From a technical standpoint, yes, it is possible. During installation, you can choose an external hard drive as the installation location for the Eagle application.

However, it is important to clarify that installing Eagle on an external hard drive does not make it a portable, plug-and-play application that can run freely on any computer.

Why can’t Eagle be used directly on every computer, even if it’s installed on an external drive?

This is because Eagle’s license authorization is tied to the device ID, not to the installation path or storage location.

In practice, this means:

Even if Eagle is installed on the same external hard drive
When that drive is connected to a different computer
That computer is still recognized as a new device

As a result, Eagle must be activated separately on each computer in order to function normally.

Common misconception: External drive installation ≠ portable software

Some users assume that installing Eagle on an external hard drive allows them to use the same application seamlessly across multiple computers.

In reality:

Eagle is not a portable application
License activation does not travel with the external drive
Each device requires its own activation

Recommended setup for multi-device usage

If your goal is to:

Access the same asset collection across multiple computers
Keep your materials centralized and consistent

We recommend the following approach:

Install the Eagle application locally on each computer you plan to use
Store your Eagle Library on an external hard drive
Open the same Library from the external drive on different devices

This setup ensures:

Compliance with Eagle’s licensing mechanism
A shared and consistent asset library across devices
A more stable and reliable user experience

Summary

✅ Eagle can be installed on an external hard drive
❌ It cannot be used as a portable, plug-and-play application
🔐 License authorization is based on device ID, not installation location
⭐ Best practice: install Eagle on each device, and place the Library on an external drive

Can I Install Eagle on an External Hard Drive? What Are the Limitations?