How to Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder in Windows 10
The C:\Users\<user name>\Pictures\Saved Pictures (%UserProfile%\Pictures\Saved Pictures) folder is created by the Photos app.
The Saved Pictures folder is the default location for apps to save pictures. For example, images automatically imported from a connected camera or memory card by the Photos app.
If you like, you can change the default location of this Saved Pictures folder to where you want instead.
This tutorial will show you how to change or restore the default location of the Saved Pictures folder for your account in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: To Change Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder in Properties
- Option Two: To Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder in Properties
- Option Three: To Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder using a BAT file
EXAMPLE: Saved Pictures folder default location in File Explorer
OPTION ONE
To Change Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder in Properties
1 If you haven't already, you will need to
create a new folder named
Saved Pictures at the location (ex: "D:" ) you want to move your
Saved Pictures folder to.
2 In
File Explorer (Win+E), copy and paste
shell:SavedPictures into the address bar, and press
Enter to open the current location of the
Saved Pictures folder.
3 Right click or press and hold on an empty area in the Saved Pictures folder, and click/tap on
Properties. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on the
Location tab, and click/tap on the
Move button. (see screenshot below)
5 Browse to and select the
Saved Pictures folder at the location (ex: "D:\Saved Pictures" ) from
step 1, and click/tap on
Select Folder. (see screenshot below)
6 Click/tap on
OK to apply. (see screenshot below)
7 Click/tap on
Yes to move all the files from the old location to the new location. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
To Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder in Properties
1 Open
File Explorer (Win+E), copy and paste
shell:SavedPictures into the address bar, and press
Enter to open the current location of the
Saved Pictures folder.
2 Right click or press and hold on an empty area in the Saved Pictures folder, and click/tap on
Properties. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the
Location tab, and click/tap on the
Restore Default button. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on
OK to apply. (see screenshot below)
5 If the Saved Pictures folder does not exist at this default location, click/tap on
Yes to create it. (see screenshot below)
6 Click/tap on
Yes to move all files from the old location to the new location. (see screenshot below)
7 After a brief moment, your Saved Pictures folder will be restored to its default location (ex: "C:\Users\
Brink\Pictures\Saved Pictures").
OPTION THREE
To Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures Folder using a BAT file
1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.
Restore_Saved-Pictures_folder_default_location.bat
Download
Contents of .bat file for reference:
Code:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
if not exist "%UserProfile%\Pictures\Saved Pictures" mkdir "%UserProfile%\Pictures\Saved Pictures"
reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "{3B193882-D3AD-4EAB-965A-69829D1FB59F}" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d %%USERPROFILE%%"\Pictures\Saved Pictures" /f
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Saved Pictures" /S /D
timeout /t 1 /nobreak >nul
start explorer.exe
2 Save the .bat file to your desktop or where you like.
3 Unblock the .bat file, and
run the .bat file.
4 You will now notice your screen temporarily go black as a command prompt opens and closes as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.
5 Copy any files you wanted from the incorrect Saved Pictures folder location into the now restored default
C:\Users\<username>\Pictures\Saved Pictures folder location.
6 If you like, you can delete the incorrect Saved Pictures folder (not restored default folder).
7 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn