On a Windows PC, you can move an installed game to another drive through the Xbox app when that game supports the app’s move feature. To direct future content to a different drive, change Windows’ separate “new content” storage setting. These are different actions, and move support is not universal across Xbox app games.
Move an installed game to another drive
First check that the destination drive is connected and has enough free space. In File Explorer, open This PC and look under Devices and drives to check available space, as described in Microsoft’s Windows storage guidance.
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- Open the Xbox app and find the installed game in your library.
- Open that game’s management controls. In an Xbox Wire feature announcement dated November 18, 2021, the documented route was to right-click the installed game and select Manage. In your app version, look for the game’s manage or files controls; labels and availability may differ.
- If a move option is available, select the destination drive and follow the app’s prompts.
Do not drag protected game folders manually as a substitute for the app’s move controls. Microsoft’s Flat File Install documentation says that the Xbox app can select install directories, move supported games between drives, and repair games where applicable. Those benefits apply to PC games using the GDK Flat File Install model, not every Microsoft Store app model; UWP games are an example of a model excluded from those benefits.
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Choose a drive for future content
Windows has a separate setting for where new content is saved. Changing it does not move games that are already installed.
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Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved.
- Choose the drive you want for the relevant new-content category.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage > Change where new content is saved.
- Choose the drive you want for the relevant new-content category.
These paths come from Microsoft Support. If the destination drive is missing from the selector, make sure it is connected.
Which option should you use?
| What you want to do | Where to do it | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Move a game that is already installed | Xbox app, in that game’s management controls | Available only for games supported by the relevant install model and app features. |
| Choose a destination for future content | Windows Settings > System > Storage, using the path for your Windows version | Sets a destination for new content categories; it does not relocate existing games. |
Why the move option may be missing
- The game may use an unsupported app model. Microsoft’s GDK documentation limits Flat File Install benefits to PC GDK games and excludes other models such as UWP. The reviewed Microsoft sources do not provide an exhaustive current list of eligible games.
- Your app version may show different controls. Xbox Wire’s Manage route was published as part of an Insider feature preview on November 18, 2021, so it is useful navigation guidance, not a guarantee that every current app build uses identical labels.
- External-drive behavior can depend on the setup. The same 2021 preview listed external-drive launch problems and install-folder issues among known issues at that time. That is historical context, not proof that every current external-drive configuration has those defects.
- The destination may be unavailable or short on space. Confirm that the drive is connected and check its remaining space in File Explorer before trying again.
Microsoft’s current Windows gaming overview describes the Xbox PC app as a way to manage purchased games and Game Pass libraries, while noting that features and availability can vary by region; that page is written for the US market: More Ways to Play: PC Gaming on Windows 11.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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