Change Default Save Location in Windows 10: How to Do It

Learn how to quickly set or change the save location

by Ivan Jenic
Ivan Jenic
Ivan Jenic
Troubleshooting Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and... read more
Affiliate Disclosure
  • Many users keep asking how to set the default save location in Windows 10 to optimally manage disk space.
  • You can change the default download location via Settings.
  • Windows 10 does not allow users to choose individual folders, but just the drive as a download location.
set the default save location in Windows 10
XINSTALL BY CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD FILE
A message from our partner

To fix Windows PC system issues, you will need a dedicated tool

  • Download Fortect and install it on your PC
  • Start the tool's scanning process to look for corrupt files that are the source of your problem
  • Right-click on Start Repair so the tool can start the fixing algorithm
Download Now Fortect has been downloaded by 0 readers this month, rated 4.4 on TrustPilot

Windows 10 brings many features and options, including the ability to change the default save location for your files because we all want to set the desired location as the download path, instead of the default one.

You can choose if you want to save your documents, pictures, etc., to the system or external drive. So let’s find out how to set the default save location in Windows 10.

Can you set a default save location in Windows 10?

Yes, you can choose the drive to which new files get downloaded. And Windows 10 allows you to select one for each type. Here are the items for which you can configure the download path:

  • Apps
  • Documents
  • Music
  • Photos and videos
  • Movies and TV shows
  • Offline maps

Also, if you get the We couldn’t set your default save location error in Windows 10, a quick solution entails taking full folder control or creating a new user account. Or if you are trying to save content to an external drive, ensure it’s connected properly.

How do I change my default save location?

Tip icon Tip
Earlier, users could only set the default save location for files, be it documents, files, or photos, but Windows now also allows them to configure the drive where apps are saved.

Via the Settings

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, and click on System.
  2. Select Storage from the navigation pane, and click on Change where new content is saved on the right.change where new content is saved
  3. Now, select the drive for each file type from the dropdown menu.
  4. After making the change, click Apply to save the changes.set default save location in windows 10 settings

That’s it! This way, you can configure the default save behavior location in Windows 10 and better manage the disk space.

Besides, if the PC is low on storage, find out how to run Disk Cleanup and discover the best tools to free up disk space.

For any queries or to share anything we might have missed, drop a comment below.

This article covers:Topics: