How can I change the default location Snipping Tool auto-saves screenshots to?

Question

When you open the Windows Snipping Tool using +Shift+S, it will autosave the images to %UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots, but I want to change that default location.

How can I change the default save location for the snipping tool only, and not anything else?

• There's a ton of threads about this on Microsoft forums, but none actually offer a solution:
  • How to change the Snipping Tool autosave location? [sic]
  • Change Snipping Tool save location on Windows 11 22H2? [sic]
  • How can I change the default folder that snipping tool uses to save images?

Answer 1

I ran into this problem and think I solved it - you can either use the Snipping Tool app to find the current default save location and change it, or you can update the registry key for it manually.

Using the Snipping Tool app

1. Open the Snipping Tool → Expand the Menu → Open Screenshots folder

   

   • If not seeing this option, turn on Automatically save screenshots via Settings

2. This will open the default save location in File Explorer. One way to change the default location it saves to, is to edit this folder - if you rename or move this folder, Snipping Tool automatically updates the location path:

   • For example, it currently saves images to %UserProfile%\Images\Screenshots, and if I move and rename this to %UserProfile\Documents\Test, all new screenshots will be saved to the new location

---

Edit Registry Key

If you're stuck on this and need to make manual changes, you can edit the save location through the Registry Editor:

1. Start Menu Search: regedit → Open regedit → Navigate to key:

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   

2. You'll find a string value entry similar to {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F}, which contains the save location for the Snipping Tool - for me it's:

   %UserProfile%\OneDrive - <myname>\PC Files\Images\Screenshots
   

   

   • If the Registry key doesn't exist, create it manually to do the same thing
     
     

3. Open this key to change the save location manually - once saved, it takes effect immediately - taking a new screenshot will save it to the new location

   • If creating the key manually fails, the Screenshots folder may be named slightly differently. To find the correct name, you'll need to navigate to this key in the Registry Editor:

     HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\
     

• Find a subkey that has a Name entry with Value of Screenshots (green), copy the name of this key (orange), and use this name in place of the name suggested above (this key name will match the Value name for the Screenshots save location):

  

Answer 2

Another way to solve this is to save screenshots manually. The Snipping Tool will remember the last save location when next opened, without the need to edit the registry.

1. Open the Snipping Tool and click the 3 dots in the upper right corner to open Settings.
2. Scroll down until you locate the option called "Automatically save Screenshots" and disable it.
3. Then, locate the option "Ask to save edited screenshots" and enable it.
4. Now, whenever you open the save dialogue in the Snipping Tool, it will default to the last save location. Saving to a new location will cause the default for your next save to update as well.

Answer 3

This worked for me:

Right-click on the "Screenshots" folder where your screenshots are currently being saved. (Unless you have moved it, "Screenshots" is a folder in "Pictures.")

Properties > Location > Move > (browse to new location) > Apply > (pop-up question: Move pictures from old screenshot folder to new screenshot folder) Yes or No > Okay

Clarification: This works for changing the default save location when using the "Print Screen" key, not PrtSc+Windows or Windows+Shift+S.