Unable to install Game Pass games on external hard drive

Opal Nissalke · Feb 2, 2025 at 6:53 AM

Hello everyone,

I've recently encountered an issue where I'm unable to install Xbox Game Pass games on my external hard drive. My internal drive doesn't have enough space, so I always rely on my external drive for game installations.

Here's what's happening: when I try to change the install location in the Xbox app settings, it doesn't give me the option to select my external drive. The drive is properly formatted and shows up in File Explorer, but it seems to be missing from the Xbox app.

I've tried troubleshooting by disconnecting and reconnecting the drive, restarting my PC, and ensuring that all relevant permissions are granted, but nothing seems to work. I also checked for any pending Windows or Xbox app updates and installed them, but the issue persists.

If anyone has encountered this problem before and found a solution, I would appreciate your help. Thank you in advance!

Best,

[Your Name]

:)

AngelObullets

This sounds like it's detecting the games from games pass is that from game pass that are installed on your external hard drive?.

BarrelBurrito01

Do other games you own that aren't from game pass have the same problem? Do you have an external hard drive. If a game I install to my external hard drive is very laggy I will move it to my internal hard drive which usually fixes the problem.

THANOS OPRESSOR

The external hard drive helps a lot, it's used because the game pass needs, haha
Try uninstalling the game and installing again.

Alvaro A-

Hi Opal,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Xbox Community. I'm sorry to hear that you're having issues using your external drive to save your new games or apps from Xbox App. Please follow these instructions:

Press Start > type Storage Settings and open the Storage Settings > Click Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved > Change the storage of the "New apps will save to:"

Once done, try installing a game again.

Regards,

Alvaro

andersonpassos

Game Pass games use protected folders, and if format Windows, it no longer recognizes any game even if it is on another external hard drive or hard drive. If you install it on a Windows or PC you don't recognize any of the games.

Unable to install Game Pass games on external hard drive