Change Windows App Install Location in Regedit

This article explains how system administrators can change the default installation directory for modern Windows applications—such as Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Microsoft Store packages—using the Windows Registry Editor. By modifying the system registry, you can redirect future application downloads and installations to a secondary drive or custom directory to conserve space on the primary system drive.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter (or click OK).
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

Step 2: Navigate to the Appx Key

In the Registry Editor address bar or left-hand navigation pane, go to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx

Step 3: Adjust Registry Permissions

By default, the Appx key is owned and protected by TrustedInstaller. You must modify its permissions to make changes:

  1. Right-click the Appx folder in the left pane and select Permissions.
  2. Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the window.
  3. Next to the Owner field at the top, click Change.
  4. Type Administrators in the text box, click Check Names, and then click OK.
  5. Check the box labeled Replace owner on subcontainers and objects, then click Apply.
  6. Back in the Permissions for Appx window, select the Administrators group in the top list.
  7. Under the Allow column, check the Full Control box.
  8. Click Apply and then OK.

Step 4: Modify the PackageRoot Value

  1. With the Appx key selected, locate the string value named PackageRoot in the right pane.
  2. Double-click PackageRoot to open the Edit String dialog.
  3. In the Value data field, enter the full path of your desired installation directory (for example, D:\WindowsApps).
  4. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 5: Apply Changes

  1. Close the Registry Editor.
  2. Restart your computer to apply the updated configuration across all system services.

From this point forward, new modern applications installed via the Microsoft Store or deployed as Appx packages will use the configured directory as their default root path.