Where Android Studio projects are located: standard paths and how to change them

Working with Android Studio, many developers are faced with the question: where exactly are their projects stored? The answer depends on the operating system, IDE versions, and even user settings. By default, Android studio places projects in strictly defined directories, but these paths can be reconfigured - and this is not always obvious to beginners.

In this article we will examine in detail: standard project directories for Windows, macOS and Linux, how to find projects manually via the file system where settings and cache are stored (in case you need cleaning),

as well as how to change the default path —this is especially true if you have an SSD with limited space or are working with multiple drives.

In addition, we will look at hidden folders with Gradle dependencies and build cache, which take up gigabytes of space, but often go unnoticed. If you've ever wondered why Android Studio "eats up" so much memory, the answer lies right here.

Standard paths for storing projects by OS

By default Android Studio creates new projects in folders that depend on the operating system. These paths are hardcoded in the IDE configuration, but they can be changed (more on that later). Here are the current directories for 2026:

• 🪟 Windows: C:\Users\\AndroidStudioProjects
• 🍎 macOS: /Users//AndroidStudioProjects
• 🐧 Linux: /home//AndroidStudioProjects

Please note: if you updated Android Studio from very old versions (before 2020), the path could remain the same - for example, C:\Users\...\AndroidProjects instead of AndroidStudioProjects. This is not an error, but a legacy of past configurations.

Also, projects can be stored in arbitrary foldersif you explicitly specified a different path when creating. In this case Android Studio does not copy the project to a standard directory, but works with it "in place".

Where else does Android Studio store project data?

The project itself is just the tip of the iceberg. Android Studio actively uses additional folders for:

• 📦 Gradle cache: dependencies and collected artifacts. Location:
  • Windows: C:\Users\\.gradle
  • macOS/Linux: ~/.gradle
• ⚙️ IDE Settings: plugin configuration, UI themes, API keys, etc. Path:
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Google\AndroidStudio{VERSION} (for example, AndroidStudio2023.3)
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/AndroidStudio{VERSION}
  • Linux: ~/.config/Google/AndroidStudio{VERSION} or ~/.AndroidStudio{VERSION}/config
• 🗑️ Temporary files: logs, dumps and intermediate build files Usually inside the project folder in .idea And build.

These directories can take up tens of gigabytes, especially if you are working with multiple projects. For example, the Gradle cache easily grows to 5-10 GB, and the folder build inside the project - up to 1-3 GB for each module.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting a folder .gradle manually can break dependencies in projects. Always use Gradle → Clean Project in the interface Android Studio or command ./gradlew clean in the terminal.

How to find a project if you don’t remember the path

If you forgot where you saved it project, there are several ways to find it:

1. Through "Recent Projects" in Android Studio:

   When you start the IDE, a list of recent projects with full paths is displayed in the welcome screen. Hover the cursor over the project name - a tooltip with the folder address will appear.

2. Search by file system:

   Look for the folder with the name of your project (usually the same as rootProject.name in settings.gradle). There should be files inside build.gradle, settings.gradle and directory app.

3. Via terminal:

   Use commands:

   • Windows:

     dir /s /b "*.gradle" | find "settings.gradle"

   • macOS/Linux:

     find ~ -name "settings.gradle" 2>/dev/null

If the project is open in Android Studio, but the path is unknown, run: File → Project Structure → at the top of the window it will be indicated Project Location.

What to do if the project does not open?

If Android Studio gives an error when opening the project, check:

1. File integrity build.gradle i settings.gradle.

2. Presence of a folder .idea (if it is not there, the project is not initialized for the IDE).

3. Compatibility of the Gradle version (listed in gradle-wrapper.properties) with your version Android Studio.

How to change the default folder for projects

If you are not satisfied with the default location (for example, the system disk is running out of space), the path can be reconfigured. To do this:

1. Close all projects to Android Studio (the welcome screen should open).
2. Click Configure → Settings (or Android Studio → Preferences on macOS).
3. Go to Appearance & Behavior → System Settings → Project Opening.
4. In the Default Directory field, specify a new folder (for example, D:\Dev\AndroidProjects).
5. Save the settings and restart the IDE.

⚠️ Attention: This setting only applies to new projects. Already existing projects will remain in their places. To transfer them, use Refactor → Move in the context menu of the project folder.

You can also change the path when creating a new project:

in the window New Project uncheck Use default location and specify your directory.

Close the project in Android Studio

Copy the project folder to the new one location

Open the project from the new location via File → Open

Check the paths in settings.gradle and local.properties (if absolute ones are used)

Rebuild the project (Build → Rebuild Project)-->

Folder structure project: what is where

A typical project Android Studio has the following structure (using the example of a project named MyApp):

Folder/File	Purpose	Can it be deleted?
.idea/	IDE configuration (launch settings, search indexes)	❌ No (IDE settings will be reset)
app/	Main application module (sources, resources, manifest)	❌ No
build/	Collected APK, intermediate compilation files	✅ Yes (will be recreated during assembly)
gradle/	Wrapper Gradle (scripts for starting the build)	❌ No
settings.gradle	Configuration of project modules	❌ No
local.properties	Local paths (for example, to the SDK)	⚠️ You can, but you will have to configure it again

The folder build is the “heaviest”. It can be safely removed if you need to free up space: it will be recreated automatically the next time you build. The same applies to folders .gradle and .android in the user's home directory.

⚠️ Attention: If you use Git, do not forget to add build/, .idea/ and *.iml to .gitignore. These files are generated automatically and should not end up in the repository.

Projects on external drives and in the cloud

Many developers store projects on external SSDs or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, Yandex Disk). This is convenient for backup, but there are nuances:

• 🔌 External drives:

  Make sure the drive is formatted in NTFS (Windows) or APFS/ext4 (macOS/Linux) — FAT32 does not support files larger than 4 GB, and a project with dependencies easily exceeds this limit.

• ☁️ Cloud storage:

  Do not store the folder build/ in the cloud - it is constantly changing and will cause problems synchronization conflicts. Exclude it from synchronization in the cloud client settings.

• 🔄 Synchronization:

  For team work it is better to use Git (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket), not cloud folders. The latter do not know how to properly handle conflicts in the code.

If you work with projects on network drive (NAS), check the read/write speed. Android Studio actively uses the file system for indexing and building, and a slow disk can slow down the IDE to the point of being completely unusable.

Problems with paths and their solutions

Sometimes Android Studio loses projects or cannot open them. Let's look at typical errors and ways to fix them:

Problem	Cause	Solution
The project does not open, error "Project directory is not a valid root"	Missing file or folder data-i="207">Check settings.gradle or folder .idea	Create a new project and transfer the sources from the old one to it
Gradle doesn't find dependencies	Ways to local.properties or environment variables are out of order	Check sdk.dir in local.properties and variable ANDROID_HOME
IDE "forgets" the path to the project after restarting	Problems with cache or folder permissions	Clear the cache (File → Invalidate Caches) and check the rights to the folder
The project opens, but does not assemble	Symlinks are broken or the paths to build.gradle contain absolute addresses	Replace absolute paths with relative ones (for example, ../libs instead of C:/libs)

If the project stops opening after transferring to another drive, check:

1. Paths in local.properties (must be relative or correct absolute).
2. Access rights to the folder (on Linux/macOS run chmod -R 755 /path/to/project).
3. Integrity of symlinks (if use ln -s to connect libraries).

How to restore a project without the .idea folder?

If the folder .idea is deleted, but the sources are intact:

1 Create a new project with the same name. package.

2. Copy your sources into it (folders app/src, build.gradle etc.).

3. Update settings.gradle (make sure the project name matches rootProject.name).

4. Synchronize Gradle (File → Sync Project with Gradle Files).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the location of projects

Is it possible to store projects on a flash drive?

Technically yes, but this is extremely inconvenient:

• Flash drives have low read/write speeds, which slows down assembly.
• FAT32 does not support files >4 GB (and the folder build easily exceeds this size).
• Constantly reconnecting the flash drive can break symlinks.

It is better to use an external SSD or network storage.

How to transfer a project to another computer?

Copy the entire folder project (except build/ and .idea/) and:

1. Install the same version Android Studio and SDK.
2. Open the project via File → Open.
3. Wait for Gradle to sync (you may need to download the dependencies again).

If you are using Git, just clone the repository and open the project from the cloned folder.

Why does Android Studio create projects on the C: drive, even if I specified a different path?

This happens if:

• You did not uncheck the box Use default location when creating the project.
• The path in the settings Default Directory is wrong (check in File → Settings → Project Opening).
• You do not have enough rights to write to the selected folder (on Linux/macOS check chmod).

Is it possible to change the path to the .gradle folder?

Yes, but this requires editing the environment variables:

1. Add to ~/.bashrc (Linux/macOS) or to system variables (Windows) line:

   export GRADLE_USER_HOME=/new/path/.gradle

2. Restart the terminal and Android Studio.

⚠️ After this, all new dependencies will be downloaded to a new folder, but old projects may not be built - a rebuild will be required.

Where are projects created in Android Studio Arctic Fox (2021) and newer stored?

Starting with version Arctic Fox (2020.3.1), the folder structure has not changed, but:

• The default folder remains AndroidStudioProjects.
• A better one has appeared support Virtual File System, which speeds up work with network drives.
• An option has been added in the settings Open project in new windowthat does not affect storage paths.