diff --git a/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp b/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
index 602ae58900..79a7d0b908 100644
--- a/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
+++ b/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
@@ -83,8 +83,11 @@ LammpsGui::LammpsGui(QWidget *parent, const QString &filename) :
     capturer    = new StdCapture;
     current_file.clear();
     current_dir = QDir(".").absolutePath();
-    // use $HOME if we get dropped to "/" like on macOS
-    if (current_dir == "/") current_dir = QDir::homePath();
+    // use $HOME if we get dropped to "/" like on macOS or the installation folder like on Windows
+    if ((current_dir == "/") || (current_dir.path().contains("AppData")))
+        current_dir = QDir::homePath();
+    QDir::setCurrent(current_dir);
+
     inspectList.clear();
     setAutoFillBackground(true);