Fusion 360 install location on Windows

[patrik-web]

Hi,

I have a machine with an SSD, but the Users folder is on a large network drive. It appears Fusion 360 installs itself completely into my Users/username/AppData folder, not in C:/Program Files as is customary. This means all the installed files are on the network drive, which makes Fusion startup much slower than it could be. I would like to only keep my design data in Users/username and move the program itself onto the SSD. Is there a way to specify the installation location for common files?

Thanks,

/Patrik J.

[Risa.Oram]

Since a few folks liked my message, I thought I'd update this with more information about what solved the problem. I had an individual license that my work purchased; then when my license was renewed, it was part of a package of enterprise licenses my work also purchased. Since I already used my work email address on the first license, I was unable to get the second renewal one to work correctly to take advantage of shared team space. I ultimately got in touch with the Autodesk helpdesk, and it was something they had to fix on their end with my individual account to reassign my email address to the new enterprise account. I eventually learned how to find the AppData folder to assign default file opening programs for .stl files etc. 

[aalabriEJDQE]

Thank you for the steps, could you please change step 5 to make from directory because the app didn't boot up.

i tried but i'm lost here

[24cne]

Is there any way to change the install location at all? I have 3 different drives, and my (C:) drive is full, but I have 2 other SSD's that have plenty of space on them.

[phillipJSCHJ]

How come, eight years later, we can't control the installation directory of Fusion? This is an oft-requested feature going back years. 

[zgd00]

You will be glad to know Autodesk never solved the problem. Typical

[werner_kaffl]

Wow, original post about the issue in 2016, last reply in July 2024, now it's July 2025 - same issue...
Well, it's been only some 9 years, one can't expect a development team to just go with common sense practices on such short notice, right? 
Sorry for being sarcastic. I'm a systems engineer since some 2 decades, and I had to work with sensitive and difficult programs, but Fusion, as much as I love it (usually, generally, when hiccups from updates were solved before new hiccups were introduced...), takes the price for least convenience around installation and troubleshooting.
Guys, you charge sky-high prices for your plans, but there's a literal pile of rubble under the hood. Honestly, I thought Adobe was bad... well, not that bad obviously.
Yeah, I know, Autodesk won't even read this...

[mat8HCP7]

This is pretty stupid for a company of this size. No silent installer? Can't install to Program Files which makes more Applocker rules a necessity. Probably AppControl pain. 

[margo_biret]

Almost 10 years later and this fix still works (and Autodesk still hasn't change anything).

I had to create the simlink as user though, or else Fusion would not launch. So in case anyone is having issues, just follow the guide but run a regular command prompt (not admin) when creating the link and don't forget the /j option (you can't create simlink as regular user).

Hope it doesn't beak on updates

Cheers