How to Move Your Downloads Folder Location in Windows 10
By default, Windows stores your personal Downloads folder in your account's %UserProfile% folder (ex: "C:\Users\Brink").
In addition, most web browsers will save downloads to your Downloads folder by default.
You can change where files in this Downloads folder are stored to another place on the hard drive, another drive, or another computer on the network.
This tutorial will show you how to move the default location of your Downloads folder to where you want in Windows 10.
It is highly recommended to create a system image backup first to make it easy to undo if you were to make a mistake in the steps below.
For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:
Move or Restore Default Location of Downloads Folder in Windows 11
Here's How:
1 If you haven't already, you will need to create a new folder named Downloads at the location (ex: "E:" ) you want to move your personal Downloads folder to. (see screenshot below)
2 Open This PC in File Explorer (Win+E), right click on your Downloads folder, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)
If you don't see the Downloads folder in This PC, then you can also click/tap on the icon in the address bar of File Explorer (Win+E), type
shell:Downloads into the address bar, and press Enter to open your Downloads folder no matter where it may be located.
You can then right click or press and hold on an empty area in your Downloads folder, and click/tap on Properties.
3 Click/tap on the Location tab, and click/tap on the Move button. (see screenshot below)
4 Browse to and select the Downloads folder at the location (ex: "E:\Downloads" ) from step 1, and click/tap on Select Folder. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)
6 Click/tap on Yes to move all the files from the old location to the new location. (see screenshot below)
7 Your personal Downloads folder and all of its contents will now be moved to the new location (ex: "E:\Downloads" ). (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn
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