How to Change the Default Save Location for Files and Folders on Windows 10 & 11
When you download any file, folder, or app from the internet, your Windows PC stores them at a location set by default by Microsoft. However, you don’t have to stick with this default location.
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How to Change the Default Save Location on Windows 10 and 11
As it happens for almost anything with Windows, if you want to change any default settings, you’ll have to go through the Windows Settings at one time or the other. Toopen the Settings app, head to theStart menusearch bar, type in ‘settings,’ and select the best match. Alternatively, hit theWin + Ishortcut.
From there, simply follow the steps below:
In the next window, you’ll see the default locations where different PC items—be it a file, folder, apps, and so on—are saved. From here, it’s possible to tweak the settings and choose a location that you find more appropriate for storing your files.
All you’ve to do is click on the drop-down menu next to a specific item and select a new location. For instance, we’ll show you how to change the default location of new documents, and from there, you may follow a similar approach for other items. Here’s how:
That’s it. From now, your documents will get saved at the new location.
How to Change the Default Save Location Through File Explorer
Similar to your documents and app, you can change the download location of your new files. Instead of the Settings app, however, you’ll have to rely on File Explorer in this case. Here’s how:
Now select theLocationstab from here, and change the Download path by typing and copying the new location you’d like to save your downloads to. Alternatively, click onFind Targetto choose the location.
Finally, click onApply.
As soon as you do this, you’ll see a new dialog box asking if you want to take your old files to the new location as well. From our experience, we believe it’s best to do that—so click onYes.
Click onOKafter the system finishes copying the files.
How to Change the Default Save Location Through the Registry Editor
Last but not least, we can use theRegistry Editor. The Registry Editor is a free GUI tool from Microsoft that lets you edit your Windows registry, a hierarchical database of low-level settings of your Windows operating systems. Among a host of these settings, the Registry Editor comes with a setting that decides where your files are downloaded.
With the Registry editor, you can tweak this default download location. Here’s how:
Your default download location will be changed from here on. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Changing the Default Save Location on Windows 10 and 11
Whether it’s the lack of space or you just want to store your files somewhere else from now on, with these methods, you can now tweak your default save locations on Windows with ease. The Windows operating system comes with plenty of pre-set settings and configurations.
However, over time you might want to configure and customize your PC in a way that suits your workflow better. So don’t hold back and explore all the different ways you can change your default Windows settings.
Here’s how to change default programs and settings in Windows 10 if you aren’t happy with how it behaves out of the box.
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