Changing the Downloads folder in Windows 11 and 10: a complete guide

¿How to change the default download location in Windows 11? The folder where Windows saves everything you download from the internet is fixed by default, but luckily it's a setting you can easily change. If you frequently download a lot of files, or if you work with large files, changing that path to a more spacious drive can make a big difference in your daily workflow. In less time than you think, you can ensure your downloads end up exactly where you want them, and not where the system decides for you, with complete control. control over order and space.

This change applies to both Windows 11 and Windows 10, and the steps are very similar between versions. Furthermore, you can do more than just move the Downloads folder: you can also adjust where screenshots are saved, choose the drive where Microsoft Store apps are installed, or redefine the save path in browsers like Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. With these settings properly configured, your documents will be more organized. manually and without overloading unit C.

Why change the Downloads location?

Typically, the Downloads folder is located in C:\Users/your userDownloads. That location works, but over time it tends to fill up, and if your C drive has little free space, it can become a real space hog. Accumulating gigabytes there not only makes organization difficult; it can also cause the system to sluggish and feel slower. Moving it to another drive or partition with more capacity will free up space and your computer will be able to... to function more smoothly. Also, you can Analyze the boot with BootTrace.

• You prevent the Downloads folder from becoming one of the biggest space drains on your system drive, which helps Windows boot and run faster. with greater stability.
• You centralize heavy content (games, installers, videos, etc.) on a secondary drive so it doesn't affect C:\, keeping the main drive free. light and clean.
• You better organize your workflow: clear path, direct access, and less time wasted searching for files scattered across different sites. that you no longer use.

A necessary warning: if you decide to move your profile folders (Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.) to an external drive and it's not connected at startup, you may encounter errors, empty desktops, or slower startsIt's not serious, but it's good to know to avoid problems. unnecessary scares.

Method 1: Change Downloads from its Properties (Windows 11 and 10)

The most direct way to relocate Downloads is through File Explorer. This method allows you to select any folder you've previously created on another drive and, if desired, move its contents to the new location. It's quick, straightforward, and doesn't require modifying any sensitive system settings, making it the preferred option for... vast majority of users.

1. Open File Explorer (Windows + E shortcut) and, in "This PC", locate the Downloads folder. If you don't see it in the root directory, go to C:\Users/your user And you'll find it there. Right-click and choose Properties.
2. Go to the tab Location and click on MOVER.
3. Select the new destination folder (create it beforehand on your preferred drive) and confirm with Select folder.
4. Back in Properties, press Apply and then Accept.
5. Windows will ask if you want to move existing files to the new location. The usual response is yes. Yes to keep everything together and organized in the new folder.

With this, everything you download from now on will go to the new path. If any application or browser is still pointing to the old folder due to its own settings, you can manually adjust its path so that everything is correct. homogenized.

Change where apps are installed and content is saved from Settings

Windows also lets you choose which drive different types of content (applications, documents, music, pictures, videos, and maps) are saved to by default. This option is useful when you want to keep the system on C:\ and have everything new automatically saved to another drive, although here we're talking about selecting the destination drive, not a custom folder.

1. Opens Configuration and enters System > Storage.
2. Scroll to More storage configurations and click on Change the storage location for new content.
3. In each category (New apps, Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Maps), choose the drive where you want content to be saved from now on and confirm with Apply.

This setting is perfect if you want Microsoft Store apps to install on a different drive, freeing up space on C:\. However, you can't choose custom subfolders for each category; the drive letter is the only option, which simplifies the process and makes it easier. very sure.

Location of Microsoft Store downloads

The Microsoft Store manages its own paths for installing and, in many cases, downloading apps. If you find that C:\ is running out of space, you can change the default installation drive for apps so that everything new goes to a secondary drive. Besides saving space, you'll also improve organization, as apps and their data will no longer compete with other drives. system files.

1. Sign in Configuration > System > Storage > Change the storage location for new content.
2. In “New apps will be saved to:”, choose the desired drive and confirm with Apply.

This method changes the drive for the new app, but it doesn't automatically move what's already installed. To relocate existing apps, you'll have to manage them one by one or use specific tools. In most cases, adjusting this preference will be enough to prevent the system drive from becoming the new drive again. no margin.

Change the Screenshots folder in Windows 11

Screenshots taken with Print Screen are saved by default in C:\Users/your userImages > Screenshots. If you take a lot of them, that folder fills up quickly. Moving it is as easy as moving Downloads, since it also has a tab. Location in their properties.

1. Navigate to Pictures and locate the folder Screenshots.
2. Right click > Properties > tab Location and press MOVER.
3. Choose a folder on another drive (you can create one called, for example, “Screenshots”) and confirm with Select folder.
4. Apply the changes and, when prompted, decide if you also want to move existing content to the new route (recommended to have it all unified).

Method 2: Changing paths with the Registry Editor (advanced users)

If you're comfortable working with the Registry, you can directly adjust the entry that defines the Downloads path (and other profile folders). It's a powerful option, but use it with caution. Before you do anything, create a restore point and export the Registry in case you need to revert to a previous state—two lifesavers that will save you trouble. headaches.

1. First, create the destination folder on the drive chosen for Downloads.
2. Press Windows + R, type regedit and accept.
3. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders.
4. In the right panel, locate the value that contains %USERPROFILE%\DownloadsDouble-click and change the data to the new desired path (for example, D:\Downloads).
5. Close the Editor and restart your PC to apply the cambios.

Important warning: Incorrectly editing the Registry can cause instability. Export the Registry from File > Export and save the copy in a safe location. If something goes wrong, you can undo the change or restore the system to a previous point. restoration created.

Method 3: Move Downloads with specialized software

If you prefer to automate folder transfers and save yourself manual steps, there are tools that manage the path change for you. One well-known option is AOMEI Partition Assistant Professionalwhich includes a function to move folders and programs to another drive. This utility automatically configures permissions and paths so that the move is clean and complete.

1. Open the program, go to the menu Break free and choose Move App.
2. Choose move folders and points to Downloads as the source folder.
3. Choose the destination unit and confirm with MOVER.
4. Accept the warning and, when finished, press FinalizeRestart your computer if prompted to consolidate the data. cambios.

As an added bonus, these kinds of suites usually include features to detect and delete large files when a partition runs out of space, a quick way to recover space. valuable gigabytes.

Revert the change or fix a “broken” Downloads folder

Sometimes, when moving the Downloads folder, it can end up pointing to an entire drive (for example, D:\) or get mixed up with Documents due to an unfortunate click. Don't worry: you can easily return it to its original location by restoring its value. Windows default.

1. Open Explorer, right-click on Downloads and enters Properties.
2. In the Location, press Restore default.
3. Confirm with Apply y AcceptIf it asks, allow it to move the files back to the original path to restore everything. organized.

If the folder continues to behave strangely, also check your browser settings (below) to prevent them from saving to old paths or folders you've already created. changed.

Create and customize the new destination folder

Before moving anything, it's a good idea to prepare the destination folder on your chosen drive. You can give it a clear name and, if you like, adjust its icon and content type so you can recognize it at a glance—a small quality-of-life improvement that makes your daily life easier. more comfortable.

1. In Explorer, go to the destination drive, right-click > New > Folder and name it (for example, “Downloads”).
2. Right-click on the folder > Properties > tab Customize now.
3. In “Optimize this folder for:”, choose the type (General items, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos). Then, click on Change icon If you want to distinguish it visually, confirm with Apply y Accept.

Once you have the destination folder ready, move it in Properties > Download Location. This will ensure everything is perfectly linked and looks the way you want. like one.

Change the download path in Edge, Chrome, and Firefox

Even if you move the Downloads folder from your system, each browser can maintain its own path. If you notice that your downloads are still going somewhere else, you'll need to adjust the destination in your browser's settings. Take a minute to configure everything so that each downloaded file goes directly to your Downloads folder. new folder.

• Microsoft Edge: Open the menu (three dots) > Downloads > three dots > Download settingsIn “Location”, tap Change and choose your new path. If you prefer, enable "Ask where to save each file before downloading."
• Google Chrome: menu (three dots) > Configuration > Downloads. Press Change To select the folder. If it suits you, check "Ask where to save each file before downloading" to decide each time and avoid losing control. in specific jobs.
• Mozilla Firefox: menu (three lines) > Settings > General admission > “Files and applications” > Downloads. Press Browse to choose the new destination folder.

This ensures that the browser stops using outdated paths. If you changed both the system and browser locations, there will no longer be scattered downloads. forgotten folders.

What if I want to move Documents, Images, Music, Videos, or Desktop?

The process is identical to that of Downloads: right-click on the profile folder, Properties > Location > Move. From there, choose the new path and decide whether to move existing files. This is very practical if you're running out of space on C:\ or if you simply prefer to have each type of content on a different drive to improve efficiency. system order.

Remember this warning: if you put them on an external drive and it's not connected when you boot, you'll see an empty desktop and the system might display errors because it can't find their paths. Keep that drive always available or consider moving them to a second internal partition. avoid unforeseen events.

Good practices and precautions

Modifying paths in Windows is safe if you follow the steps exactly. Even so, it's wise to take a few precautions to prevent surprises. With a backup and a restore point, any misstep will be easy to undo. reverse.

• Create a restore point of the system before changes in draft (Control Panel > System > System Protection).
• If you're going to play the Register, export a copy from File > Export in the Registry Editor.
• Avoid confusing paths (don't point Downloads to the root of the drive, like D:\). Ideally, use a clear folder, for example D:\Downloads, to avoid mixing system content with your files. personal files.

Real-life examples: when Downloads "becomes" D:\ or gets mixed up with Documents

It's quite common that when moving Downloads, it ends up pointing to the entire D:\ drive by mistake. In that case, you'll see that when you open Downloads, all the contents of D:\ appear, and sometimes new downloads land in Documents. Don't panic: simply restore the folder to its default location and move it again correctly, a process that resolves everything. how was it.

1. Right click on Downloads > Properties > tab Location.
2. press Restore default > Apply > Accept and choose to move the content if it offers you the option.
3. Then, repeat the method of Location > MoveThis time, selecting a specific folder (e.g., D:\Downloads) so that it is not linked to the folder again. root of unity.

If after this the browser downloads are still going to Documents, correct the path in its settings as we saw above so that they point to your Downloads folder. established.

FAQs

When you choose the right destination drive, adjust your browser settings, and, if you wish, relocate other folders in your profile, changing your Downloads folder becomes a real improvement to your computer: more free space on C:\, less clutter in File Explorer, and an organization that adapts to you, not the other way around. With these methods (Properties, Settings, Registry, or a specialized tool) and a few precautions, you'll have your downloads where it suits you best, and your system will run smoothly. more order and stability.

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Cristian Garcia

Passionate about technology since he was little. I love being up to date in the sector and, above all, communicating it. That is why I have been dedicated to communication on technology and video game websites for many years. You can find me writing about Android, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Nintendo or any other related topic that comes to mind.