How to Change Default Download Location on Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Change Default Download Location for Apps, Documents, and Media

By default,Windows 11 stores all downloads—apps, documents, media, and other important files—on the primary drive. However, you can choose to save these files on a different drive if you prefer.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito open the Settings app and head toSystem > Storage.

Step 2:Under the Storage management section, click the downward arrow next toAdvanced storage settingsto expand it. Then, selectWhere new content is saved.

Step 3:You’ll find current download locations for your apps, documents, music, pictures, videos, and offline maps. To change the default download location for a file type, use the drop-down menu and select a different drive.

Step 4:HitApplyto save changes.

Similarly, you can repeat the above steps to change the default download location for specific file types. Windows will automatically create new folders inside the selected drive as you make the changes. While you can assign different drives for various file types, you cannot define a specific folder for them.

How to Move Downloads Folder to a Different Drive

By default, Windows savesfiles you download from the internetin the “Downloads” folder, which is typically located in the drive where Windows is installed. You can easily relocate the Downloads folder to a different drive. Here’s how:

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Eto launch the File Explorer.

Step 2:Navigate to the drive or preferred folder location where you’d like to save your downloads.

Step 3:ClickNewin the top left corner and selectFolderfrom the list. Give your folder a suitable name.

Step 4:Use the left pane to navigate toThis PC. Right-click on theDownloadsfolder and selectProperties.

Step 5:In the Downloads Properties window, head over to theLocationtab and clickMove.

Step 6:Navigate to the newly created folder. HitSelect Folder.

Step 7:Click onApplyto save changes.

Windows will ask whether you’d like to move your existing files in the Downloads folder to the new location. When you selectYes, the transfer will commence.

You can always move the Downloads folder to its original location later. To do so, open the properties of the Downloads folder, and clickRestore Defaultunder the Location tab before hittingApply.

Although we only discussed Windows 11, you can use the same steps on older versions of Windows to move the location of the Downloads folder. Alternatively, you can change the default download location for Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or any other browser you might be using by accessing its settings menu.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 02 August, 2024

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked*

Name*

Email*

Comment*

Δ

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

More in Windows

4 Ways to Disable Login Screen After Sleep on Windows 11

A Complete Guide to Fixing Blurry Text in Windows 10

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

© 2024 Guiding Tech Media. All Rights Reserved.