Is it possible to change the downloads location for games without the need to delete all...

Hi,

Windows 8 also uses the same 'WindowsApps' folder, so if you already have one on that hard drive, Windows 10 won't be able to use it. It's a pain I know. Steam, Origin, Gog are far easier.

The best fix here is to remove the folder. When I had a similar issue I used a third party application called

IObit Unlocker

It's free and totally safe. Once it's installed, go to the other drive, right click on the WindowsApps folder and select IO bit Unlocker as per below:





From here choose Unlock and rename - Unlock and delete won't work straight away.





Once the folder has been renamed - you might have to force it - you should be able to set this hard drive as a default storage location for new games and apps. Go to
Settings > System and select Storage.





Go to Change where new content is saved.





Then change the default location. Mine is F: (I've got like four drives).





If everything worked, Windows will create a new WindowsApps folder and you can now use this to install games and apps.

Please let me know if this helped.

Hello ,

To change Download Location, you need to install the games using the Microsoft Store. To do that, go to this link.

Hope I helped you!



-BoyFantasticITA

The first method of changing the drive location will not work as I explained why in my original post. With that in mind what you are suggesting is the only real way to do it is to install the game to the C drive, then move it to the games drive?

If so will it prompt me to delete any of my other games that are already on the games drive? If it does then this does not work for me.

Hi! Yes you can; Go to Settings > System > Storage. At
the top of the Settings window you’ll see all of your available storage drives and the amount of free space available on each, At the bottom of the screen is a section labeled Save
Locations with options for apps, documents, music, pictures, and videos. We’re focused on apps (which includes games) in this article, but the steps to change the default locations for the other
types of content are the same. Once you’ve decided on your new default installation location for Windows 10 apps, select the drive from the drop-down menu under “New apps will save to” and click Apply.

To move existing Windows 10 apps and games on an individual basis, you’ll need to head to Settings
> System > Apps & Features. Select the drive to which you’d like to move your app and click Move.
Windows will take some time to process the change and move the app’s files to the new drive.

As long as the drive if formatted for xbox then the files inside will be of, but if not it will have to be reformatted.

While I appreciate you are trying to help, please read the post fully before answering. This is a PC question, PC hard drives do not have to be 'formatted for Xbox'.

Hi,

I have some questions for you.

Did you use the 4TB drive on another PC or Windows install prior to your current set up?

If you did, you'll already have a hidden folder on the root directory called
WindowsApps. However, the WindowsApps folder is encrypted. If it already exists you won't be able to install there until it is removed.

To check if you have a WindowsApps folder

Below is an example of my D:\ drive.





Below with the hidden files now no longer hidden, you can see I have a folder on my D:\ drive called
WindowsApps





If the above folder exists on this drive, and If you've not used this drive to install Windows Apps on your current build - either via the Windows Store or the Xbox App - then it will need to be removed before you can use it again.

If you need help removing this folder, please reply back.

That drive was never used as a primary drive but I did come from Windows 8 when I upgraded to Windows 10. I have done a fresh install since then but the "WindowsApps" folder (dated 3/8/2018) is there along with a "WUDownloadCache" folder (dated the next
day), and a "Windows10Upgrade" folder (dated 7/27/2017). I was able to delete the "Windows10Upgrade" folder but there is also a "WpSystem" folder that I am unable to delete.

So yes, I apparently need help in deleting these folders.