In a previous blog post I compared Windows 8 tablets with other tablets. In it I said that it was nice that you could use memory cards to expand your storage, but unlike Android there is no easy way to move windows 8 / modern UI apps to the memory card and run them from there.

Since I saw the question pop up a couple of times and because I was convinced it would probably be possible, I went to look for a workaround. This is the procedure I used to change the default app install location:

1. Close the Windows Store app.
2. Make a new folder in the desired location. By example “D:\WindowsApps”.
3. Run regedit as administrator
4. Create a backup of your registry just in case.
5. In regedit go to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx”
6. Take ownership of this path and everything below it (inheritance).
7. Edit the value of “PackageRoot” to your desired location. By example “D:\WindowsApps”
8. Start the Windows Store app.
9. Install apps.
10. Run apps.

Beware: I’m not entirely sure if and how this affects security, so use this at your own risk.

This article regarding the use of junction points may also interest you.