How to change the default game install drive on Windows 11

• To change the default game install drive on Windows 11, open the Microsoft Store or Xbox app, go to Settings, and update the Game installation options or Install Options.
• You can choose a different drive and folder to store games by default.
• This helps free up space on the system drive and improves performance.

UPDATED 7/2/2025: When using the Xbox app with or without a PC Game Pass subscription or the Microsoft Store, games will download and install in the main drive where Windows 11 (or Windows 10) is currently installed. However, since games require a lot of space, it’s best to use a different storage as the default to prevent running out of space and maintain gaming and system performance.

If you use either of the experiences to download games on your computer, these apps include an option to change the default installation location to a secondary or external hard drive. The app also allows you to select a folder location.

In this guide, I will walk you through the steps to change the default installation location for games using the Xbox app on Windows 11.

• Change the default game install drive from the Microsoft Store
• Change the default game install drive from the Xbox app

Change the default game install drive from the Microsoft Store

If you use the Microsoft Store app, I have noticed that if you have never installed a game, the “Game installation options” won’t be available in the settings page. However, the option is available once one or more games are already installed on your computer. As a result, you have two ways to change the default storage for games.

From game install

To change the game download drive during installation from the Microsoft Store, follow these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

2. Search for the Microsoft Store and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click on Gaming from the left navigation pane.

4. Click on the game you want to install.

5. Click the Get (or Install) button.

6. (Option 1) Select the storage to download the game.

7. (Option 2) Click on “Change defaults in settings.” Quick note: If you choose this option, you can configure the settings. However, you’ll need to reopen the page to install the game.

   

8. Click the “Game installation options” setting.

9. Click the Install drive setting and choose the storage to download and install games.

   

10. Click the Change folder button from the “Installation folder” option.

11. Select the folder for your games.

12. Click the Select Folder button.

13. Turn on the “Ask me these options on every game installation” toggle switch (recommended).

After you complete the steps, the game and future downloads will install on the storage you have designated. 

From Store settings

To change the drive and folder locations for games you download from the Microsoft Store, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for the Microsoft Store and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click the Profile menu and choose the Settings option.

   

4. Click the “Game installation options” setting.

5. Click the Install drive setting and choose the storage to download and install games.

   

6. Click the Change folder button from the “Installation folder” option.

7. Select the folder for your games.

8. Click the Select Folder button.

9. Turn on the “Ask me these options on every game installation” toggle switch (recommended).

Once you complete the steps, the games from the Microsoft Store will be downloaded and installed in the specified storage.

Change the default game install drive from the Xbox app

To specify where to download and install Xbox games on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Xbox and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click the profile menu in the top-left and select the Settings options.

   

4. Click on Install Options.

5. Select the drive to install games by default under the “Game install options” section.

   

6. Click the Change folder button.

7. Select the folder for your games.

8. Click the Select Folder button.

9. (Optional) Check the “Ask me for install options on every install” option.

Once you complete the steps, the game files will be stored in the new location on the drive. If you selected the option to be prompted every time, you would be prompted to select where to hold the game before downloading.

Update July 2, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.