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Microsoft added custom installation and game-management controls to the Xbox app for PC in 2022. On supported Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems, eligible games can generally be installed to a user-selected drive or folder, moved between drives, repaired, and—where the title allows it—accessed for modding.
This is not a new August 2026 feature, and it does not mean every Xbox or Microsoft Store game can be installed anywhere. The available controls depend on the Xbox app version, the game, the drive, and how the title is packaged.
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What Microsoft changed
The Xbox PC app historically gave users little control over where Microsoft-distributed games were stored. Installations commonly used protected Windows locations, which made it difficult to browse files, move large games, or manage limited system-drive space.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMicrosoft first announced the expanded controls for Xbox Insiders on November 18, 2021, and discussed the broader rollout in February 2022. The feature set included:
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- Choosing a custom installation drive or folder.
- Moving eligible games between drives.
- Accessing local game files.
- Verifying and repairing installations.
- Modding supported games.
- Creating desktop shortcuts more easily.
Microsoft described the 2022 version as supporting installation to “any directory,” but that wording should not be read as a guarantee that every Xbox PC title works in every folder. See Microsoft’s original announcement on Xbox Wire and its later PC app feature recap.
Which Windows versions support the Xbox PC app?
Microsoft’s current PC Game Pass requirements list Windows 10 version 22H2 or later and Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. The Xbox app itself requires about 150 MB, but individual games need substantially more storage and may require newer Windows updates or particular hardware.
Meeting the app requirement does not mean a PC can run every game. Check each title’s CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and operating-system requirements. Windows S mode may also need to be changed or disabled for PC gaming.
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How to choose the Xbox game installation folder
The following is the documented Xbox app workflow. Microsoft can change labels and placement, so the exact wording may differ in a current build.
- Open the Xbox app on your PC.
- Select your gamerpic or profile picture at the top of the window.
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Find Game install options.
- If it is shown, enable Use advanced installation and management features.
- Choose the control for changing the installation drive or folder.
- Select a suitable destination and confirm it.
When installing a new game, check the destination shown in the installation dialog rather than assuming the default has changed. After the download begins, confirm that the intended drive is losing free space.
A simple dedicated path such as D:XboxGames is preferable to the root of a drive, a protected Windows folder, or a folder shared with another launcher.
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For games that support the newer management system, the historical move workflow is:
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- Open the Xbox app and locate the installed game.
- Open the game’s menu or right-click it.
- Select Manage.
- Open the Files tab.
- Select Change Drive, or the equivalent move-location control.
- Choose the destination drive or folder.
- Wait for the Xbox app to complete the move.
- Launch the game afterward to verify the installation.
Do not treat this as a normal folder copy. Manually copying the files can cause the Xbox app to lose the installation registration, fail verification, or redownload the game. Do not delete the original installation until the app confirms that the move has completed. Back up important saves before moving a very large or modified installation.
The control may be absent for a particular title, especially if it uses an older Microsoft Store package, a third-party launcher, or an installation model that the newer tools do not support.
Can you access Xbox game files?
Eligible installations can expose local files, which is a major improvement over the older protected-folder experience. However, local-file access is not the same as unrestricted ownership of a DRM-free executable.
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Mod support is also title-specific. A mod made for the Steam version may not work with the Xbox PC or PC Game Pass version because the files, launcher, permissions, and game build differ. Microsoft specifically warned about this platform mismatch in its Insider announcement.
Can every Xbox PC game be installed anywhere?
No. The custom-location controls apply to supported games managed through the newer Xbox installation system, not automatically to every game distributed through Microsoft.
Compatibility can depend on:
- Whether the title supports the newer installation-management system.
- Whether it uses a third-party launcher.
- Whether it is an older Microsoft Store or UWP-style package.
- Whether the destination drive is writable and properly recognized.
- Whether the publisher permits local-file access or modding.
- Whether the game was installed under an older system and has not been updated or converted.
Even when files are visible, do not assume that the main executable can be launched independently of Microsoft’s licensing and authentication systems.
Which drive should you use?
Internal NVMe or SATA SSD
An internal SSD is the best general choice. It offers faster loading and patching than a hard drive, avoids USB disconnects, and is less likely to change drive letters. NVMe drives can provide higher transfer speeds, while a SATA SSD is still a strong choice for game storage.
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Internal hard drive
An internal hard drive is usable when capacity matters more than speed. Expect longer loading times, slower updates, and slower movement of large installations.
External SSD
An external SSD can add capacity without opening the PC, but it introduces cable, enclosure, power-management, and drive-letter risks. Microsoft’s Insider documentation warned that launching games from external drives could cause problems.
Use a reliable connection, keep the same drive letter, and avoid disconnecting the drive while the Xbox app is running. An internal SSD remains the safer primary library.
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External hard drive
An external hard drive is mainly a capacity solution. It can work for less frequently played games, but it is the least attractive option for modern games that load large worlds or receive frequent updates.
Drive, folder, and permission considerations
The destination must be writable by Windows and recognized by the Xbox app. NTFS is the safest general-purpose choice for a Windows game library, although the exact requirement can vary by installation type.
Common blockers include:
- Insufficient free space, including room needed for updates.
- An incompatible or damaged file system.
- Permission restrictions on the destination folder.
- Organization policies, encryption, or security software blocking access.
- A removable drive that is disconnected or assigned a different letter.
- A folder that was renamed or deleted after the app recorded it.
Microsoft warned that encrypting the game-install folder through the Windows shell could create compatibility problems. Avoid applying unusual permissions or encryption settings to the library unless you understand their effect.
Why is the folder or move option missing?
Start with the least disruptive checks:
- Install the latest Windows updates.
- Update the Xbox app through the Microsoft Store.
- Update Gaming Services and Microsoft Store components.
- Restart the PC.
- Confirm that the Xbox app is signed into the Microsoft account with the game entitlement.
- Check Settings > General for the advanced installation option.
- Try an internal drive with a dedicated folder.
- Confirm that the drive has enough free space and can create files normally.
- Test with a small, known-compatible game.
If the option is missing only for one game, the title may not support the newer management system. If an existing installation is not recognized, use the Xbox app’s available locate, move, repair, or manage workflow rather than copying the folder manually.
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Reinstalling the Xbox app or Gaming Services should be a last resort, not the first fix. The exact recovery steps can change, so avoid unverified PowerShell commands.
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What does Repair do?
Repair checks the installation and replaces or redownloads damaged or missing files where necessary. It is usually preferable to deleting the entire game when the Xbox app still recognizes the installation.
Repair can consume bandwidth, and it may not preserve manually modified files or third-party mods. Back up important saves and note that a repair fixes the game installation—not necessarily its launcher, account entitlement, or external mod configuration.
Does moving the game move its saves?
Not necessarily. Installation files and save data are separate. Saves may use Xbox cloud synchronization, local Windows app-data locations, a third-party launcher, or the game’s own save system.
Before moving, repairing, or uninstalling a game, allow cloud synchronization to finish and back up important local saves where possible. There is no single save-folder location that applies to every Xbox PC title.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failure cases
The game installs to the wrong drive
Check the Xbox app’s default installation location and the destination shown in the game’s install dialog. Windows’ general setting for where new apps are saved is not a guaranteed substitute for the Xbox app’s own controls.
The game will not launch after moving
Confirm that the destination drive is connected and has the same drive letter. Restart Windows, then use the Xbox app’s repair or verification option. A required third-party launcher or an unsupported title can also prevent a successful move.
An external drive is no longer recognized
Reconnect the drive, check its drive letter, and confirm that the configured Xbox library folder still exists. Do not delete or rename the folder while trying to recover the installation.
The app redownloads the game
This commonly means the files were copied manually, the folder structure is incompatible, or the Xbox app no longer has the installation registered. Use the app’s supported move, locate, or repair workflow.
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Mods stopped working
Check whether the mod supports the Xbox PC version rather than Steam or another platform. A different build, launcher, file layout, or permission model can make an otherwise compatible-looking mod fail.
Microsoft documented “invalid executable” and update-button problems during the Insider preview. Those were historical preview issues, not proof that the same workaround remains current; today, update the app, restart Windows, and use repair before attempting more drastic recovery.
What Game Pass changes
The feature is especially useful for PC Game Pass subscribers because games can consume substantial storage while remaining tied to a subscription entitlement. Game Pass access is not permanent ownership: access ends when the subscription expires or is canceled, and a game may become unavailable when it leaves the catalog.
Microsoft announced a U.S. PC Game Pass price of $13.99 per month on April 21, 2026, but prices vary by region and can change. Check the official PC Game Pass page for current local pricing, catalog information, and terms.
If you only want one or two games, dislike recurring subscriptions, or want permanent access, buying a game may be a better fit. The Xbox PC version can still differ from a Steam version in files, saves, mod support, and launcher requirements.
Alternatives for managing a PC game library
Steam generally offers mature support for multiple library folders and moving installations, while its Workshop ecosystem can simplify some types of modding. Epic Games Store provides its own library tools for games purchased there. GOG and direct DRM-free installers offer more manual file control when a game is available without DRM.
None of these replaces Xbox PC Game Pass access for titles available only through Microsoft’s ecosystem. For a large long-term library, adding a compatible internal SSD is usually more reliable than depending on an external drive.
The bottom line
The Xbox PC app’s custom installation feature makes game storage substantially more manageable than it was before the 2022 rollout. Use an internal SSD and a dedicated folder, move games through the app rather than copying them manually, and expect exceptions for older packages, third-party launchers, external drives, and titles with limited file access.
The feature is powerful but not universal: it improves control over supported installations without turning every Xbox PC game into a freely movable, DRM-free folder.
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