Windows Ways to Find Programs Install Location

Hey readers,

Want to know where your installed programs live? This comprehensive article will guide you through the various methods to locate program installation directories on your Windows system. Let’s dive right in!

File Explorer: The Exploratory Approach

Via Quick Launch Bar: Right-click on the program’s icon in the Quick Launch Bar and select "Properties." The "Start in" field will reveal the installation directory.
Through Program Shortcut: Locate the program’s shortcut on your desktop or in the Start menu. Right-click on the shortcut and choose "Properties." The "Target" field will display the installation path.

Registry Editor: A Technical Adventure

Using "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall": Navigate to this registry key and browse through the subkeys. Each subkey represents an installed program. Right-click on the desired program’s subkey, select "Permissions," and then click "Advanced" to find the installation directory under the "Effective Permissions" tab.
Consulting "HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall": This registry key contains user-specific program installation information. Follow the same steps as above to locate the necessary data.

Command Prompt: A Command Line Conquest

Via "wmic": Open Command Prompt (cmd) as administrator. Type "wmic product get name,installlocation" and press Enter. This will list all installed programs with their installation directories.
Employing "dir": Navigate to the "Program Files" or "Program Files (x86)" directory in Command Prompt. Type "dir /s" to recursively search for the desired program’s folder.

Troubleshooting Tips

Dealing with Missing Paths: If any of the methods don’t reveal the installation directory, consider using a third-party tool like "Everything" or "Locate32" to search for the program’s files.
Resolving Access Denied Issues: If you encounter "Access Denied" errors while using the Registry Editor, ensure you have administrative privileges and adjust the file permissions accordingly.

Table of Methods

Method	Description
File Explorer (Quick Launch Bar)	Right-click on the program’s Quick Launch Bar icon and select "Properties."
File Explorer (Program Shortcut)	Right-click on the program’s shortcut and choose "Properties."
Registry Editor (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE)	Navigate to the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall" registry key.
Registry Editor (HKEY_CURRENT_USER)	Explore the "HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall" registry key.
Command Prompt (wmic)	Run the "wmic product get name,installlocation" command in Command Prompt.
Command Prompt (dir)	Navigate to the "Program Files" or "Program Files (x86)" directory and use the "dir /s" command.

Conclusion

There you have it, readers! These methods will empower you to effortlessly locate the installation directories of any program on your Windows system. If you’re looking for more informative articles, be sure to explore our other resources. Knowledge is power, and we’re here to help you harness it. Happy searching!

FAQ about Windows Ways to Find Programs Install Location

How do I find the install location of a program in Windows?

Right-click on the program’s shortcut or executable file and select "Properties".
Click on the "Shortcut" tab and look for the "Target:" field.

How do I find the install location of a program that is not listed in the Programs and Features list?

Open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit) by typing "regedit" into the Start menu search bar.
Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall
Look for a subkey named after the program you are interested in.
The "InstallLocation" value will contain the install location of the program.

How do I find the install location of a program that is installed on a different drive than the system drive?

Open the Command Prompt in Administrator mode.
Type the following command: wmic product get name,installlocation
Press Enter and look for the name of the program you are interested in.
The "InstallLocation" field will contain the install location of the program.

How do I find the install location of a program that is installed by a third-party installer?

Check the documentation for the program or the installer.
Look for a file named "Install.log" or "Setup.log" in the program’s install directory.
Use a third-party tool like Everything to search for files related to the program.

How do I find the install location of a program that has been uninstalled?

Use a third-party tool like Revo Uninstaller that can scan your system for traces of uninstalled programs.
Check the Windows Registry Editor for any remaining registry keys related to the program.

How do I find the install location of a portable program?

Portable programs do not typically have a specific install location.
They can be run from any folder or drive.

How do I find the install location of a program that has been installed by a malicious or unwanted software?

Use a scanner like Malwarebytes to detect and remove any malware or unwanted software.
Check the Windows Registry Editor for any suspicious or malicious keys related to the program.

How do I find the install location of a program that is used by a service?

Open the Services snap-in (services.msc).
Find the service that is associated with the program.
Right-click on the service and select "Properties".
Click on the "General" tab and look for the "Path to executable:" field.

How do I find the install location of a program that is used by a scheduled task?

Open the Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc).
Find the task that is associated with the program.
Right-click on the task and select "Properties".
Click on the "Actions" tab and look for the "Program/script:" field.

How do I find the install location of a program that is used by a startup item?

Open the Task Manager (taskmgr.exe).
Click on the "Startup" tab.
Find the item that is associated with the program.
Right-click on the item and select "Open file location".