---
title: "$InstallationDirectory"
language: "en"
type: "Symbol"
summary: "$InstallationDirectory gives the top-level directory in which your Wolfram System installation resides."
keywords: 
- application directory
- main directory
canonical_url: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$InstallationDirectory.html"
source: "Wolfram Language Documentation"
related_guides: 
  - 
    title: "Directories & Directory Operations"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/guide/DirectoriesAndDirectoryOperations.en.md"
related_functions: 
  - 
    title: "$BaseDirectory"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$BaseDirectory.en.md"
  - 
    title: "$HomeDirectory"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$HomeDirectory.en.md"
  - 
    title: "$InitialDirectory"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$InitialDirectory.en.md"
  - 
    title: "$UserBaseDirectory"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$UserBaseDirectory.en.md"
related_tutorials: 
  - 
    title: "Naming and Finding Files"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/tutorial/FilesStreamsAndExternalOperations.en.md#12068"
  - 
    title: "Wolfram System File Organization"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/tutorial/WolframSystemFileOrganization.en.md"
  - 
    title: "Notebook Security"
    link: "https://reference.wolfram.com/language/tutorial/NotebookSecurity.en.md"
---
# $InstallationDirectory

\$InstallationDirectory gives the top‐level directory in which your Wolfram System installation resides.

## Details

* ``\$InstallationDirectory`` returns the full name of the directory as a string.

* Typical values are:

|                                                                              |         |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| C:\Program␣Files\Wolfram␣Research\Wolfram\\!\(\*ValueBox["$VersionNumber"]\) | Windows |
| /Applications/Wolfram.app/Contents                                           | macOS   |
| /usr/local/Wolfram/Wolfram/\!\(\*ValueBox["$VersionNumber"]\)                | Linux   |

---

## Examples (1)

### Basic Examples (1)

This product's installation directory:

```wl
In[1]:= $InstallationDirectory

Out[1]= Dynamic[$InstallationDirectory]
```

## See Also

* [`\$BaseDirectory`](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$BaseDirectory.en.md)
* [`\$HomeDirectory`](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$HomeDirectory.en.md)
* [`\$InitialDirectory`](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$InitialDirectory.en.md)
* [`\$UserBaseDirectory`](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/$UserBaseDirectory.en.md)

## Tech Notes

* [Naming and Finding Files](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/tutorial/FilesStreamsAndExternalOperations.en.md#12068)
* [Wolfram System File Organization](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/tutorial/WolframSystemFileOrganization.en.md)
* [Notebook Security](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/tutorial/NotebookSecurity.en.md)

## Related Guides

* [Directories & Directory Operations](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/guide/DirectoriesAndDirectoryOperations.en.md)

## History

* Introduced in 2003 (5.0) \| [Updated in 2024 (14.1)](https://reference.wolfram.com/language/guide/SummaryOfNewFeaturesIn141.en.md)