diff --git a/src/mmpycorex/_version.py b/src/mmpycorex/_version.py
index 8750e9a..4d32877 100644
--- a/src/mmpycorex/_version.py
+++ b/src/mmpycorex/_version.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-version_info = (0, 2, 0)
+version_info = (0, 3, 0)
 __version__ = ".".join(map(str, version_info))
diff --git a/src/mmpycorex/install.py b/src/mmpycorex/install.py
index 9d24520..8058b86 100644
--- a/src/mmpycorex/install.py
+++ b/src/mmpycorex/install.py
@@ -77,6 +77,18 @@ def find_existing_mm_install():
     else:
         raise ValueError(f"Unsupported OS: {platform}")
 
+def get_default_install_location():
+    """
+    Get the default path where Micro-manager gets installed by the download_and_install_mm function
+    """
+    platform = _get_platform()
+    if platform == 'Windows':
+        return r'C:\Program Files\Micro-Manager'
+    elif platform == 'Mac':
+        return str(os.path.expanduser('~')) + '/Micro-Manager'
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(f"Unsupported OS: {platform}")
+
 def download_and_install_mm(destination='auto', mm_install_log_path=None, ci_build=False):
     """
     Download and install the latest nightly build of Micro-Manager
@@ -109,9 +121,10 @@ def bar(curr, total, width):
     print('Downloading: ', latest_version)
     wget.download(latest_version, out=installer, bar=bar)
 
+    if destination == 'auto':
+        destination = get_default_install_location()
+
     if windows:
-        if destination == 'auto':
-            destination = r'C:\Program Files\Micro-Manager'
         cmd = f"{installer} /SP /VERYSILENT /SUPRESSMSGBOXES /CURRENTUSER /DIR=\"{destination}\""
 
         if mm_install_log_path:
@@ -120,8 +133,6 @@ def bar(curr, total, width):
 
         return destination
     else:
-        if destination == 'auto':
-            destination = str(os.path.expanduser('~')) + '/Micro-Manager'
         try:
             # unmount if already mounted
             subprocess.run(['hdiutil', 'detach', '/Volumes/Micro-Manager'])
diff --git a/src/mmpycorex/launcher.py b/src/mmpycorex/launcher.py
index fb50067..910710c 100644
--- a/src/mmpycorex/launcher.py
+++ b/src/mmpycorex/launcher.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 import types
 import os
 
+from mmpycorex.install import get_default_install_location
 from pymmcore import CMMCore
 import pymmcore
 from pyjavaz import DEFAULT_BRIDGE_PORT, server_terminated
 
+
 import re
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ def terminate_core_instances(debug=False):
 atexit.register(terminate_core_instances)
 
 def create_core_instance(
-    mm_app_path: str, config_file: str=None, java_loc: str=None,
+    mm_app_path: str = get_default_install_location(), config_file: str='MMConfig_demo.cfg', java_loc: str=None,
         python_backend=False, core_log_path: str='',
         buffer_size_mb: int=1024, max_memory_mb: int=2000,
         port: int=DEFAULT_BRIDGE_PORT, debug=False):