Unable to switch hard drive used for Xbox app game downloads on Windows 11

Lucas Argroves · Mar 15, 2023

I bought Xbox Game Pass Ultimate earlier today, and have been unable to switch the hard drive downloaded in from my C:/, or my SSD, to my D:/, which I use for larger files such as games. In the general game install options in the Xbox app on pc, the option to switch to the D drive is there, but after hours of troubleshooting, restarting, changing administrative permissions, clicking the button to switch it to that drive does nothing, as well as changing the folder to one in the D drive prompting me with a message saying that it is not in the C drive, and therefore is unable to install to it. I need to be able to switch to the D drive because it is the only drive with reasonable storage available on it, and cannot functionally use the time I have with Game Pass because of this issue, how can I resolve this?

:)

Lucas Argroves

Starting from clean boot and trying to rename it, after checking for updates, still does not let me rename it, still showing that it is in use by something else. The folder name of "WindowsApps" implies that something is open that has to be open. What else can I do?

Rostom L

Please try to restart your PC. If it doesn't work, try to perform a clean boot.

https://support.microsoft.com/topic/how-to-perf...

Don't forget to check for your Windows updates and available updates on your Microsoft Store.

Check for Windows updates - https://support.microsoft.com/windows/update-wi...

Get updates from Microsoft Store - https://support.microsoft.com/account-billing/g...

Rostom L

I am glad to know about that. Before you delete the old WindowsApps folder, make sure to try and play all your installed games from the Xbox app. If everything works normally and no missing data or progress, then it should be all good.

Rostom L

That's odd. Let's try other steps instead.

Go to your C drive directory. Make sure to show your hidden files. Look for the (.gamingroot) file. If you can see that, copy & paste it to D drive (don't put it inside a folder). Then on D drive create a folder named "XboxGames". Once done, restart your PC and try installing a game to D drive.

Lucas Argroves

Nevermind, after seemingly no reason after a few minutes after the clean boot I was able to rename it and change the folder that the Xbox app downloads in successfully, and that I thank you for. But the WindowsApps.old folder has near 450GB of things in it because I, about a year ago, did manage to use my D: drive to play a free trial of Game Pass, and the game data from that is still on there and taking up a lot of storage without me being able to delete it from the Xbox app itself. Am I able to delete the contents of this WindowsApps.old folder without messing anything up? Just needing to know if I can clear a lot of extra taken up storage.

Unable to switch hard drive used for Xbox app game downloads on Windows 11