3 Ways to Move Programs from One Drive to Another

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

This wikiHow teaches you how to move Windows or Mac OS applications to a different hard drive on the same computer.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Moving Windows Apps Through Application Settings

Step 1. Open the menu

This menu is usually in the lower-left corner of the screen.

Most of the apps available in the Windows Store can be moved with this method. If this method doesn't work, try moving Windows apps using Steam Mover

Step 2. Click “Settings”

This option is at the bottom of the menu.

Step 3. Click Apps

A list of applications installed on the computer will be displayed.

Step 4. Click on the app that needs to be moved

You may see several different buttons under the name, depending on the selected application.

Step 5. Click Move

A list of locations will be displayed.

Not all applications display this option. If you don't see the button, you can't use this method to move the selected app

Step 6. Select a location on the new drive

Open a new drive and select the desired folder.

Step 7. Click Move

The selected application and its data will be transferred to a new directory.

Method 2 of 3: Moving Windows Apps Using Steam Mover

Step 1. Create a system restore point

Moving apps between hard drives using third-party apps like Steam Mover can cause problems with some apps. Therefore, it is important that you save the current settings and application data in case a problem occurs. Find and read articles on how to create restore points before proceeding.

Step 2. Download Steam Mover

This app was originally designed for games from Steam, but it can be used to move most other apps. Follow these steps to get Steam Mover:

• Visit the official Steam Mover website.
• Scroll down and click on the link under the Download section.
• Save the file to the folder " Downloads ”.
• Open the folder " Downloads ” and right-click the downloaded file.
• Click " Extract all ”.
• Click " Extract " A new folder named SteamMover_v0_1 will be created in the “Downloads” folder.

Step 3. Open Steam Mover as administrator

Follow these steps:

• Double click the folder " SteamMover “new ones that have been extracted.
• Right click " SteamMover.exe ”.
• Click " Run as administrator ”.
• Allow the app to run if prompted.

Step 4. Click under Steam Apps Common Folder

A list of locations will be displayed.

Step 5. Select the application installation folder

Folders are usually stored in the directory “C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86).

Step 6. Click OK

Steam Mover will scan the applications installed in the selected folder. If you don't see the application you want to move, reopen the folder list and select a different folder such as Program Files (and not Program Files (x86).

Step 7. Click the app you want to move

The application will be selected.

Step 8. Click under Alternative Folder

It's in the upper-right corner of the window.

Step 9. Select the destination folder

This folder is an existing folder on the new drive.

To create a new folder, open a new drive, click “ Make New Folder ”, then name the folder.

Step 10. Click OK

Once the initial and new directories are set, you can move apps.

Step 11. Click the blue and white arrow icon

This icon is to the right of the file name. The selected application will be moved to a new location.

If you have an application shortcut on your desktop, you may need to change its directory address. To change the address, right-click the shortcut, click “ Properties ”, replace the old address in the Target column with the application's new address, then click “ OK ”.

Method 3 of 3: Moving Mac Apps to Another Drive

Step 1. Open Finder

The icon appears in the Dock which is usually at the bottom of the screen.

• Step 2. Click Applications

  A list of applications on the computer will be displayed.

  

  Step 3. Select the app to move

  Click the application once to select it.

  To select more than one application, hold down the Command key while clicking another application

  

  Step 4. Press Command+C

  The selected application will be copied.

  

  Step 5. Open the hard drive that you want to transfer the application to

  You can see the name of the drive in the DEVICES section of the left column of the Finder window.

  

  Step 6. Right-click an empty space on the drive and select Paste

  The selected application will be copied to the external drive.

  

  Step 7. Remove the app from the original location

  Once the app is moved, you can safely remove it from the initial directory. To delete the application, go back to the folder “ Applications ”, right-click the application, then select “ Move to Trash ”.