Xbox PC app - Can't change game installation folder

quinzeh · Jan 23, 2022

I accidentally selected 'D:\Program Files' as the default game installation folder in the Xbox PC app. Now I'm unable to change it. I can change to a different drive, but not to a different folder on the same drive. When I go to Settings>General and select "Change folder", I get the option to select another folder, but no matter which one I select, it doesn't change, it remains 'D:\Program Files'.

I have tried resetting and even re-installing both the Xbox and the Gaming Services apps as well as deleting the Gaming Services local cache. I installed the latest Windows 10 update. I reset the Microsoft Store. Nothing helps. The information about selected game installation folder must be cached somewhere, right? The question is just where.

Any ideas?

:)

Jesse E'

Hello, My name is Jesse. I'm an Independent Advisor and a member of the Microsoft community and I'd love to assist you today.

I'm glad to know that the issue has been resolved. Thanks for sharing how you did it. It will be much help to the community.

Thomas Bosch

Hello Quinzeh, I have the same issue and this fixed it for me, thank you so much!

quinzeh

This has been such a tedious process, it's ridiculous how difficult it is to change something so simple as a game installation directory. I do however consider this particular issue to be a bug, since they're actually giving me the option to change the game installation directory in the Xbox app, but in my case changing it doesn't take effect. Hopefully this will be fixed in the next update.

Anyhow, I managed to "fix" the issue by deleting the following registry key; "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\GamingServices". After deleting this reg key and restarting the Xbox app, I no longer get the option to select a specific game installation directory in the app, but it does still allow me to select a drive. Selecting the D: drive now automatically installs the games in the D:\WindowsApps folder like it used to before this issue occurred.

Georges C.

Hello, first it's a pleasure to be able to help you today.

My name is welcome to the community.

Hello Quinzeh, usually by default Windows does not allow this.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/micro...

In the meantime try following the procedure below to see if you can change.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questi...

Note (Standard Disclaimer): This is a third party link that is not Microsoft's property, so you might encounter advertising on the website.

Obsessive Power

If you're using the app in it's current form, most games can't be accessed as they install to an encrypted folder. There are some titles that install to the modifiableWindowsApps folder. These games are generally able to support mods.

The way PC games install on the app is going to be changing soon

When these changes have been completed, it should be possible to install most if not all titles to any folder you want and have full access to the files. It's possible to test this now by becoming an insider. Full instructions here.

Just be aware, there are some known issues at the moment.

Xbox PC app - Can't change game installation folder