that offers good read and write speeds for the best performance.

• Open the Xbox app
• Click on your profile picture> Select Settings
• In Xbox settings, go to General> Game installation options
• Assuming you have another partition, click on the drop down menu and replace it with another drive

To go further, if you have multiple partitions and enough space, you can define something else. In the game installation options, check the box that says: Ask me about the installation options in each installation..

Now the next time you install a game, it will ask you where to install it.

Change the location of existing Xbox games

The second step is to move the existing games to a different location so that the system unit can have more room to breathe and the games can be expanded as needed.

Go to Windows Settings> Applications> Applications and Features. Click the vertical three-dot menu> Advanced options. Look for the option to move the app from one location to another on the next screen. Once moved, all shortcuts and entries will be updated so there are no broken links.

Can Xbox Game Pass games be stored on the external hard drive?

Yes, you can move any game to an external hard drive if the developer has allowed it. This also applies to any application, and they all work. With that said, make sure the hard drive is plugged in when you want to play. That being said, that doesn’t mean you can plug it in and play on any PC. Make sure the external drive has a 256GB capacity and is using a USB 3.0 connection.

Can I use another account in the Xbox app?

The Xbox app allows you to sign out and then use a different account to sign in. You will have the option to switch to the Microsoft account when Windows tries to sign in again with the current Microsoft account.

Can you play Xbox games on PC without Xbox?

If the Xbox game is also available for PC, you can also play Xbox games on PC. However, you will need a different subscription to play the games on PC. However, if you have an Ultimate Xbox Game Pass, you don’t need to purchase a separate membership.