How to Change the Default Save Location for Screenshots in Windows 11

Taking a screenshot in Windows 11 using the Windows Key + Print Screen shortcut is the fastest way to capture your entire display. The screen briefly dims, and the image is instantly saved to your hard drive. By default, Windows dumps all these images into a folder located at C:\Users\[YourName]\Pictures\Screenshots. However, if you are capturing hundreds of images for a project or trying to save space on your primary C: drive, you may want to redirect this automatic save process to a different folder or a secondary hard drive.

Understanding the Limitations

It is important to note that this method only applies to the automatic Windows + PrtScn shortcut. If you use the Snipping Tool (Windows + Shift + S), the tool handles saving differently, often just copying the image to your clipboard or requiring you to manually click “Save As” and choose a destination each time.

How to Move the Screenshots Folder

To change where your automatic screenshots are saved, you must change the “Location” property of the system folder itself.

1. Open File Explorer (Windows Key + E).
2. Navigate to the default save location: click on Pictures in the left-hand navigation pane, then double-click the Screenshots folder to open it.
3. Right-click anywhere in the empty white space inside the folder and select Properties.
4. In the Properties window, click on the Location tab at the top.

You will see a text box displaying the current path (e.g., C:\Users\John\Pictures\Screenshots).

Setting the New Destination

You now need to tell Windows where to redirect the folder.

1. Click the Move… button.
2. A “Select a Destination” browser window will appear. Navigate to the new drive or folder where you want your screenshots saved (for example, D:\Work Project\Images).
3. Once you are inside the new destination folder, click the Select Folder button.
4. The text box in the Properties window will update to show your new path. Click Apply.

Confirming the Move

When you click Apply, Windows will present a warning prompt asking, “Do you want to move all of the files from the old location to the new location?”

• If you want to transfer your existing screenshots to the new drive, click Yes.
• If you only want new screenshots to go to the new drive, click No.

Click OK to close the Properties window. From now on, whenever you press Windows Key + Print Screen, your images will instantly appear in your newly chosen destination folder.