When you purchase and download games and apps from the Xbox store, they will automatically download to the default storage location set on your Xbox console. However, you may want to change the default download location to save space on your internal drive or download content directly to an external drive.
The process for changing the default install location is quick and simple. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to change where your Xbox downloads are saved on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles.
Check your Xbox storage
Before changing where content downloads to, you’ll want to check how much storage space you have available on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S. Here’s how:
- From your Xbox dashboard, go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Select either Storage Devices to see information on your internal drive or USB Storage Device to view details on any connected external drives.
- Check how much free space you have on each drive.
Knowing how much room is available on each storage device will allow you to determine the best location to save your downloads.
Change the download location on Xbox One
On Xbox One consoles, including the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, you can choose where you want to download games and apps from the System settings menu:
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Under ‘Default install locations’, select either Internal or External.
- Select Apply to confirm the changes.
Now any new game, app, or update you install from the Xbox store will automatically download to the drive you selected as the default install location.
Set the location for individual games or apps
You can also set the install location for individual games and apps on Xbox One:
- From My games & apps, press the Menu button on a game or app.
- Select Manage game & add-ons.
- Choose the storage device you want the content installed to.
- Select Save changes.
This will set the install location just for that particular game or app, rather than changing the system-wide default location.
Change the download location on Xbox Series X/S
The process is very similar on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S:
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Select the drive under ‘External Drives’ or ‘Xbox Storage Drive’.
- Choose Install Locations.
- Select Next to confirm the drive to save new downloads to.
After updating this setting, any new games, apps, or updates will install to the drive you selected.
Set the location for individual titles
You can also set the install location on a per-game or per-app basis:
- Highlight a game or app icon and press the Menu button.
- Select Manage game & add-ons.
- Choose the drive you want to move the content to.
- Select Move to actually move the files, if needed.
This changes the install location only for this specific game or app.
Move existing games to a new drive
When you set a new default install location, it only affects new downloads – anything installed already will stay in its current location.
To move existing games or apps to another drive on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S:
- Go to My games & apps and press the Menu button on a game/app.
- Select Manage game & add-ons.
- Choose the drive you want it moved to.
- Select Move to transfer the files.
Depending on the size of the game and speed of your drives, moving larger titles can take awhile. You can still access and play games while they transfer in the background.
Troubleshoot Xbox download issues
If you’re having trouble installing games or apps to your selected drive, here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Power cycle the Xbox – Restart your console by holding the power button for 10 seconds and then power it back on.
- Check external drive connections – For an external USB drive, unplug it and reconnect it securely to your Xbox.
- Free up space – Delete unused games/apps or move them to a new drive to free up space.
- Check for errors – Go to Settings > System > Storage and run a diagnostics check on your drives.
If you continue to have issues downloading content after trying these steps, you may need to factory reset your console to resolve any software bugs. This will remove all games and apps, so be sure to backup your data first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing the default download location also move existing games/apps?
No, changing the default install location will only affect new downloads. You’ll need to manually move any existing games or apps to the new drive.
Can I split my games between internal and external drives?
Yes, you can choose to install games to whichever drive you want. Some people install larger games on an external HDD and smaller indie games on internal storage.
What kind of external drive should I use for Xbox One/Series X/S?
For the best performance, use a USB 3.0 HDD or SSD with at least 128GB of storage. An external SSD will load games faster than a HDD.
How do I download Xbox Game Pass games to a separate drive?
Game Pass downloads will save to the default install location set on your system. Change the default drive before downloading Game Pass titles.
Can I play Series X/S optimized games from an external HDD?
No, Xbox Series X/S optimized games can only be played from the internal SSD or expansion card due to the faster transfer speeds needed.
Conclusion
Knowing how to change the default install location for games and apps on your Xbox is useful for managing your storage. Set the download location to an external drive if your internal SSD is full or to split games between multiple devices.
The process is quick and straightforward, though you may need to manually move existing games to a new drive after changing the default location. Following the steps in this guide, you can take control of your Xbox storage and ensure downloads always save where you want them to.
