How to Move Apps to External Storage in Windows 11 Without Losing Data

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Page Contents
 

Page Table of Contents

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Method 1. Move Apps to External Storage via EaseUS Todo PCTrans Connect your external hard drive to your computer. Open EaseUS Todo PCTrans and select "App Migration > Start"...Full steps
Method 2. Move Apps to External Storage via Windows Settings To open the Windows Settings app, press the Window + I key simultaneously...Full steps
When upgrading Windows 8/10 to Windows 11, users may receive a warning related to low disk space. Uninstalling applications to free up space can also cause trouble with repeated downloads. 

But don't worry. This article will help you solve this problem and provide the best way how to move apps to external storage in Windows 11.

Can I Move My Applications to An External Storage in Windows 11

Of course, you can move Apps to external storage in Windows 11. Moving Apps to an external hard drive can bring many conveniences, for example:

  • You can keep the Apps while freeing up space on the internal disk.
  • External storage is easy to carry, so you can always find the Apps on your computer when needed. Usually, some users will also install games on external hard drive for convenience.

Also, moving Apps to external storage is a simple task. Next, we will check the step-by-step guide to moving Apps to external storage.

How to Move Apps to External Storage in Windows 11 [Two Ways]

There are two ways to move Apps to external storage: 

  • Transfer apps via a reliable transfer utility - EaseUS Todo PCTrans: It is an excellent data migration software that can transfer Apps to external storage safely and efficiently.
  • Transfer apps via Apps & Features of Settings on Windows: It will cost more time and energy, and you may also lose data during the process. 

Method 1 is smarter than method 2, which is a manual one. Let's see how these two methods move Apps to external storage next.

Method 1. Move Apps to External Storage via EaseUS Todo PCTrans

EaseUS Todo PCTrans is a powerful tool for transferring data, applications, and accounts. It can easily transfer everything to the new Windows 11 and easily transfer large files, providing greater security. It can move Apps obtained from any source to external storage without losing data. 

  Free Download

Support Windows 11/10/8/7

It has a simple interface, and you can easily navigate this transfer software even if you are new to it.

Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to your computer. Open EaseUS Todo PCTrans and select "App Migration > Start".

select app migration

Step 2. Find and choose the applications (marked as "Yes") that you want to transfer. You can select multiple apps. 

Click the triangle icon and select your external hard drive as the destination to store the apps. 

transfer app yo external hard drive

Step 3. Then, click "Transfer" to move your programs to an external hard drive.

transfer app to external hard drive

As a powerful file transfer software, EaseUS Todo PCTrans can also bring the following convenience to transferring files and programs to another drive or another PC:

If you need to transfer files and applications, you can seek its help.

Method 2. Move Apps to External Storage via Windows Settings

Moving Apps to an external drive through Windows settings is also possible. However, this method only works with applications installed from the Microsoft Store. Otherwise, the "Move" option will be greyed out. Then follow the steps to move your application: 

Step 1. To open the Settings app, press the Window + I key simultaneously.

Step 2. Choose App on the left side and click Apps & features option. 

open windows settings

Step 3. Select the target App and click Move from the context menu.

choose the target app and click“Move”.

Step 4. Choose the external storage to save your Apps and click Move to confirm.

select external storage

Conclusion

After reading this passage, you should know how to move Apps to external storage on Windows 11. Moving Apps to external storage can save disk space and make it more convincing to find Apps. 

This article describes two ways to move Apps. You can do it manually with Windows Settings or automatically via EaseUS Todo PCTrans. This tool can help you transfer data and programs without losing data. And it can also improve the efficiency of transfer Apps. You can download it and have a try. It can assist you with other benefits to Windows file transfer instantly.

  Free Download

Support Windows 11/10/8/7

FAQs About How to Move Apps to External Storage

This article describes two ways to move Apps, and EaseUS Todo PCTrans is more suitable. This part will provide frequently asked questions about moving Apps to external storage. Keep reading. 

1. How do I change the location of apps in Windows 11?

Follow the steps below to change the location of Apps in Windows 11:

Step 1. Go to Start, choose Settings, and click Privacy and Security.

Step 2. Click Location. And select Set default under default location.

Step 3. Windows Maps will launch. To set or alter your default location, adhere to the instructions.

2. How do I move apps from C to D drive?

EaseUS Todo PCTrans can move Apps from C to D drive. Follow the steps:

Step 1. Open EaseUS Todo PCTrans and go to App Migration and click Start.

Step 2. Click the C drive, choose the programs, and click Transfer to start the process.

3. Can I move a game from C to D drive?

Of course, you can move a game from C to D drive. Locate the title in the Installed sidebar of the app, and pick it from the Files tab using the three-dot menu. Select the destination after choosing Change Drive, then click Move to complete.

About the Author

Updated by Tracy King

Tracy joined in EaseUS in 2013 and has been working with EaseUS content team for over 10 years. Being enthusiastic in computing and technology, she writes tech how-to articles and share technical solutions to resolve Windows & Mac data recovery, data backup, partition management, data transfer, Windows update issues, etc.

Read full bio

Written by Cici

Cici has accepted the systematic training on computers at EaseUS. Now she has a detailed understanding of common computer issues, as well as computer backups and disk formatting management solutions.

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  • EaseUS Todo PCTrans Free is a useful and and reliable software solution created to serve in computer migration operations, be it from one machine to another or from an earlier version of your OS to a newer one.

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  • EaseUS Todo PCTrans is by the folks at EaseUS who make incredible tools that let you manage your backups and recover your dead hard disks. While it is not an official tool, EaseUS has a reputation for being very good with their software and code.

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  • It offers the ability to move your entire user account from your old computer, meaning everything is quickly migrated. You still get to keep your Windows installation (and the relevant drivers for your new PC), but you also get all your apps, settings, preferences, images, documents and other important data.

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How to Move Apps to External Storage in Windows 11 Without Losing Data

Try smart Windows 11 data transfer tool to move all data in 1 click.

EaseUS Todo PCTrans

  Free Download

Support Windows 11/10/8/7