Back to basics: how to change the default save location in Windows 11

Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system has a default storage location for files that you download from the Internet or create on your system. The main idea behind these default directories is to have a central place for certain files.

Sometimes you may prefer to use a different folder or drive, for example when your main drive is short on space or when you prefer to use a different folder to improve file manageability.

Microsoft changed the location of preferences in the Windows 11 Settings app. Windows 10 users searching for it will no longer find it in Storage, and Windows 7 or 8.1 users had no such option at all. Symbolic links and NTFS junctions could then be used to change directory.

This guide helps users coming from Windows 10, but also new Windows 11 users who want to change the default content directories in the operating system.

How to change the default save locations in Windows 11

1. Open the Settings application by clicking Start and select Settings from the Start menu.
2. Go to System> Storage> Advanced Storage Settings.
3. Select ‘Where new content is saved’.

The page that opens shows options for saving the default save directory for the following types of content:

• New applications.
• New documents.
• New music.
• New photos and videos.
• New movies and TV shows.
• Offline maps.

Drive c: is selected by default. You can change that to any other drive that is currently connected to the PC. However, keep in mind that the files may not be available if you delete the removable drives. As a general rule, it is recommended to select only units that are permanently connected to the system.

Select the Apply button after a drive has been changed to set the new drive as the default location for saving new files.

Note: Windows will create a new username folder at the root of the selected drive. So the new default folder is a subfolder of that folder. If user Martin moves the default New Documents folder to drive d: the files will be saved to d: Martin Documents from now on.

What about the Downloads folder?

If you review the list of supported content types, you will notice that the Downloads folder is not on the list. Windows 11 and earlier versions of Windows also support a different system when it comes to the Downloads folder and other default folders like Documents, Music, or Photos. The option is not available in the Settings app.

This is how you do it:

1. Open File Explorer on the device.
2. Look for the quick access folders in the sidebar on the left. If you don’t see them, expand This PC instead.
3. Right-click on Downloads (or any other folder shown there) and select Properties.
4. Switch to the Location tab.
5. Change the path of the current location, for example, c: users martinlocal Downloads ad: downloads.
   • Windows 11 asks if the destination folder does not exist. You need to create it.
6. The Move button moves all existing files in the folder to the location that you specify. If you don’t use it, all existing files and folders will remain in the default location.

You can repeat the process for all types of content, for example documents or videos. There is also a Restore Default button to restore the default location without having to type it manually.

The main advantage of this method is that you can specify the new destination drive and folder manually.

Closing words

Moving the default storage locations and folders to another drive is a useful feature, especially if the main drive is low on disk space.

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