title: “How To Change The Default Download Location In Windows 11” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-19” author: “Melissa Thompson”
This method also works for Windows 10, though the operating system looks a little different.
How Do I Change the Default Download Location in Windows 11?
The easiest way to change the default download location in Windows 11, is to use the Move command within the Download folder’s Properties menu.
Select the File Explorer folder icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen to open the File Explorer window. Right-click or tap and hold on the Downloads folder and select Properties from its pop-out menu. Select the Location tab, then select the Move button. Navigate through File Explorer to choose your preferred download location, then click Select Folder. It can be almost any folder you want, and on any drive you want. Choose a folder on the main drive, the Desktop, or a location on an entirely different drive if you prefer to keep your downloads off the boot drive. You can even choose an external drive. After you choose a location, select Apply. Windows 11 will then ask you if you want to move all files from the old location to the new one. If you currently have nothing of importance in your Windows 11 Downloads folder, choose No. If you have downloaded applications or folders previously that may be a necessary component of some applications, or you just want to play it safe, select Yes. When you select Yes, none of your applications will stop working due to losing the path to necessary files or folders. Select OK after Windows 11 moves your files.
How Do I Change My Default Download Location?
The above method of moving the Windows 11 Downloads folder will create a new default download location for any files you download from the internet. You can change it multiple times if you want to find the right spot.
Can You Change Microsoft Download Location?
Yes, you can change the download folder location for all recent Windows operating systems. The above method works in both Windows 10 and 11 and only takes a couple of minutes to complete.
