How to install apps on a separate drive on Windows 10

It doesn’t matter if it’s a Windows Store or traditional desktop (Win32) app, they all end up installed (by default) on your primary computer’s hard drive. Although this makes sense in most cases, there are many reasons you may want to install apps on a separate drive.

It could happen that you have a low-end device, such as a tablet or laptop, that came with a very limited local storage and you’re running out of space. If you need to run demanding applications, you may want to install them on a faster hard drive to improve performance. Or it could be that you just want to keep your apps separate from the Windows 10 installation drive.

Whatever the reason it might be, Windows 10 includes a number of ways to help you install apps on an external hard drive or SD card storage, whether you’re dealing with Windows Store or Win32 apps.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install traditional desktop and Store apps into a separate drive, and you’ll also get the steps to move already installed apps to another location that being for speed or to save space on your primary drive.

How to install Windows Store apps on a separate drive

When your computer is running out of space, you want to use a faster drive, or you just want to keep apps in a separate location, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.

Under «Save locations,» and on «New apps will save to,» select the new drive location.

Once you completed the steps, new apps you download from the Windows Store will now install automatically in the new location.

Moving Windows Store apps to another drive

If you already have Windows Store apps installed on your PC, and you don’t want every app from the Store to install in a different location, you can move apps to a separate drive using the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Select the app you want.
5. Click the Move button.
6. Select the destination drive from the drop-down menu.

Click the Move button to relocate the app.

The process may take a few seconds depending on the size of the app you’re trying to move. Although Settings lists both Store and desktop apps, you can only move apps from the Windows Store to a different drive.

Alternatively, you can always uninstall the app, use the instructions to change the save location, and reinstall the app in question from the Store.

How to install desktop apps on a separate drive

It’s also possible to install traditional desktop (Win32) applications into a separate drive.

The process may vary per application, but almost always, you’ll find an option to install the app on a separate hard drive.

For example, installing Apple’s iTunes on Windows 10, after initializing the setup, in the installation options screen, there is a «Destination Folder» section with a Change button that allows you to choose a separate drive to store the installation.

It’s a pretty straightforward process, but then you’ll come across desktop applications that make it a bit unclear where to find this option.

In the case of Firefox, when you launch the setup, you need to click the Options button, and under «Destination Folder,» click the Browse button to select a secondary drive to store your installation files.

Unlike Windows Store apps, you can’t move traditional desktop (Win32) apps to another drive, but you can, alternatively, uninstall the app, and reinstall it changing the Destination Folder option during the setup.

Wrapping things up

It should be noted that you can’t just remove the drive and move it to another computer hoping that apps will run. It doesn’t work that way. If you configure a secondary hard drive to install applications, that storage is pretty much tied to the device you used to install the app.

For traditional desktop applications, this will be a manual process. You may be able to find Registry hacks, but it’s not recommended as it can cause an unknown number of errors.

While there are many good reasons to install apps on a separate drive, you must consider that adding more drives also adds more points of failures to your device.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

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How to install Windows 10 on a second drive [QUICK GUIDE]

Some users wonder how they can install Windows 10 on a second drive, without damaging the system. Setting up Windows 10 on the new drive is not a hard task, but requires attention. Therefore we made a guide for you to follow.

One user on Microsoft Answers forum asked a similar question:

I have a desktop computer that is running windows 10 home edition with a 1tb hard drive. I’m installing a solid state drive as a second hard drive. I want to install windows 10 home edition on this drive and make it the boot drive

Quick guide on installing Windows 10 on the second drive

1. Download the Windows ISO files

1. In order to set Windows up, you first need to download the Windows ISO file that will help you create a bootable drive.
2. To get a clean version of the Windows image you need to download it from the official Microsoft website.
3. Alternatively, you can download the Media Creation Tool and use it to download the ISO file.

2. Create a bootable Install Media

1. Now you need to use a disk burning software. We would recommend that you use Rufus for creating the bootable disc.
2. In order to create the bootable drive using Rufus, you’d have to load the image file into the software.
   
3. Select the file system to FAT32.
4. Afterward, you simply have to press the Start button.
   
5. If you still have files on your USB flash drive, you will be asked to delete them in order to proceed with the burning process.

Need to create Windows Installation Media? Here’s the fastest and simplest way to do it!

3. Install Windows

1. After having the bootable drive ready, you need to set your PC to boot from this drive.
2. Booting your PC from the Windows drive takes you to the Windows Setup.
3. Here you will need to press the Install now button. Then you will be asked to choose Language, enter the product key and select Windows version.
   
4. When you reach the point of being asked to choose between Windows Upgrade and Custom install, choose the second option.
5. Now you can choose to install Windows on the second drive. Click the second drive and then click Next.
6. This will start the Windows install process.
7. Wait for Windows to install and set up on its own. Be aware that the installer will restart the computer a few times on its own.

We hope that you found our quick guide on how to install Windows 10 on a second drive useful. If you liked this article, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Reinstall Windows 10 on a different drive?

I have a laptop that currently has an HDD. It’s several years old and is becoming a big slow. It also has Windows 10 on it. I plan on replacing the HDD with an SSD and doing a fresh install of Windows 10. However, I don’t have the license key for my copy of Windows 10. Is there a way I can get the license activation key somewhere on my computer so that when I’m installing Windows 10 I can type it in?

I’m going to boot from a USB and install it on my new SSD. Will I have to buy a new license key or can I use the license key for my current Windows 10 installation? If so, where can I get the license key?

Hi JacobSelph
You do not need to purchase windows 10, because you have previously had windows 10 installed and activated on that device, you can reinstall windows 10 anytime you wish.
Replacing the HDD is not considered a major hardware change and will not affect the windows 10 license.

To get the best install, with fewest issues, use the media creation tool to create bootable media and clean install windows 10.

make sure to get the same edition of windows 10 (home, pro, etc.) that is currently installed.

to avoid any confusion during windows install, disconnect the old HDD until windows is fully installed on the new drive.

during install, skip the pages that ask for a key, it will activate automatically when you go online.

Greg Carmack’s article can help in guiding you through a clean install
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for.

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How do I reinstall Windows on to a different drive?

So earlier today my hard drive couldn’t boot. It would say «Preparing automatic repair» BSOD, then restart. I couldn’t load SafeMode, I don’t have my installation disc. However, my laptop’s hard drive was SATA compatible and I booted into that. But I’m not willing to stay in this drive all day. How can I reinstall windows on to my main hard drive without losing personal files?

I have prepared a USB installation media, but when I enter a product key it says I have to boot into the drive and start setup on the main computer. But like I said, I cant boot into that computer.

I DO have the product key from my main drive.

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To boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created, insert the installation media, then enter your BIOS and change Boot Order so the installation media is top of the boot order . . .

If you have problems booting from a boot disc, you may have UEFI BIOS, go into your BIOS and make the following changes:

1. Insert the Bootable Media
2. Disable Secure Boot
3. Enable Legacy Boot
4. If Available enable CSM
5. If Required enable USB Boot
6. Move the device with the bootable disc to the top of the boot order
7. Save BIOS changes and restart your System

Since you previously had Windows 10 installed and activated on that PC during the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option ‘I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC’ , and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers

NOTE: during the installation process, your system will reboot, at that point, you may need to go into your BIOS and change the boot order so your system boots from your Hard Drive, otherwise the installation may start all over again — do not remove the installation media at this point

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