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To choose where an Xbox app game installs on a Windows PC, check which connected drive has enough free space, then select an available location in the Xbox app’s installation options. For a game that is already installed, open its Manage options to see whether it can be moved or repaired. These controls depend on the app version and the individual game, so check the options shown for the title you want to manage.
Check available space before choosing a drive
Start with Windows’ storage view so you know which drive has room and what is using its capacity. In Windows, open Settings > System > Storage. Select a drive to see a more detailed breakdown of its storage use. Microsoft’s Windows storage settings guide explains the available storage tools.
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You can also open File Explorer > This PC to view free space on connected drives. If you intend to install to a second drive, confirm it is connected and appears in Windows before looking for it in the Xbox app. Microsoft’s free-space guidance covers ways to review and free storage.
Choose a location when installing a game
In the Xbox app for Windows, use the install flow for the game and select an available install location when the app offers that choice. Xbox Wire documented install-location selection as part of the app’s installation and management features in its November 18, 2021 announcement. That announcement described features then available to Insiders; it does not establish that every current app build uses identical labels or presents the same options for every game.
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If a drive does not appear as an option, first confirm that Windows recognizes it and that it is connected. The app’s available choices are the practical guide to which locations it can use for that install.
Change the location for a game already installed
Open the installed game in the Xbox app’s library and choose Manage. Check the controls for that specific game to see whether a move or repair action is available. Xbox Wire documented both actions for eligible games, but availability is not universal; the game’s own Manage options determine what you can do.
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Do not assume manually dragging a game’s folder to another drive will move it correctly. A game managed by the Xbox app may need the app’s own move process. If no move option appears, use the available app controls or consider uninstalling and reinstalling the game to a suitable location.
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Free space without moving an Xbox-managed game
Windows Storage settings can help identify large categories of files and remove items you no longer need. Microsoft also describes moving personal files to another drive or external storage in its free-up-space guidance. These Windows file-management steps are distinct from moving a game through the Xbox app: use the app’s Manage controls for the game itself.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Understand the Windows default save drive
Windows can choose where new apps and other content are saved. Find that control in Settings > System > Storage, then look for the option to change where new content is saved; wording can vary by Windows version. Microsoft documents Windows storage management in its Storage settings guidance.
This system-level default is related to storage planning, but it is not a substitute for the Xbox app’s game-specific install and move controls. When installing or managing an Xbox app game, follow the location and actions the app offers for that title.
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Consider additional storage only after checking compatibility
If your PC needs more capacity, an internal SSD may be an option, but first confirm the computer supports the drive’s form factor and interface. A drive marketed as an NVMe SSD, for example, is only suitable if the PC supports NVMe and the relevant physical connection. The Windows support guidance explains storage management, not which drive fits a particular computer, and it does not establish a universally suitable external drive for Xbox app games.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBefore buying storage, check your PC manufacturer’s specifications or documentation for supported drive types. Do not assume a new drive will improve game performance; the cited guidance does not establish a performance gain.
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