How to Change the Default Save Location in Windows 10

To change the default save location in Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > System > Storage and select Change where new content is saved. Pick a drive for new apps, documents, music, photos, and videos, and select Apply. To move a single folder such as Downloads or Documents, use the Location tab in the folder’s Properties.

Applies to: Windows 10. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.

Choose a drive for new apps and files

1. Connect the drive you want to use, if it’s external.
2. Select Start > Settings > System > Storage.
3. Under More storage settings, select Change where new content is saved.

4. For each type of content, pick a drive from the list, then select Apply next to it.

New apps will save to changes where Microsoft Store apps install. Programs you download from the web usually ask where to install during setup, as shown when you install apps and software in Windows 10.

This only affects new content. Files you already have stay where they are.

Move the Downloads, Documents, or Pictures folder

To change where downloads are saved, or where your documents and pictures go, move the folder itself:

1. Open File Explorer (there are several ways to open File Explorer in Windows 10).
2. Right-click Downloads (or Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos) under This PC or Quick access, and select Properties.
3. Select the Location tab, then select Move and choose a folder on another drive.
4. Select Apply. When Windows asks whether to move the existing files, select Yes.

Create a new, empty folder for it, such as D:\Downloads. Don’t pick the root of a drive. To undo it later, open the same tab and select Restore Default.

If downloads still go to the old place, your browser has its own setting, covered in the next section.

Change the save location inside apps

Some programs keep their own save setting and ignore the Windows one. The common ones:

• Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Select File > Options > Save. Check Save to Computer by default and set the Default local file location.
• Microsoft Edge. Open Settings > Downloads and select Change next to Location. Turn on Ask me what to do with each download if you want to choose every time.
• Google Chrome. Open Settings > Downloads and select Change.
• Steam and other game launchers. They use their own library folders. Add a new library on the other drive in the launcher’s settings.

Check whether OneDrive is managing the folder

If your Documents, Pictures or Desktop folder is backed up with OneDrive, its Location tab shows a path inside the OneDrive folder. Windows then saves those files to OneDrive, not the drive you picked. To change this, right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar, open Settings, and select Manage backup to stop backing up that folder.

Troubleshooting

• Files still save to C:. The app has its own setting. Check the app list above, or the app’s Options or Settings menu.
• Move gives an “Access denied” or “in use” error. Close any apps that use files in the folder, such as Word or a photo editor, and try again. Restart the PC if it still fails.
• You moved a folder to the root of a drive by mistake. Make a new folder such as D:\Documents, use Move on the Location tab to point to it, and let Windows move the files.
• Apps on an external drive won’t open. The drive must be connected with the same drive letter. Plug it back in, or move the apps back under Settings > Apps.
• The new drive fills up fast. Check it under Settings > System > Storage, which breaks down space by category.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move Program Files to another drive?

No. Moving Program Files or other Windows folders can break apps and updates. Install new programs on the other drive instead, if the installer lets you choose.

Why can’t I pick my drive in the list?

Make sure the drive is connected and shows up in This PC. A brand-new drive may need to be set up first, which you do when you open Disk Management in Windows 10.

How do I free up space on my C drive?

Start by checking disk space in Windows 10 to see what’s using it, then work through ways to free up space on Windows 10.

Will changing the save location move my existing files?

The Storage setting only affects new content. Moving a folder with the Location tab does move existing files if you select Yes when Windows asks.

Can I save to a network drive by default?

Yes, for user folders. Map the network drive first, then pick a folder on it in the Location tab. The folder will be unavailable when you’re away from that network.

The Storage setting is also described in the “Save new personal files to another drive” part of Free up drive space in Windows.