How to move apps from C: drive to another drive without changing the path in Windows 11

Have you ever been using Windows 11 and found yourself with little free space on your C drive, wanting to move apps such as games?

Moving files is easy; just copy or cut the file and paste it to another drive. However, there is a problem with apps, etc., where if the path is changed, they may not be able to start or load properly.

The solution to this problem is a feature called "junction," which links to folder names.

Using the "Junction" feature, you can move the folder where an app is installed to another drive without changing the path.

I want to read it together

How much free space (capacity) is optimal for the C drive in Windows 11? Guidelines and how to secure it This time, we will explain the optimal amount of free space on the C: drive when Windows 11 is installed. When the C: drive has little free space, overall PC performance can be affected.

What is "Junction," a function that links to folder names?

Simply put, a "junction" makes Windows believe that a folder called "Test" that is actually on the E drive is actually on the C drive.

For example, if the junction of the "E:\Test" folder is set to "C:\Test", the "C:\Test" folder will be displayed in Explorer with an arrow mark in the lower left corner, like a shortcut.

However, unlike a shortcut, when you open the "C:\Test" folder, the path in Explorer remains "C:\Test" rather than the linked E drive.

In Explorer it appears to be on the C: drive, but it is actually on the E: drive.

It might be a little confusing at first.

As an example, I set the junction of the "E:\Test" folder to "C:\Test" and then copied a 3GB file to the "C:\Test" folder.

Before copying:

After copying:

As you can see from the image above, the free space on the C drive is not decreasing, but the free space on the E drive is decreasing.

*From here on, we will refer to this folder as a "junction" folder for ease of understanding.

This way, the "junction" folder will be there, both visually and when you open it.

But it actually exists somewhere else.

Notes on creating junction folders

• If you move or rename the folder that a junction links to, the link will be broken and you will no longer be able to access it.
• If you make a mistake in your operation, your data may be lost, so we recommend that you back it up.
• Be sure to follow the steps (read through the steps and check the precautions) before proceeding.
• Creating a lot of junction folders can clutter your file system and make troubleshooting difficult. Simply put, if not managed properly, it can become difficult to tell which folders are junctions.
• We have tried to explain things as clearly as possible, but you may not understand them at first. Please read them over and over again until you understand them thoroughly before operating the device.

How to create a "junction" folder

Here, I will explain using the folder where the game launcher called Epic Games launcher is installed.

By default, the Epic Games launcher is installed in the following folder:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games

1. Copy and paste the folder

1. First, close the Epic Games launcher.

2. Open the destination drive (for example, E drive) and create a new folder.

3. Rename the created folder to "Program Files (x86)".

4. Open the "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder, right-click on the "Epic Games" folder, and click "Copy."

5. Open the "E:\Program Files (x86)" folder you just created and paste the file.

The "Epic Games" folder has currently been copied to "E:\Program Files (x86)".

2. Delete the folder

Once you have finished pasting the folder, delete the original "Epic Games" folder.

When creating a "junction" folder, you cannot create it if a folder with the same name exists.

3. Creating a "Junction" folder

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

Learn how to open a command prompt

1. Press Windows key + R to open Run.

2. Type "cmd".

3.Shift + Ctrl + Enter Please press.

If you do not need administrator privileges, just press Enter.

4. When the "User Account Control" message appears, click "Yes".

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

mklink /j "C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games" "E:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games"

mklink半角スペース/j半角スペース"「ジャンクション」フォルダーのパス"半角スペース"リンク先のフォルダーのパス"

This will create an "Epic Games" folder (a "Junction" folder) in the "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder.

This completes the creation of the "Junction" folder.

At this point, it's actually located in the "E:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games" folder, but Windows thinks it's in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games."

For example, the Epic Games launcher shortcut on your desktop links to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games," which is a folder that doesn't actually exist, but you can still launch it.

Don't you think this is an interesting feature?

Going forward, when you install a game using the Epic Games launcher and point it to the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games" folder, it will actually be installed in the "E:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games" folder.

You can also install by directly specifying the "E:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games" folder here,RegistryThe path recorded in the folder will be the E drive. If you ever need to restore the original settings in the future, you may encounter a problem where the computer will not start up after the restore, so be sure to specify the "junction" folder.

After creating the "Junction" folder, we recommend that you record it in a notepad or similar so you don't forget.

How to check the "Junction" folder

The "Junction" folder cannot be seen in Explorer, but can be seen in Command Prompt.

1. Open Command Prompt.

Learn how to open a command prompt

1. Press Windows key + R to open Run.

2. Type "cmd".

3.Shift + Ctrl + Enter Please press.

If you do not need administrator privileges, just press Enter.

4. When the "User Account Control" message appears, click "Yes".

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

cd "C:\Program Files (x86)"

3. Next, type the following command and press Enter:

dir

This will display a list of the files and subdirectories in the directory (folder).

The folder name on the right side that says "Junction" is the folder.

In the image above, the "Epic Games" folder in the "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder is the "junction" folder, and the "E:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games" folder displayed to the right of it is the linked folder.

How to remove the "junction" folder and restore the moved folder

If you want to delete the "Junction" folder, just delete it in the same way as you would a shortcut.

That is, in the above example,

1. Delete the "Epic Games" folder in the "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder.

Deleting a "junction" folder does not delete the folder it links to.

2. Next, copy the "Epic Games" folder from the "E:\Program Files (x86)" folder to the "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder.

3. Once the copying is complete, delete the "Epic Games" folder in the "E:\Program Files (x86)" folder.

This will restore everything to normal.