# Docker installation directory **URL:** \ **Category:** Docker Desktop\ **Tags:** windows\ **Created:** [May 25, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773 "2017-05-25T20:35:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zxcvbqwerty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f475e1/32.png) [@zxcvbqwerty](https://forums.docker.com/u/zxcvbqwerty)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/1 "2017-05-25T20:35:01Z")
I am trying to install docker on win10 and it defaults to C:\Program Files\Docker. Is there anyway I can change the destination directory to be c:\users\xxx\Docker? I tried various options such as installing through CLI and using the msiexec INSTALL\_DIR / TARGETDIR options and none of them seem to work. The default installer is not asking me for a target directory when I try to install. ---
**Author:** ![rouche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/47e85d/32.png) [@rouche](https://forums.docker.com/u/rouche)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/2 "2017-09-27T15:05:54Z")
Hi, Did you find a solution for this? Not sure if i want to try but, maybe this could work: -deleting the windows service -move the folder -create the service Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![yadaraf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/yadaraf/32/55203_2.png) [@yadaraf](https://forums.docker.com/u/yadaraf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 6:26am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/3 "2017-10-01T06:26:16Z")
I have the same problem, but I need to change the install location to a different drive such as E:\ ---
**Author:** ![jianyunet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@jianyunet](https://forums.docker.com/u/jianyunet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/4 "2018-08-20T07:36:21Z")
+1, also need this installation option ---
**Author:** ![wesroach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/65b543/32.png) [@wesroach](https://forums.docker.com/u/wesroach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/6 "2018-12-06T22:12:37Z")
+1 Some corporate developer machines only allow installs to specific directories. Corporate software is blocking the pre-decided installation location. ---
**Author:** ![berndgoetz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@berndgoetz](https://forums.docker.com/u/berndgoetz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/7 "2018-12-12T11:39:24Z")
Same here. Same here. Will I be able to choose the installation directory somewhen soon? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![zhorkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zhorkay](https://forums.docker.com/u/zhorkay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2019, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/8 "2019-03-03T07:21:27Z")
+1 Is there any ongoing development regarding this? ---
**Author:** ![iamcastelli](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/iamcastelli/32/26246_2.png) [@iamcastelli](https://forums.docker.com/u/iamcastelli)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/9 "2020-01-22T06:01:19Z")
Since the current version of Docker Desktop for Windows does not provide that option for installing to a custom path, you need to create **a junction** link before the installing, using the **mklink** command in **cmd** console. > C:\>mklink /J “path\to\junction\link” “path\to\target\directory” For your case, you can follow the following steps. 1. Lets consider the current default installation path for docker is at **`C:\Program Files\Docker`** , and your target directory is at **`c:\Users\xxx\Docker`** , assuming the User Name is **xxx**. Note this target path could be on any drive such as **`E:\Docker`** , and you have to create the directory before creating the junction. 2. Open **cmd** as an **adminstrator** and run **`mklink /J "C:\Program Files\Docker" "c:\Users\xxx\Docker"`** 3. Go ahead and install Docker. The installer will think it’s installing to _C:\Program Files\Docker_ but the files would actually be populated into _c:\Users\xxx\Docker_. Cheers and be blessed. ---
**Author:** ![gdesfarges](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@gdesfarges](https://forums.docker.com/u/gdesfarges)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 11:38am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/10 "2020-06-22T11:38:49Z")
Good idea but it only work on the same drive. I want to install docker on another disk ☹ ---
**Author:** ![theeponymousbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/theeponymousbob/32/28845_2.png) [@theeponymousbob](https://forums.docker.com/u/theeponymousbob)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/11 "2020-11-24T22:01:10Z")
I’ve just finished installing the current version to my D: drive using mklink as above. I needed to link several folders to keep it off my near-full C: drive: ``` mklink /j "C:\ProgramData\Docker" "D:\ProgramData\Docker" mklink /j "C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop" "D:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop" mklink /j "C:\Program Files\Docker" "D:\Program Files\Docker" mklink /j "C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Docker" "D:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Docker" ``` The link sources on C: will be created by mklink, so make sure they’re not already there. Conversely, it does _not_ create the target folders, so you need to make sure they exist. I don’t know if this is the best way to do it, but it’s what worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![devfko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@devfko](https://forums.docker.com/u/devfko)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/12 "2021-01-23T13:38:45Z")
it works!!, thanks [theeponymousbob](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/11) ---
**Author:** ![vahem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/vahem/32/29353_2.png) [@vahem](https://forums.docker.com/u/vahem)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 8:04am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/13 "2021-02-02T08:04:58Z")
Thanks. It works. I did the same for Users / [user] / AppData \ Roaming \ Docker Desktop and Users / [user] / AppData \ Roaming \ Docker ---
**Author:** ![odupuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e495f1/32.png) [@odupuy](https://forums.docker.com/u/odupuy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/14 "2021-08-11T15:24:19Z")
It works but this is a band aid solution. We are in 2021, the installer should deal with this. Please support [Feature request: Let the user chose the installation folder · Issue #11876 · docker/for-win · GitHub](https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/11876) ---
**Author:** ![odupuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e495f1/32.png) [@odupuy](https://forums.docker.com/u/odupuy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/15 "2021-08-13T21:18:04Z")
Here is the official feature request. Vote for it [https://github.com/docker/roadmap/issues/94](https://github.com/docker/roadmap/issues/94) ---
**Author:** ![bachuakarsh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/bachuakarsh/32/31403_2.png) [@bachuakarsh](https://forums.docker.com/u/bachuakarsh)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 12:08pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/16 "2021-09-25T12:08:00Z")
Here is a clear way on how to install in the default location and Move it to the target location. > **[HowTo: Change Docker containers storage location with WSL2 on Windows 10](https://blog.codetitans.pl/post/howto-docker-over-wsl2-location/)** > > Once I started playing with Docker on Windows it quickly turned out that latest version heavily rely on WSL 2, in comparison to an older Hyper-V based approach. One thing that changed significantly during this technology transition was lack of a... ---
**Author:** ![hieultima](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/hieultima/32/32440_2.png) [@hieultima](https://forums.docker.com/u/hieultima)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2022, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/17 "2022-11-15T08:20:16Z")
i can no longer use this way After creating a junction, the installer told this ![Untitled2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/docker/original/3X/2/1/21c1b27321b1cab91b4c13551b4caa99fea727c5.png) ---
**Author:** ![ungureanuovidiu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ungureanuovidiu/32/37612_2.png) [@ungureanuovidiu](https://forums.docker.com/u/ungureanuovidiu)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 6:34am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/18 "2022-11-23T06:34:17Z")
Try this: start /w “” “Docker Desktop Installer.exe” install --installation-dir=G:\Docker ---
**Author:** ![mdnaimripto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@mdnaimripto](https://forums.docker.com/u/mdnaimripto)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/20 "2023-03-14T08:20:20Z")
Thank you very much. You just save me. It’s worked for me ---
**Author:** ![postlupy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@postlupy](https://forums.docker.com/u/postlupy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 4:56pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/21 "2023-04-24T16:56:36Z")
It gives the “c:\programdata\dockerdesktop” cannot be a sylink error, but good method anyway. ---
**Author:** ![cheopys](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/cheopys/32/42001_2.png) [@cheopys](https://forums.docker.com/u/cheopys)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 8:59am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773/22 "2023-08-13T08:59:07Z")
It is incompetent and inconsiderate in any installer to not allow users to select a destination directory. Many machines come pre-partitioned with the C: drive having barely enough space for Windows. I constantly need to go through my own C: drive to find things I can move or remove, and the moving often doesn’t work. If a company wants to lock some installations to a specific location they can enforce that at policy level. I spent hours trying to install DD on my D (development) drive, and none of the above worked. [Next page](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-installation-directory/32773.md?page=2)