How to Change the Default Location of the Screenshots Folder in Windows 11 Windows 11 saves Win + PrtScn screenshots to Pictures\Screenshots by default. If your C: drive is full or you want them in OneDrive, you can change the folder location. This guide shows how to move or restore the Screenshots folder using simple settings or a quick registry edit. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Prerequisites for Changing the Default Location Before changing your screenshot location, make sure you have administrator access. While not always required, some methods may need it to use certain tools. All of these methods work on every edition of Windows 11, including Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education. Method 1: Using File Explorer to Move the Screenshots Folder Changing the default screenshot location in Windows 11 takes about a minute using File Explorer, No technical expertise required. Open File Explorer. Press Win + E or click the folder icon on your taskbar. Go to the pictures folder. Navigate to C:\Users\Pictures or click Pictures in the left sidebar. Open the Screenshots folder properties. Right-click Screenshots and select Properties. Change the location by going to the Location tab and click Move. Pick your desired location for example, D:\Screenshots, OneDrive\Screenshots, or a network folder and click Select Folder. Make sure the destination folder allows file creation or write permissions. Click Apply, then Yes to move existing screenshots. All future Win + PrtScn screenshots will now save to the new folder. Method 2: Using File Explorer to Restore the Default Location If you ever want to undo your changes, restoring the default screenshot location only takes a few seconds. Follow steps 1–4 from Method 1 open File Explorer, go to your Screenshots folder, right-click it, and select Properties > Location. Click Restore Default, then Apply to confirm. Click OK Future Win + PrtScn screenshots will now save to the default folder. Method 3: Using Registry Editor to Manage the Screenshots Folder Location Use this method only if File Explorer doesn’t work, for example, when folder settings are locked by group policies, paths break after updates, or you need a standard screenshot location across multiple devices. Before making changes, back up the registry to avoid potential system issues. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders Double-click the entry with the GUID If it’s missing, right-click the blank space, select New > Expandable String Value, and name it with that GUID. Set Value data to: Click OK. If changes don’t take effect, restart File Explorer from Task Manager. Changing the default screenshot location in Windows 11 gives you more storage flexibility. You can save captures to another drive, sync them with OneDrive, or set a standard path for all devices. For more information, check out our official blog post on Changing screenshot default locations in Windows 11 Linked in the description below.