Microsoft Store Where do you want to install

When your computer is running out of space, you want to use a faster drive, or you just want to keep apps in a separate location, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.

4. Under "Save locations," and on "New apps will save to," select the new drive location.

Once you completed the steps, new apps you download from the Windows Store will now install automatically in the new location.

Moving Windows Store apps to another drive

If you already have Windows Store apps installed on your PC, and you don't want every app from the Store to install in a different location, you can move apps to a separate drive using the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Select the app you want.
5. Click the Move button.
6. Select the destination drive from the drop-down menu.

7. Click the Move button to relocate the app.

The process may take a few seconds depending on the size of the app you're trying to move. Although Settings lists both Store and desktop apps, you can only move apps from the Windows Store to a different drive.

Alternatively, you can always uninstall the app, use the instructions to change the save location, and reinstall the app in question from the Store

I don’t often install anything from the Windows App Store. I’m not a fan..the terribly unhelpful UI I’m about to moan about being one of those reasons.

This morning there was something I wanted to try that was only available there. So I found the app in question. Tried to install it and was presented with this error.

Isn’t that just the most unhelpful thing ever?

I’m already signed into a device with my Microsoft account. I’ve got devices linked to my account.

What does it mean?!

Clicking the “Get More Information” page doesn’t help as it takes you to the general Microsoft Store help page which doesn’t provide help with this specific problem.

So what to do?

In this particular instance I went back to the app in question and checked the system requirements

And finally the problem is revealed.

The app requires a higher version of Windows than the one that is currently installed. Getting that updated will then allow me to install the app. 

Again, this isn’t that clear. What is labelled as the version number here is the build number in the main places you’d check in Windows 10

WinVer

System

Most people just see it as “Windows 10”. They don’t realise there are different versions of Windows 10. Those that do usually go with the short number. Those system requirements don’t mention that I need to be on what most people would call version 1903.

At least it gives me the option to update from there. I don’t really understand why the error message couldn’t have told me that though.

From a pedantic perspective the error message makes sense. The error says it can’t install because I don’t have any applicable devices linked to my account and that’s true. Only devices running 1903 are applicable. But a more useful error would have been better. How many people would see this error. Scratch their heads and just give up?

A quick search shows there are lots of people who have done exactly that. Hopefully they’ll come across this!   

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Andy Parkes

Andy Parkes is Technical Director at Coventry based IT support company IBIT Solutions. Formerly, coordinator of AMITPRO and Microsoft Partner Area Lead for 2012-2013. He also isn't a fan of describing himself in the third person.

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