To change where screenshots are saved in Windows 10, open File Explorer, go to Pictures, right-click the Screenshots folder, and choose Properties. On the Location tab, click Move, pick the new folder, and click Apply. From then on, screenshots you take with Windows + Print Screen save to the new location. Screenshots from the Snipping Tool, the Xbox Game Bar, and OneDrive have their own save locations, covered below.
Where Windows 10 saves screenshots by default
| How you take it | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Windows + Print Screen | Pictures > Screenshots |
| Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen | Clipboard only (paste it somewhere), unless OneDrive saves it |
| Windows + Shift + S / Snip & Sketch | Clipboard; you choose where to save |
| Xbox Game Bar (Windows + Alt + Print Screen) | Videos > Captures |
| OneDrive screenshot saving | OneDrive > Pictures > Screenshots |
Move the Screenshots folder
- Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
- Open Pictures. If there’s no Screenshots folder yet, press Windows + Print Screen once to create it.
- Right-click Screenshots and choose Properties.
- Click the Location tab, then Move.
- Browse to the folder you want, such as one on another drive, and click Select Folder.
- Click Apply. When asked whether to move existing files, click Yes to bring your old screenshots along, or No to leave them.
Pick an empty folder made just for screenshots. If you choose a folder that already holds other files, they’ll all be mixed together, and restoring the default later can get messy.
Change where Xbox Game Bar captures are saved
- Open Videos in File Explorer.
- Right-click Captures and choose Properties > Location > Move.
- Choose a new folder and click Apply.
Save Snip & Sketch or Snipping Tool screenshots
Snips made with Windows + Shift + S go to the clipboard. Click the notification to open the snip, then click Save and choose any folder. Windows remembers the last folder you used, so if you always save to the same place, you only pick it once.
Save screenshots to OneDrive automatically
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar and open Settings.
- On the Backup (or Sync and back up) tab, turn on Save screenshots I capture to OneDrive.
Now pressing Print Screen both copies the image and saves it to OneDrive. This is handy if you want screenshots on all your devices.
Why move the Screenshots folder?
- Free up space: If your main drive is a small SSD, moving screenshots to a larger second drive keeps it from filling up, especially if you capture a lot of gameplay.
- Back them up automatically: Pointing the folder at a Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive folder means every screenshot syncs to the cloud without extra steps.
- Keep work organized: A dedicated folder for a project makes screenshots easier to find and share later.
Keep your screenshots folder tidy
- Sort by date: In File Explorer, click View > Sort by > Date modified so the newest captures are at the top.
- Rename in batches: Select several screenshots, press F2, and type a name; Windows numbers them automatically.
- Clean up regularly: Delete screenshots you no longer need, or move older ones into yearly subfolders.
- Use the Photos app: It shows the Screenshots folder in your collection, which makes it quick to browse, crop, and share images.
Restore the default location
- Right-click the moved Screenshots folder (it still appears under Pictures) and choose Properties.
- On the Location tab, click Restore Default, then Apply.
- Click Yes to recreate the original folder and move files back.
If your keyboard has no Print Screen key
Some compact and laptop keyboards hide Print Screen behind the Fn key or leave it out. Use Windows + Shift + S instead, or open the on-screen keyboard (search Start for On-Screen Keyboard) and click PrtScn. On Surface devices, pressing Windows + Volume Down also saves a screenshot to the Screenshots folder.
Troubleshooting
- No Location tab: You’re looking at a regular folder, not the special Screenshots folder. Use the one inside Pictures.
- Screenshots aren’t saving at all: Make sure you’re pressing Windows + Print Screen. On some laptops, you need Windows + Fn + Print Screen.
- Screenshots go to OneDrive instead: Turn off the OneDrive screenshot setting above.
- The new folder is on a removable drive: If the drive is unplugged, Windows can’t save screenshots. Use an internal drive.
Related: How to take a screenshot in Windows 10.
Related: How to take a scrolling screenshot on Windows.
Related: Take a partial screenshot.
Related: Take screenshots on a 60% keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my screenshots on Windows 10?
Screenshots taken with Windows + Print Screen are in Pictures > Screenshots. Others may be on the clipboard, in Videos > Captures, or in OneDrive.
Can I change the screenshot file format?
Windows + Print Screen always saves PNG files. Snip & Sketch lets you choose PNG, JPG, or GIF when you save.
Does this work in Windows 11?
Yes, the Location tab method works the same way in Windows 11.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.