How to Change Location of Installed Programs in Windows 11

This page covers 4 methods with a detailed step guide to help you successfully change the location of installed programs in Windows 11. If you are looking for a way to move apps around Windows 11, follow any method provided here to execute the task immediately.

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Page Contents
 

Page Table of Contents

  • Complex Level: Easy
  • Applies to: Switch and change the location of installed apps on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP and Vista, etc.

This page shows new Windows 11 users how to change where new content is saved in Windows 11, especially for applications like Office, Adobe software, and even some extremely huge games. 

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Use App Migration Software Try every USB port available. Determine whether you're using USB 2.0 or 3.0...Full steps
Fix 2. Use Apps and Features Step 1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Windows settings, click on "System" and select "Apps and Features."....Full steps
Fix 3. Use CMD Command-Line Step 1. Open your C drive and find out the app you want to move to another drive...Full steps
Fix 4. Using Registry Editor Step 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the run dialog, type regedit, and click "OK"...Full steps

How to Change the Location of Installed Programs in Windows 11? [4 Ways]

According to experienced and professional Windows administrators, we collect four efficient ways to move apps around Windows 11 successfully without losing any app data or boot issues. Let's see:

  1. #1. Third-Party App Migration Software
  2. #2. Apps and Features Tool in Windows 11
  3. #3. CMD Command Line
  4. #4. Registry Editor

Among the four methods, which method suits you the most? Check the comparison table, and you'll learn which method suits you the most:

Comparison App Migration Software Apps and Features CMD Registry
Transfer Content
  • Installed programs, apps, software, and games.
  • C drive personal folders - Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Desktop, etc.
  • Personal data - files, videos, audios, photos, etc.
  • Windows built-in applications.
  • Microsoft Store downloaded apps and games. 
  • Program and program folder.
  • Program files folder.
Difficulty Level Easy Easy Medium Complex

From the comparison table, it's clear that the third-party app migration software is the most comprehensive solution for Windows 11 users to change the location of installed applications. However, if you are looking for an easy and efficient method, you can't miss Method 1. Let's see how to migrate apps and change the install location of your programs in Windows 11 now.

#1. Use App Migration Software

Professional app migration software can directly help you move the installed C drive programs, software, and even games to another local drive on your computer without any boot issues. EaseUS Todo PCTrans Professional, with its App Migration feature, is exactly what you need. 

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

Step 1. Run EaseUS Todo PCTrans on your PC

Go to "App Migration" and click "Start" to continue.

app-migration-1

Step 2. Select programs to move from C drive to another drive

1. Tick the C drive and select programs (marked as "Yes") that you want to transfer.

2. Click the triangle icon to select another drive on your computer as the destination, and click "Transfer" to start the process.

select programs to transfer

Step 3. Finish the transferring

Wait patiently until the transferring process finishes and click "OK" to confirm. 

finish transferring programs from C drive to another drive

When it has done, you can restart PC if necessary. This will keep all changes on your PC and then you can run and programs from another hard drive without reinstallation.

Aside from this, you can also apply EaseUS Todo PCTrans to:

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#2. Use the Apps and Features Tool

Apps and Features tool is a Windows built-in tool that helps change the location of some installed programs on Windows computers. Windows 11 users can also apply this tool to switch some C drive installed programs from C to other drives.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Windows settings, click on "System," and select "Apps and Features".

Open Features and Apps

Step 2. Wait for the Apps and Feature to open, select the programs or applications you'd like to transfer, and click "Move."

Select Apps to change its install location

Step 3. Select the drive where you want to move the program to, such as D: drive.

Step 4. Click "Move" to confirm.

Confirm to move App install location

If you need to move several programs, you'll need to repeat the process several times. For a more efficient way, you can totally trust EaseUS Todo PCTrans.

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#3. Use CMD Command-Line

Another efficient but more complex solution to move apps around Windows 11 is to run CMD command lines. To do so, you must be careful while running the following steps on your PC. 

Some experienced Windows administrators recommend that you create a restore point in Windows 11 if you face any issues while moving apps around Windows 11. 

Here are steps to move apps around in Windows 11 using CMD:

Step 1. Open your C drive and find out the app you want to move to another drive. 

Step 2. Create a text document, copy and paste the two command lines in the file:

  • Robocopy "Source" "Destination" /sec /mov /e 
  • Mklink "Source" "Destination" /j

Replace the Source with the path location of the target program in your C drive.

Replace the Destination with the path where you want to move the app to on your PC.

Confirm location of installed apps' location

Step 3. Type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt, and select "Run as Administrator".

Open cmd

Step 4. Once the command prompt opens, type the first line in your text file and hit Enter:

  • Robocopy "Source" "Destination" /sec /mov /e 

select apps to move

Step 5. Type the second line in the command prompt and hit Enter:

  • Mklink "Source" "Destination" /j

Confirm to move programs to a new location

Wait for the process to complete. After this, you can open the target new drive and see if the selected app folder has been successfully moved here.

Confirm if apps location gets changed

Note: You need to be very careful while running the command lines, and if any error occurs, it could be Windows that doesn't allow you to do so. In this case, you should stop the operation and return to Method 1 for help.

#4. Run Registry Editor

The last workaround for moving apps from C to another drive in Windows 11 is using Registry Editor. And before you start, you should also confirm where you want to move the apps. 

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the run dialog, type regedit, and click "OK".

Open registry editor

Step 2. Once Registry Editor opens, follow the path here to open the folder in Registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Open Registry to change apps' location

Step 3. Double-click on the ProgramFilesDir (x86) key and change the default value "C:\ProgramFiles" to the new drive path.

change c drive app location

Step 4. Click "OK". 

Step 5. Double-click on "ProgramFilesDir" and change the default value from "C:\ProgramFiles" to your new drive path.

change installed app location

Step 6. Click "OK", close Registry, and restart your computer.

Bonus Tip: How to Change Windows 11 Default Installation Folder

Aside from the above four methods to change the location of installed programs in Windows 11, it's also important that you change the Windows 11 default installation folder to save disk space in the C drive.

Here are the steps that you can follow:

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

Open Windows Storage

Step 2. At the Save locations section, click the "New apps will save to:" column, and select a new drive to change where your apps, documents, music, pictures, and videos are saved by default.

Change app location

Let's share this post to provide help for users who want to change the location of an installed program in Windows 11:

 

Why Need to Change the Location of an Installed Program in Windows 11

Though being designed with many new features, such as a new user desktop-centered Start menu and taskbar on Windows 11, Microsoft still keeps the most classic Windows system design in its newest operating system - Windows 11. All new content will automatically be saved and installed on the Local System C (This PC) Drive, which is still the same on Windows 11. 

As a result, the C drive will soon get full with the following content:

  • Downloaded content.
  • Installed applications and software.
  • Operating system.
  • Personal folders, like Documents Pictures.
  • Desktop contents, etc.

How will you resolve this issue when the C drive gets full in Windows 11? You can fix this issue in many ways, such as changing the default download location, moving user folders like Documents, Pictures, and Desktop to another drive, deleting useless large files, etc. Changing the location of installed programs in Windows 11 is also a very efficient way to free up large space in the system C drive.

Conclusion

This page covers four reliable methods that help move installed programs in Windows 11 from a C drive to another drive without any boot issues. Among the four methods, Windows beginners can totally trust EaseUS Todo PCTrans to migrate apps from C to another drive.

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Experienced Windows users can also try the other three methods if they only want to move some basic apps around Windows 11. Changing the location of installed programs in Windows 11 is possible and easy. As long as you turn to the correct methods, you can directly execute the operation like an expert on your own.

About the Author

Updated by Oliver

Oliver is an EaseUS professional writer who dares explore new areas. With a passion for solving tech issues with straightforward guides for common users, Oliver keeps honing his writing craft by developing in-depth solutions for disk and partition management, computer boot-up issues, file transfer, etc.

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Written by Tracy King

Tracy became a member of the EaseUS content team in 2013. Being a technical writer for over 10 years, she is enthusiastic about sharing tips to assist readers in resolving complex issues in disk management, file transfer, PC & Mac performance optimization, etc., like an expert.

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How to Change Location of Installed Programs in Windows 11

Try smart Windows 11 data transfer tool to move all data in 1 click.

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