This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to move or install apps from the Microsoft Store on non-system drives for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Apps from the Microsoft Store are installed on the Windows C: system drive by default.
Users can select to move apps already installed from the Microsoft Store to another internal or external local drive if wanted.
Users can also select to have new apps from the Microsoft Store installed to another internal or external local drive by default if wanted.
Disabling the ability to move or install apps from the Microsoft store on non-system drives does not affect any apps that had been previously moved or installed on non-system drives.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the ability to move or install apps from the Microsoft store on non-system drives.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives using REG file
EXAMPLE: Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives
The settings below will still be there if disabled, but will not actually move or change where "new apps will save to" unless enabled.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Package Deployment
3 In the right pane of App Package Deployment in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Disable installing Windows apps on non-system volumes policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.
6 Disable Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you want.
2 Enable Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_install_and_move_apps_on_non-system_drives_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Appx]
"RestrictAppToSystemVolume"=-3 Disable Move or Install Apps on Non-System Drives
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_install_and_move_apps_on_non-system_drives_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Appx]
"RestrictAppToSystemVolume"=dword:000000014 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
