![Install Install](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123710004/732327863.png)
Normally Google Chrome cannot be installed on different drive or directory as it installs itself on a default location, no matter you downloaded a web installer or full standalone installer! But it may happen that you need to install Chrome on a different location on different drive. In that case, you need to alter the directory of the installation. Though the official Chrome installer program never comes with this functionality, you can do this by using a “Symbolic linker”. Symbolic Linker will assign symbolic link between two file or folder locations. For symbolic linking, Chrome will think it is installing on its default directory, while installing on your custom directory!
Step by Step on Installing Chrome on Different Directory
Step 1: If you already have Google Chrome installed on PC, uninstall it.
Step 2: Create a folder named Chrome on the location you want to install Google Chrome. I created it in E: drive!
Step 3: Download Symlink Creator. It’s a free and open-source tool. Launch it (make sure it is running with administrative privilege). Now from the Symlink window, choose “Directory Symbolic Link” from Type of link drop down menu.
Step 2: Create a folder named Chrome on the location you want to install Google Chrome. I created it in E: drive!
Step 3: Download Symlink Creator. It’s a free and open-source tool. Launch it (make sure it is running with administrative privilege). Now from the Symlink window, choose “Directory Symbolic Link” from Type of link drop down menu.
Step 4: Now the most important part is choosing destination link and source link. Destination link is the directory where Chrome installs by default. And source link is your custom location. Another thing you have to understand that, Chrome uses two different locations to store installation files. If C: is your System directory, Chrome installs its application data in C:Program FilesGoogleChrome and User Data files in C:Users<user_name>AppDataLocalGoogleChrome where <user_name> is your Windows username. For example, my windows username is rijans. So by default chrome user data will be installed on C:UsersrijansAppDataLocalGoogleChrome.
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Where Do Steam Games Install
Symlinking Application Folder: Paste the address “C:Program FilesGoogleChrome“ in the Destination (link) field without quotes. Or locate this location by clicking on “Browse”. While browsing, if you don’t find the location, manually create it! Now in Source (Target) field, Enter the address of the custom location you created. For me, I’ll put “E:Chrome” without quotes as it is my custom location! You don’t have to do anything with command window if you don’t understand it. Then hit Create Link.
Symlinking User Data Folder: To avoid confliction, relaunch the program Symlink Creator. Now in Destination, put your Chrome’s default User Data location. I’ll put “C:UsersrijansAppDataLocalGoogleChrome” without quotes where “rijans” will be changed by your windows username (you may go to C:Users to find it). Source should be same as “E:Chrome“. You put according to your location. Then hit Create Link. You are done! Exit Symlink Creator.
Step 5: Download latest version of Chrome and install it. Now it should install on your new custom path.
Alternative tools: If you face any problem with Symlink Creator tool, you can try Symlinker.
This tutorial is inspired by a command line workaround by Matt Skaggs. I have made this guide to make the process more easier for all. Let me know if it worked.
Note: For the lazy ones, I think downloading portable version of Chrome would be best idea to install Chrome on custom directory.
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I have recently installed 2 games (Gears of War 4) and (Forza Horizon 3) from the windows store. I chose to install them on a separate SSD opposed to the default location (C) drive.
Now I know which SSD in which they were installed but after searching all folders on said SSD, I can't find any of the executables in which to create shortcuts and/or add the games to STEAM.
Please if you have any information regarding how I can find the exact install locations so that I can get access to these executable files then that would be great.
Thanks.
Historically, users could almost always manage the installation of traditional Windows applications by changing the install directory via the application’s installer program. This allowed, for example, gamers to install their PC games and emulators to a dedicated gaming drive, or for those involved in media production to install video and photo applications to fast SSDs and storage arrays instead of their default “C:” drive.
With Windows 10, however, Microsoft is beginning to take a more centralized approach to application management. While users can still change the installation directory of traditional Win32 apps, there are no such options while installing Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps from sources like the Windows 10 Store. By default, Windows Store apps, games, and media content will be installed to the user’s primary Windows drive, even if other storage drives are available. Thankfully, this default behavior can be changed, but there are some important caveats to the process.
First, to change the default install location of Universal Windows Apps and content, make sure you’re running Windows 10 Build 1511 (released in November 2015) or newer, and then head 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, which may help you decide which drive to set as the default for new apps and content.
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.
New folders will be created in the root of your new default installation drive based on the type of content. In the case of apps, you’ll see a new folder with your Windows 10 user account name, and a separate restricted folder called “WindowsApps.” As new apps are downloaded going forward, you’ll also see temporary system and download folders created.
After choosing your new installation drive for Windows 10 apps, all future universal apps and Windows Store downloads will install to the designated drive instead of your system drive. Notice, however, the key words “all future universal apps and Windows Store downloads.” When you change the default installation location for your Windows 10 apps, new apps will be installed to the new drive while any existing apps will remain in their current locations, which can be problematic if the reason you’re changing your default install location is to free up space on your system drive.
To move existing Windows 10 apps and games on an individual basis, you’ll need to head to Settings > System > Apps & Features. There, you’ll see a large list of all currently installed Universal and Win32 apps. The traditional Win32 apps can only be uninstalled or modified via their installers, but your Universal Windows apps can be moved between your storage drives as desired.
To move an installed Windows 10 app to a new storage drive, click on it once in the “Apps & Features” list to reveal two buttons: Move and Uninstall. Click on Move and you’ll see a pop-up which tells you the drive on which the app is currently installed and offers a drop-down list, similar to the one shown earlier, containing your PC’s other storage drives.
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. The time this takes will depend on the size of the app and the speed of both drives.
With Windows 10, however, Microsoft is beginning to take a more centralized approach to application management. While users can still change the installation directory of traditional Win32 apps, there are no such options while installing Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps from sources like the Windows 10 Store. By default, Windows Store apps, games, and media content will be installed to the user’s primary Windows drive, even if other storage drives are available. Thankfully, this default behavior can be changed, but there are some important caveats to the process.
First, to change the default install location of Universal Windows Apps and content, make sure you’re running Windows 10 Build 1511 (released in November 2015) or newer, and then head 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, which may help you decide which drive to set as the default for new apps and content.
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.
New folders will be created in the root of your new default installation drive based on the type of content. In the case of apps, you’ll see a new folder with your Windows 10 user account name, and a separate restricted folder called “WindowsApps.” As new apps are downloaded going forward, you’ll also see temporary system and download folders created.
After choosing your new installation drive for Windows 10 apps, all future universal apps and Windows Store downloads will install to the designated drive instead of your system drive. Notice, however, the key words “all future universal apps and Windows Store downloads.” When you change the default installation location for your Windows 10 apps, new apps will be installed to the new drive while any existing apps will remain in their current locations, which can be problematic if the reason you’re changing your default install location is to free up space on your system drive.
To move existing Windows 10 apps and games on an individual basis, you’ll need to head to Settings > System > Apps & Features. There, you’ll see a large list of all currently installed Universal and Win32 apps. The traditional Win32 apps can only be uninstalled or modified via their installers, but your Universal Windows apps can be moved between your storage drives as desired.
To move an installed Windows 10 app to a new storage drive, click on it once in the “Apps & Features” list to reveal two buttons: Move and Uninstall. Click on Move and you’ll see a pop-up which tells you the drive on which the app is currently installed and offers a drop-down list, similar to the one shown earlier, containing your PC’s other storage drives.
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. The time this takes will depend on the size of the app and the speed of both drives.
Windows 10 App Management Tips & Issues
Although users don’t have complete control over an application’s installation process with new Universal apps, the benefit of Microsoft’s approach in Windows 10 is that all types of apps — from simple utilities, to complex games, to massive multimedia editing suites — can be downloaded, installed, and moved between storage drives with just a few clicks. This makes software more approachable and easier to manage for a larger audience of users, but isn’t without its disadvantages.
The first issue is that, while you can change which drive an application is installed on, you can’t manage UWP apps on a folder level. With most Win32 apps, users could choose to install the app to any folder or subdirectory on any drive. With UWP apps, the apps will be installed in the requisite system folders at the root of the drive. For those obsessed with digital data management, this is a troubling reality.
The second issue is that the folders containing apps installed from the Windows Store are protected, meaning that the user cannot, by default, open or view the files contained in the app. This is not a major problem for many users, but it is causing headaches for developers, power users, and gamers alike.
The first issue is that, while you can change which drive an application is installed on, you can’t manage UWP apps on a folder level. With most Win32 apps, users could choose to install the app to any folder or subdirectory on any drive. With UWP apps, the apps will be installed in the requisite system folders at the root of the drive. For those obsessed with digital data management, this is a troubling reality.
The second issue is that the folders containing apps installed from the Windows Store are protected, meaning that the user cannot, by default, open or view the files contained in the app. This is not a major problem for many users, but it is causing headaches for developers, power users, and gamers alike.