How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium  

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium

    Published by Category: Browsers & Email
    24 Jan 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium


    Microsoft has adopted the Chromium open source project in the development of Microsoft Edge on the desktop to create better web compatibility. This new Microsoft Edge runs on the same Chromium web engine as the Google Chrome browser, offering you best in class web compatibility and performance.

    The new Chromium based Microsoft Edge is supported on all versions of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server (2016 and above), Windows Server (2008 R2 to 2012 R2), and macOS.

    Microsoft Edge will save items you want to download into your C:\Users\<username>\Downloads (%UserProfile%\Downloads) folder by default.

    See also: Change the downloads folder location in Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Edge Support

    This tutorial will show you how to change the downloads folder default location for where to save in the Chromium based Microsoft Edge.


    Contents

    • Option One: Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge for Current User
    • Option Two: Specify Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge for All Users






    OPTION ONE

    Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge for Current User


    1 Open Microsoft Edge.

    2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) 3 dots menu icon, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-microsoft_edge_downloads_folder-1.png

    3 Click/tap on Downloads in the left pane, and click/tap on the Change button on the right side for the Downloads location. (see screenshot below)

    If you do not see a left pane, then widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-microsoft_edge_downloads_folder-2.png

    4 Select the location (ex: folder or drive) you want as the default download location to save into, and click/tap on Select Folder. (see screenshot below)

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-microsoft_edge_downloads_folder-3.png

    5 You can now close the Settings tab in Microsoft Edge if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Specify Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge for All Users


    You must be sign in as an administrator to do this option.

    This option uses the DownloadDirectory policy to specify the directory to use when downloading files.

    If you enable this policy, Microsoft Edge uses the provided directory regardless of whether the user has specified one or chosen to be prompted for download location every time. See Create Microsoft Edge user data directory variables for a list of variables that can be used.

    If you disable or don't configure this policy, the default download directory is used, and the user can change it.

    If you set an invalid path, Microsoft Edge will default to the user's default download directory.

    If the folder specified by the path doesn't exist, the download will trigger a prompt that asks the user where they want to save their download.


    1 Press the Win] + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

    2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

    If you do not have an Edge key, then right click on the Microsoft key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type Edge for the name, and press Enter.

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-specify_downloads_location_in_microsoft_edge-1.png

    3 Do step 4 (specify) or step 5 (unspecify - default) below for what you want.


    4 To Specify Default Downloads Folder Location in Microsoft Edge for All Users

    This will gray out and override Option One.
    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-specify_downloads_location_in_microsoft_edge.png

    A) In the right pane of the Edge key, double click/tap on the DownloadDirectory string value (REG_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)

    If you do not have a DownloadDirectory string value (REG_SZ) , then right click or press and hold on an empty area in the right pane of the Edge key, click/tap on New, click/tap on String Value, type DownloadDirectory for the name, and press Enter.


    B) Type the full path of the folder wrapped in quotes (ex: "C:\Users\Public\Downloads") for the download location you want to specify, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6. (see screenshot below)

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-specify_downloads_location_in_microsoft_edge-2.png


    5 To Undo Specify Default Downloads Folder Location in Microsoft Edge for All Users

    This is the default setting that will allow users to use Option One.

    A) In the right pane of the Edge key, right click or press and hold on the DownloadDirectory string value (REG_SZ), and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below step 2)

    B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm, and go to step 6. (see screenshot below)

    How to Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge Chromium-specify_downloads_location_in_microsoft_edge-3.png


    6 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 68,657
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #1

    Tutorial updated to add option 2.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 16,782
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #2

    Do you happen to know if/which Registry key the setting for
    Option 1 - Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge for Current User
    is saved in?

    I have tried experimenting without any success. As far as I can make out, the Downloads path for an individual user is not stored in the Registry at all.

    Denis
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,657
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Try3 said:
    Do you happen to know if/which Registry key the setting for
    Option 1 - Change Default Downloads Folder in Microsoft Edge for Current User
    is saved in?

    I have tried experimenting without any success. As far as I can make out, the Downloads path for an individual user is not stored in the Registry at all.

    Denis
    Hello Denis,

    I used Process Monitor to check, but I'm not seeing anything being edited in the registry for the default download location for Microsoft Edge either.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 16,782
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #4

    Brink,

    Thanks for that. If you don't think it's in the Registry either then I think that's conclusive.

    Denis
      My Computer


 

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