Windows 10: Move Location of Downloads Folder in Windows 10

How to: Move Location of Downloads Folder in Windows 10

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.

*Warning 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.



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)

*note 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, type shellownloads 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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:)

 

Hard Drive setup

Make a new folder on the hard drive. Call it DOWNLOADS or whatever you like. Right click on the default downloads folder, select properties, then the location tab. Use the Move function to change to the new location. See

this article.

[ How To Move Desktop, Downloads & Documents Folders To Another Drive In Windows 10 ]

 

Downloads Folder has merged with The Desktop folder

I accidentaly moved the folder location of the Downloads folder to the location of the Desktop folder, now they are both have the same files, name, icon, and folder location.

If i try to move anything from the Downloads folder, it gets moved from the Desktop folder too and vice versa.

I have tried to Change the folder location of the Downloads folder back, but it changes the folder location of the Desktop too

 

Hello druekberg, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

You'll need to change the drive letter of the external backup drive to another letter than "L" or "K" first.

Next change the partition's drive letter from "K" back to "L" for Windows to be able to find the paths again.

If the backup drive must stay as "L", then after the above, move your folder back to "C" temporarily, sort the drive letters how you want them, then move the folder to where you want it.

 

Okay, that makes sense, and seems the simplest solution. Thanks for the lightning-fast reply!

 

You're most welcome. Please let us know how it went.