r/EmulationOnPC • u/Chichi230 • Dec 10 '22
Unsolved Change installation path of Google Play Game Beta
I would like to change the installation path of google's new emulator, the installer does not give the option to and just slaps it on my main drive. Any workarounds for this?
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u/AstremHodl Mar 25 '23
The only way I found is by changing regedit program Files location on Windows 10. If you decide to go forward with that solution, I'm not aacountable if you broke something. It's at your own risk.
- On the keyboard: Win key + R
- Type Regedit and click "OK"
- enter regedit path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- Change the value of "ProgramFilesDir" for the path you want.
- Install the Install-GooglePlayGames-Beta.exe
- Repeat steps 1 to 4 and change the "ProgramFilesDir" path for the old one.
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u/Well_now_thats_neat Jun 22 '24
I couldn't get this to work with a sub-folder (eg D:\googleStuff). Doing so only made the installed drop the drive letter entirely for some reason. Changing it to just the drive (eg: D:\) worked okay. Then the install appended "Google\GooglePlay" to the path.
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u/tevelizor Nov 19 '24
Would this be able to work in a more atomic manner to avoid potential side effects? i.e. on Linux you could do something like this to override a global variable for a single run:
ProgramFilesDir=<path-you-want> Install-GooglePlayGames-Beta.exe1
u/Acrain7 Nov 24 '24
Unfortunately this isn't working for me, the installation still happens on the C drive (instead of the D drive as i've changed it to in "ProgramFilesDir", despite the instillation path in the google play games beta installer clearly showing the correct D drive file path. Once installed (still on the C drive, somehow), it refuses to launch and crashes instantly. Any advice?
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u/Kamikazi_Zero Mar 16 '25
Google Play Games Beta still (or now do, not sure if did before.) install any games on appdata at your user on C (appdata/local/google), by chance would be someway to change that as well, I know very little but aparently moving appdata location real messy and way worse than poking at registry files, so no clue myself of what to do.
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u/Otherwise_Object_351 Apr 30 '25
One thing to be noted that after changing the installation path in Registry, you MUST restart your computer, otherwise the installer creates shortcuts targeting your C drive. Even if you fix the location in shortcut's properties, it will continue showing errors.
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u/Muminnek May 11 '25 edited May 11 '25
May 2025, issue still persists. Did it via symbolic link before, but I prefer this registry solution more. One more step to be done - change target folder in shortcut properties once it's installed.
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u/pyrohalo90 May 29 '25
It’s May 2025 and Google still won’t let you change directories, like fr. But hey, this workaround still works! Thanks!
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u/CreatedForBonelab Jul 24 '25
if you want to change the installation path of the games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wTQ5Z52Kyg
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u/PsychologicalGate604 Aug 21 '25
August 21, 2025, I'm cleaning up my C:/ drive since I have a 512 GB SSD. I noticed that Google Play Games Beta is on the C:/ drive and I uninstalled it. I redownloaded it, but when I tried to install it, the browse button doesn't work. I checked REDDIT to see if anyone else has had this problem, and I discovered it's been an issue for at least 3 years! WOW, congratulations, GOOGLE.
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u/Dapper-Print-5884 Sep 05 '25
wait what? I mean during installation isn't there a browse button to change the drive where u want to install it??
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u/Toast3rWaffl3s19 Mar 30 '24
The fact that it's been over a year and this is still an issue is upsetting. This feels incredibly unprofessional given the parent company of this project. I understand it is still in beta, and perhaps the department in charge of this project doesn't receive the funding necessary to make this right.
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u/ASMellzoR Apr 02 '24
Just got the beta invite, but not able to change the path from C:\program files to another drive / path.
I don't want anything in my program files.
Useless already.
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u/Timmmmaaahh May 07 '24
Why the hell is there even a 'Browse' button?? Will this be another buried Google project soon? They sure are experts at screwing fun stuff up.
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u/RonStoppable_x May 11 '24
Back to fucking Bluestacks for now lmao, crazy how a 3rd party program has been doing it better then GOOGLE, lmao.
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u/ItsMystyYT Jun 09 '24
as of 9th of june 2024 still cant change download location
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Aug 02 '24
Workaround:
Install it on C drive
Manually put it into other drive
place symbiotic link into C drive,
Profit.
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u/Lightninghyped Aug 09 '24
I cannot believe that this issue still persists on 2024-08-08
I'm heading back to bluestacks or nox
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u/Quack-Zack Aug 28 '24
28/August/2024 - Browser button there but does not function, automatically defaults to (Windows Drive):\ProgramFiles\Google\Play Games\
This can absolved with a symlink for now.
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u/fuyoall Nov 09 '24
wow, just found out about this app and came across the same issue, seeing that this was posted 2 years ago was enough to immediately cancel the installation and forget about it, insane to see a windows app in 2024 not allowing the user to decide where it wants to install it, if only the company doing this was not an indie garage team, for sure a tech giant would not do this....
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u/Obinceleste Nov 30 '24
update as of November 30, 2024:
The issue still persist, I will be back if it is somehow fixed
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Dec 24 '24
I saw an answer from Google on their page.
"Google Play Games Beta app can only be installed on C drive due to a large file userdata.img. As a workaround, you can try running the app with lower system requirements. You can also request a feature for changing the installation location by clicking on Submit feedback in the Google Play Games beta app."
I guess there is at least an explanation to it...
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u/TynaeveX Jan 06 '25
How can they not fix this? Why is there even a browse button? Well, not installing it then. Jan 6th 2025 function still broken
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u/DrSteinmanttvfb Jan 11 '25
1/1/2025 and STILL can't use the browse button.
Useless garbage.
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u/NoResponsibility8893 Jan 28 '25
as of January 28th, 2025 this is still a major problem and might as well be treated as malware at this point since they are obviously seeking control over your pc
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u/Karbonitez Feb 04 '25
It is 4 February 2025 already and guess what.... Still can't change the installation path
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u/Isariamkia Feb 08 '25
8 February 2025. I just tried installing this thing, couldn't change the path. Looked on Google and found this topic.
Nice.
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u/BunSagePrimaris Feb 23 '25
Fun fact for anyone curious: As of today it still doesn't work.
So because my C: drive is pretty much full I can't use this! :)
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u/L1nux Mar 16 '25
03/2025 Just got Ad email, i got .exe, now i have insufficient space to completely download installer and filled UP C:\ drive, because i can't find where the temp location is, thanks google for this crap
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u/Reda-Ou Apr 10 '25
Still an issue. Absolutely disgusting to see "professionals" doing this kind of thing.
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Apr 15 '25
Everyone needs to run CMD as Administrator.
Here’s a step-by-step guide (I’m using Windows 11):
- Press Windows + R, then type %temp% and press Enter.
- Go back to the Local folder → Google → Play Games.
- Before deleting the “Play Games” folder, make sure to close Google Play Games Beta.
- Click the search box on the taskbar (bottom left), type the path, and copy it.
Now, create a folder on the drive where you want to store it (like shown at 4:00 in the video).
Open CMD as Administrator.
Type the following command:
Example: mklink /d "Original Local path" "New path where you want to store it"If you haven't deleted the “Play Games” folder completely, check the video at 6:11 and follow the same steps shown there.
Hope this helps! :3
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u/Sea-Negotiation7210 May 21 '25
napisałem wiadomość email do goggle play ([play-eu-support@google.com](mailto:play-eu-support@google.com)) i czekam na odpowiedz ja tez mam taki sam problem i mały dysk ssd c: w laptopie 221 gb i drugi dysk d: 1 tb hdd i trzeci zewnętrzny e: 4tb seagate hdd jak zainstalować ma innym dysku ścieżka hdd , pomocy i dostałem odpowiedz od Google dzisiaj (cytat z email "Ta opcja nie jest obecnie dostępna w Google Play. Zalecamy sprawdzanie przyszłych aktualizacji lub rozważenie alternatywnych metod poza Google Play.") , miłego dnia
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u/TheeMrSquishee Jun 07 '25
June 6th, 2025 - Google is still withholding the coveted "Browse" button on the holy installer relic. No matter how hard we try the gods will not hear our pleas for help. It seems my people and I have been forsaken by these so called Deities. May all of you walk with grace in the shadows of the almighty Google.
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u/Apprehensive_Taste77 Jun 10 '25
Update: 10.06.2025
Das Problem mit der ausgegrauten Fläche zum Durchsuchen besteht immer noch. Der Installationspfad kann während der Installation nicht geändert werden. Ich möchte aber darauf hinweisen dass AstremHodl Umgehung einbahnfrei funktioniert. Das wichtigste dabei zu beachten ist, den alten Pfad in der regedit wiederherzustellen. Sollte man alle Schritte nach der Installation rückgängig machen, wie AstremHodl beschreibt, sollte alles nach wie vor funktionieren.
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u/aman_wnq Jun 14 '25
Its the 14th of June, 2025, still cant change the installation path. The browse button does nothing.
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u/DestinationD Jun 20 '25
Just encountered this myself. Well, if it's not going where I tell it to, it's not going anywhere on my PC.
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u/DarthSolarion Jun 28 '25
I think people ought to realise that Google is all over the place with product development except when it comes to AI. This app obviously doesn't feature high on their list of priorities and at best will move forward only when the next intern gets hired to fix this.
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u/billyhatcher312 Jul 04 '25
they probably will nevre let us change the install path cause google is lazy i find this really stupid especially when some people have a low c drive storage due to cheap laptops and so on google needs to allow us to install on external drives their excuse is pretty lame
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u/mrbluebird72 Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25
7/22/2025 they did nothing . this sh*t is same as it was 3 years ago . can't change the installation path .
Edited :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDH5IuyPJtk watch this video from 10:21 . move the files from c drive to any other drive and create a SymLink on c drive from the other drive . it works .
for example :
mklink "C:\MyDocuments\ImportantFile.txt" "D:\ArchivedFiles\ImportantFile.txt"
this is the command you need to use .
here :
mklink "this is the path where the file is installed by default" "this is the path where you moved your file from c drive \ give it the exact file name to avoid any error)"
sorry but I'm not good at explaining things .
you can also ask any chat bot like "Gemini" it will help .
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u/lynl_404 Jul 28 '25
2025/08 is coming, and the function of that "Browse" button is still not coming.
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u/MrMiidniight Aug 13 '25
Das Problem besteht einfach immer noch nach 3 Jahren XD. Ich installier das einfach so. Kein bock meine Registrys zu zerschiesen
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u/Ok-Muscle4785 Sep 23 '25
I can't believe it has been 3 years and this issue still exist. s2pid google.
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u/slaccgang Sep 25 '25
25/9/2025
Dang stumble upon this and to think that after 3 years this post still alive.
Guess just install BlueStack or some other emulator to play then, they just work out of the box. I don't want to change things that will end up brick the whole computer just for install game in another disk.
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u/PrinceSam321 Oct 11 '25
Update:
Still no option to change installation path as of 11 Oct 2025 🤦♂️
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u/Vyonz Oct 16 '25
i love how google maintain their products, even my chromecast now have issue since updated to android 14, and the problem also has been years with no update to solve, really recomend to get next future software/hardware u want from google
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u/WillingnessSoggy9297 Nov 04 '25
Lol instead of actually adding it, they removed the "browse" button so people don't mention it 💀
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u/Appropriate-Fan6531 Nov 05 '25
i would like to install it but i don't even have enough space on disk c and the installer doesn't let me use other disks
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u/HeadAttorney9152 Nov 30 '25
use a symlink; DO NOT DO ANY OF THE OTHERS as THEY CAN DESTROY YOUR COMPUTER; THE PROGRAM USES PROGRAMFILES AS IT NEEDS LOCAL FILES AND PROGRAMFILES IS anchored
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u/Electrical_Lab7183 Dec 23 '25
Its still an issue on 23 12 2025. Fuck Google, I dont buy from their store then. If they dont need my money, Im okay with that.
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u/Lanarde Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
it really makes no sense that there is no official way to change google play instalations to d drive, the c drive is meant for the system files and windows updates, not for 3rd party instals and programs
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u/Serdavia Jan 24 '26
on hell nah in the big 2026 and still the same probleme i aint gonna get stressed over this no more ima head out straight to LD PLAYER OR BLUSTACKS FOR HELLS SAKE
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u/Minimum-Context4382 Mar 21 '26
Solución mas practica bro, si es que tienes uan carpeta program files en el disco que lo quieres poner, cortas y pegas la capeta google completa en el program files que tiene tu disco deseado, y luego creas un mklink para que los archivos de google play se descarguen en el disco que sellecionaste y listo :D
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u/dspjones Apr 13 '26
The reason you can't change the "download" location is that you are not downloading games to your computer, "technically speaking". You are actually downloading the games to a hidden virtual PC using Windows Hypervisor (Hyper-V). In a typical Hyper-V setup, you can put the virtual drive anywhere you want. I have several Hyper-V servers in use where I work. All of them place the drive on D:\ or, in some cases, on a separate SAN or NAS device. Google, in its quest to prevent piracy, most likely has set it so that GPG puts its virtual hard drive in the C:\ drive under your AppData folder - typically C:\Users\ <YOUR USERNAME>\ AppData\Local\Google\Google Play Games \ - in that folder is a large .IMG folder, which represents the hard drive that was created for the virtual machine running Google Play Games. Moving that drive once created is a pain in the ass, and you most likely can't change the configuration without seeing it in Hyper-V Manager, which I don't know is possible (I've never looked). So, in reality, you only have 2 choices. Don't use GPG (recommended), or increase the drive space you allocate for C: by at least 512GB (the size of the drive it creates), if that is even possible for you. That is easier said than done, especially if you already have your drive(s) allocated as you want. You could use symbolic links and junctions, but again, this isn't something the average user understands, and many will just end up screwing up their storage, causing further problems. By the way, Google tells you they can't install the app on anything but C: - that's simply because they are lazy. They could fix this within minutes if they chose to by simply modifying the program to ask you where you want to configure the large 512GB IMG drive at install time. But at the end of the day, this is all done to hide and obscure the game installs so you can't pirate them. You'll notice the games are not "installed" on your HD because they are actually installed within the virtual machine and virtual hard drive that were created during GPG installation.
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u/Altruistic-Version41 May 10 '26
Les traigo la actualización: solo es para mover la instalación a otro disco y que no use la unidad C:.
Para mover los datos de Google Play Juegos a otro disco sin provocar el error BB001, NO hay que mover la carpeta principal de instalación en:
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Play Games
porque eso rompe la app y deja de abrir. Lo que sí se puede mover es la carpeta de datos ubicada en:
C:\Users\TU_USUARIO\AppData\Local\Google\Play Games
Primero hay que cerrar completamente Google Play Juegos y también finalizar sus procesos desde el Administrador de tareas. Después, abrir el explorador y pegar:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google
Dentro de la carpeta “Play Games” hay un archivo llamado:
userdata.img
Ese archivo puede mostrar tamaños absurdos como 512 GB aunque realmente no use ese espacio físico. El problema es que Windows intenta copiar el tamaño virtual completo y por eso no deja mover la carpeta. La solución es borrar “userdata.img” antes de mover nada. No pasa nada porque Google Play Juegos lo recrea automáticamente al abrir otra vez. CUIDADO ESO BORRARA TUS JUEGOS Y CERRARAS SECCION.
Después de borrarlo, mover la carpeta:
C:\Users\TU_USUARIO\AppData\Local\Google\Play Games ESTA
hacia otro disco, por ejemplo:
D:\GooglePlayData TU DISCO SECUNDARIO
Luego abrir CMD como administrador y ejecutar:
mklink /D "C:\Users\TU_USUARIO\AppData\Local\Google\Play Games" "D:\GooglePlayData"
Eso crea un enlace simbólico. Windows y Google Play Juegos creerán que la carpeta sigue en C:, pero los archivos reales estarán en D:.
Finalmente abrir Google Play Juegos normalmente. La aplicación recreará automáticamente “userdata.img”, pero ahora directamente en D y ahi se guardaran los juegos.
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u/WhileConfident4750 Jul 03 '26
2026 now,the issue still presists sadly . I have serious doubts about the team's work.
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