Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10  

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    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10

    Published by Category: Customization
    08 Sep 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    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
    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-saved_pictures_folder.png






    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)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-change_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-1.png

    4 Click/tap on the Location tab, and click/tap on the Move button. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-change_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-2.png

    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)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-change_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-3.png

    6 Click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-change_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-4.png

    7 Click/tap on Yes to move all the files from the old location to the new location. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-change_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-5.png






    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)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-restore_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-1.png

    3 Click/tap on the Location tab, and click/tap on the Restore Default button. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-restore_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-2.png

    4 Click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-restore_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-3.png

    5 If the Saved Pictures folder does not exist at this default location, click/tap on Yes to create it. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-restore_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-4.png

    6 Click/tap on Yes to move all files from the old location to the new location. (see screenshot below)

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-restore_default_location_of_saved_pictures_folder-5.png

    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






  1. Posts : 209
    Windows 10 pro x64
       #1

    The titles of options 1 and 2 are the same Shawn. Option 2 title is wrong.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,953
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    bug locker said:
    The titles of options 1 and 2 are the same Shawn. Option 2 title is wrong.
    Thank you. Now corrected.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #3

    Thanks too much this annoyed me for so many months! Happy to see it fixed. I will update if something goes wrong.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Alright something went wrong a pictures folder shows up, however the normal pictures folder does contain screenshots, and stuff. This pictures folder in the desktop just contains Camera Roll, and it doesn't work any fix?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,953
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    awdsadwas said:
    Thanks too much this annoyed me for so many months! Happy to see it fixed. I will update if something goes wrong.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Alright something went wrong a pictures folder shows up, however the normal pictures folder does contain screenshots, and stuff. This pictures folder in the desktop just contains Camera Roll, and it doesn't work any fix?
    Hello, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Are you by chance using OneDrive, and have your Pictures folder set to be backed up on OneDrive?

    If so, they will most like be in your OneDrive > Pictures folder instead.

    Turn On or Off OneDrive PC Folder Backup Protection in Windows 10
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #5

    Brink said:
    Hello, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Are you by chance using OneDrive, and have your Pictures folder set to be backed up on OneDrive?

    If so, they will most like be in your OneDrive > Pictures folder instead.

    Turn On or Off OneDrive PC Folder Backup Protection in Windows 10
    I am in fact using one drive, however all I see are folders, and files. No Pictures folder. Perhaps I am misunderstanding.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,953
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    awdsadwas said:
    I am in fact using one drive, however all I see are folders, and files. No Pictures folder. Perhaps I am misunderstanding.
    Sorry, I'm referring to the folder below.

    C:\Users\<username>\OneDrive\Pictures

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-onedrive.jpg
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #7

    Brink said:
    Sorry, I'm referring to the folder below.

    C:\Users\<username>\OneDrive\Pictures

    Change or Restore Default Location of Saved Pictures in Windows 10-onedrive.jpg
    Nope don't have pictures in OneDrive
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,953
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    awdsadwas said:
    Nope don't have pictures in OneDrive
    Ok. Go ahead and post some screenshots showing what you see with the Pictures folders on your Desktop and C:\Users\<username>\Pictures to see if anything stands out.

    Did you mistakenly merge your Pictures folder to your Desktop?

    In addition, go ahead and export the two registry keys below and upload their .reg file here. I'll take a look to make sure the paths are correct.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #9

    I have screenshots but I don't know how to upload them
      My Computer


 

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