WhatsApp on Windows stores messages and media on your C drive by default, but you can move that folder to another drive or partition to free up space
WhatsApp Desktop for Windows keeps all your chats, photos, videos, and documents in a hidden folder inside your user profile. If your C drive is running low on space, moving the WhatsApp data folder to a second drive or external hard drive is straightforward — it takes about five minutes and requires no special tools beyond Windows File Explorer.
The process works because WhatsApp stores everything in one location. You copy that folder to your new drive, update where Windows looks for it, and WhatsApp reads from the new location on startup. Your messages stay intact, and nothing syncs back to the old folder.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp data lives in C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\5222991F.WhatsAppDesktop_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalCache\Roaming\WhatsApp, and you must show hidden files to see it.
- Close WhatsApp completely before moving the folder, or the move will fail and WhatsApp will recreate the folder on C drive.
- After copying the folder to your new drive, you create a symbolic link (a Windows shortcut that acts like the original folder) so WhatsApp finds it in the new location.
- The entire process takes about five minutes and does not require reinstalling WhatsApp or signing in again.
Show hidden files so you can see the WhatsApp folder
Windows hides the AppData folder by default. You need to turn on the "Show hidden files" setting before you can see where WhatsApp stores your data.
Open File Explorer and click the View tab at the top. On the right side, check the box next to Hidden items. The AppData folder and everything inside it will now be visible when you navigate to your user profile.
Locate and copy your WhatsApp folder to the new drive
Navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\5222991F.WhatsAppDesktop_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalCache\Roaming\. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. You will see a folder called WhatsApp — this is what you are moving.
Before you do anything, close WhatsApp completely. Check your system tray (the icons on the far right of your taskbar) and right-click the WhatsApp icon to quit it. If you do not close it, Windows will not let you move the folder, and WhatsApp will recreate it on C drive.
Right-click the WhatsApp folder and select Copy. Navigate to the drive where you want to store it — for example, D drive or an external hard drive — and paste it there. Wait for the copy to finish. The folder size is usually between 500 MB and several GB, depending on how many photos and videos you have saved.
Delete the original folder from C drive
Once the copy is complete and you have verified the new folder contains your data, go back to the original location on C drive and delete the WhatsApp folder. Right-click it and select Delete. This step is important because Windows needs the original location to be empty so the symbolic link can work.
Do not empty your Recycle Bin yet — keep the deleted folder there for a few days in case something goes wrong and you need to restore it.
Create a symbolic link to point WhatsApp to the new location
This is the step that tells WhatsApp where to find its data. You will use the Command Prompt to create what Windows calls a symbolic link — a shortcut that acts exactly like the original folder.
Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter. A black Command Prompt window will open. Type the following command, replacing [YourUsername] with your username and [D:\WhatsApp] with the actual path where you moved the folder:
mklink /D "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\5222991F.WhatsAppDesktop_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalCache\Roaming\WhatsApp" "[D:\WhatsApp]"
If your new folder is on an external drive, use the drive letter that Windows assigned to it — for example, E:\WhatsApp or F:\WhatsApp. Press Enter. You should see a message saying "symbolic link created for [path] <<===>> [path]". If you see an error, make sure WhatsApp is closed and the original folder on C drive is deleted.
Test that WhatsApp reads from the new location
Open WhatsApp Desktop. It should load your chats and media without asking you to sign in again. Check that your recent messages and photos are there. Open a chat with media in it and verify that images and videos load properly.
Check your C drive to confirm that the WhatsApp folder is no longer taking up space there. Right-click your C drive in File Explorer, select Properties, and look at the used space. If the move worked, you will see the freed-up space reflected in the total.
What to do if the symbolic link fails
If you see an error when creating the symbolic link, the most common cause is that WhatsApp is still running. Close it completely, including any background processes, and try the command again.
If the command succeeds but WhatsApp does not find your messages, the path in the command may be wrong. Check that the folder name on your new drive matches exactly — including capital letters — and that you used the correct drive letter. You can also delete the symbolic link (right-click it and select Delete) and try again with the correct path.
If you need to undo the move entirely, restore the WhatsApp folder from your Recycle Bin to its original location on C drive, then delete the symbolic link. WhatsApp will work normally again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will moving WhatsApp to another drive affect my backups or cloud sync?
No. WhatsApp Desktop does not back up to the cloud the way the mobile app does. Your messages stay on your computer in the new location. If you use WhatsApp Web or the mobile app, those remain separate and unaffected by where your desktop data is stored.
Can I move WhatsApp to an external USB drive?
Yes, but only if the drive is always plugged in when you use WhatsApp. If you unplug the external drive, WhatsApp will not be able to find your data and may show an error. For drives you disconnect regularly, moving to a second internal drive or partition is more reliable.
What happens if I unplug the new drive while WhatsApp is running?
WhatsApp will freeze or crash because it cannot read from the missing drive. Always close WhatsApp before unplugging an external drive. If this happens, plug the drive back in and restart WhatsApp.
Do I need to reinstall WhatsApp after moving the folder?
No. The symbolic link makes Windows treat the new location as if it were the original folder, so WhatsApp does not know anything has changed. You do not need to sign in again or read anything.
How much space will this free up on my C drive?
It depends on how many messages, photos, and videos you have saved. Most users see between 500 MB and 5 GB freed up. You can check the size of your WhatsApp folder before moving it by right-clicking it, selecting Properties, and looking at the size listed.