Your Windows 10 computer saves your downloaded files in a sure folder on your hard drive. If you lot want, you can alter this default download location on your Windows 10 PC to any other folder yous similar.

At that place are many reasons you may want to change the default downloads binder on your computer. Possibly you want to keep your downloaded files on a certain partitioning? Or maybe you're starting a new download task and you lot want all those files saved in a certain folder?

There are various means to change the default download location in Windows 10.

Modify Default Download Location Using File Explorer

1 way to change the default download location is to utilize the File Explorer utility.

  1. Employ Cortana search to search for This PC and open it.
  1. Navigate to the drive where you want to brand a default downloads folder.
  2. One time you're in your chosen bulldoze, correct-click any blank infinite and choose New followed past Folder.
  1. Enter a name for your new downloads folder. This is where your futurity downloaded files volition exist available.
  1. Head to the root folder in This PC and so you can see the Downloads folder.
  2. Right-click the Downloads folder and select Backdrop.
  1. On the post-obit screen, click the tab that says Location.
  2. In the Location tab, y'all'll see the current path to your downloads folder. To change this folder, click the button that says Move.
  1. Your computer volition allow you select the new default downloads binder. Navigate to the drive where you created the new folder and select information technology.
  2. Click Employ followed past OK to employ your newly selected binder as the default downloads location.
  1. If you ever want to revert back to the quondam downloads folder, click the Restore Default button and information technology'll reset your settings.

Modify Default Download Location Using Registry Editor

Windows Registry Editor lets you tweak many settings on your machine. This includes changing the default downloads location on your Windows 10 PC. You only need to edit one value in the registry and your called folder will become the new default downloads location.

  1. Create a new folder that you want to utilize as the default downloads folder. This could exist anywhere on your computer or fifty-fifty on your connected drives.
  2. Open your newly created folder with File Explorer.
  3. You need to copy the path to your new downloads binder. Click the address bar, highlight the full path, and press Ctrl + C on your keyboard to re-create the path.
  1. Press the Windows + R keys at the same fourth dimension to open the Run box.
  1. Type the following into the Run box and printing Enter. This'll open the Registry Editor.

    regedit

  1. When the Registry Editor opens, navigate to the post-obit path.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

  1. On the right-hand side pane, you'll see several registry values that you tin tweak. Find the entry that has %USERPROFILE%\Downloads in its Data column and double-click it.
  1. Put your cursor in the Value data box, remove the existing content from the box, and press Ctrl + Five to paste the path to your new downloads binder location. Then click OK to salve changes.
  1. Reboot your computer.

Change Default Download Location For Diverse File Types

There's a feature in Windows 10 that lets you lot choose different drives for saving dissimilar types of files. With this feature, you tin can alter where your computer saves your apps, documents, music, and so on.

You don't get to choose the specific binder, though. Y'all can only choose the drive where your new content is to be saved.

  • Open up the Offset Bill of fare, search for Settings, and open it.
  • Select the selection that says Arrangement on the post-obit screen.
  • Click Storage from the options bachelor in the left sidebar.
  • You'll see your storage data on the right-hand side pane. Curlicue downwards and click the option that says Modify where new content is saved.
  • On the following screen, you lot'll see what content is saved where by default. To change the default downloads drive for a specific content type, click the dropdown card side by side to the file type and choose your preferred bulldoze.

Y'all can change the default downloads location for the following items with this feature.

  • Apps
  • Documents
  • Music
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Movies
  • TV shows
  • Offline maps

Change Default Download Location In Microsoft Edge

You can modify the default downloads location in Microsoft Edge on your computer so that your future downloads are saved in your selected folder.

Changing this setting only applies to this browser. Your other browsers will go along to salvage your files where they did before.

  1. Open up the Start Menu, search for Microsoft Border, and launch it.
  1. Click the iii-dots at the acme-right corner of your browser and select the option that says Settings.
  1. Y'all'll see several options in the left sidebar on your screen. Find the option that says Downloads and click information technology. This option will allow you modify your downloads settings.
  1. On the right-hand side pane, you'll see an item that says Location. This is currently where Edge saves your files. To alter the default downloads binder, click the Change push.
  1. File Explorer will open, letting you lot select your new folder as the default downloads folder. Click the folder and cull Select Folder.
  2. If you desire Microsoft Edge to ask where to save the file each fourth dimension it downloads something, enable the toggle for Inquire where to save each file before downloading.

If you use a download manager to download files, you need to head into the settings of your download manager app and change the default downloads location. Many apps don't apply the default Windows downloads binder as their downloads location.

Did you ever have to alter the default downloads location on your Windows ten PC? What method did you use to practise that? We'd like to know in the comments below.