Have you ever taken a screenshot and then forgotten where you saved it? That\u2019s most likely the case if you\u2019re reading this. Screenshots are typically saved in the Pictures > Screenshots folder, but this can vary depending on how the screenshot was captured. Because of the various Windows versions and methods for capturing screenshots, it\u2019s not always clear where these files end up. This is understandable, given that the location varies depending on how you capture a screenshot. So let\u2019s go over where screenshots go in Windows 10 and 11 regardless of the method used so you can find them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The screenshot will not be saved as a file if\u00a0you use the Print Screen or Alt+Print Screen keyboard shortcuts. It is instead copied to the clipboard, which serves as a temporary storage area for copy-and-paste operations. To save the image as a file, copy it and paste it into an image editor like Paint, then save it. The same procedure applies if\u00a0you use Windows+Shift+S to capture a portion of the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you use the Windows+Print Screen keyboard shortcut, Windows saves the screenshot as a PNG file in your Pictures > Screenshots folder\u00a0located at C:\\Users[User Name]\\Pictures\\Screenshots. To be clear, \u201c[User Name]\u201d should be replaced with the name of your Windows account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The file will be named \u201cScreenshot (#).png,\u201d with the number based on the number of screenshots taken previously. Using Windows+Fn+Print Screen or Power+Volume Down on an older Surface device or certain tablets will result in the same file location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s go over this in\u00a0detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By default, when you take a screenshot with the Print Screen key, the screenshot is not saved to a file. Instead, Windows copies the shot to the clipboard, a special section of memory reserved for temporary copying and pasting. To save the screenshot to disk, copy the image and paste it into an image editor (such as Paint) before saving it as a file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same goes for using Alt+Print Screen to capture the active window or Windows+Shift+S to capture a portion of the screen. Those results are copied to your clipboard rather than saved to a file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you use the Windows+Print Screen keyboard shortcut to capture screenshots in Windows 10 or 11, the image is saved as a PNG file in the Pictures > Screenshots folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can be found at<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C:\\Users[User Name]\\Pictures\\Screenshots<\/pre>\n\n\n\nIn this case, \u201c[User Name]\u201d stands in for the name of the Windows account you used when\u00a0you took the screenshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Windows takes a full-screen screenshot and saves it as a PNG file named \u201cScreenshot (#).png\u201d when you press Windows+Print Screen. The number at the end of the file name accumulates over time based on the number of screenshots you\u2019ve taken previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Windows employs the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C:\\Users[User Name]\\Pictures\\Screenshots<\/pre>\n\n\n\nIf you use Windows+Fn+Print Screen on an older Surface device, Power+Volume Down on certain tablets, or Windows+Volume Down on other tablets, you can save the location of a screenshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you manually moved your Screenshots folder using the Properties window, Windows will save the screenshots to the new location you specified instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#3. If You Use \u201cSnipping Tool\u201d or \u201cSnip & Sketch\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0Snipping Tool (and Windows 10 also includes a similar tool called Snip & Sketch) allows you to capture custom screenshots. You can select a save location for each file using these tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this will only\u00a0help\u00a0if you\u00a0remember where you saved your last screenshot, it will remember the last location where\u00a0you saved a file. Take another screenshot, save it, and see where it wants to save the new file to see where that is. Your older screenshots may be present. If not, you could look in File Explorer under \u201cThis PC\u201d for the Documents or Pictures folders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#4. If You Use of the Xbox Game Bar<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you use the \u201cCapture\u201d tool in the Xbox Game Bar (which appears when you press Windows+G), Windows will save the screenshot to your hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C<\/strong>:\\Users<\/strong>\\[User Name]\\Videos<\/strong>\\Captures<\/strong>, where \u201c[User Name]\u201d is the name of the user account used to take the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#5. When Using a Third-Party Screenshot Tool<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re taking screenshots in Windows 10 or 11 with a third-party tool that Microsoft didn\u2019t create, you\u2019ll need to check the settings of that tool to see where it saves screenshots. Until then, try looking in your Documents or Pictures folders, both of which can be found under \u201cThis PC\u201d in File Explorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If You\u2019re Still Struggling to Locate Your Screenshots<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you still need help\u00a0locating where your screenshots are saved, there\u2019s a trick you can try. Take another screenshot, then use File Explorer to search for recently modified files. To do so, open an Explorer window by pressing Windows+E, then enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
datemodified<\/strong>:today<\/pre>\n\n\n\nin the search field. (You can narrow the search by going to a specific drive or folder where you believe it may be first.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a while, recently created files will appear in the search results list. When you see the screenshot file\u00a0you just took, right-click it and choose \u201cOpen File Location\u201d from the menu. File Explorer will open to the location of that saved screenshot, as well as any other screenshots you have saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can You Change the Location of Screenshots in Windows 10 and 11?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You\u00a0can change the location where screenshots are saved in\u00a0Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you use the Properties window to move your Screenshots folder, Windows will save the screenshots to the new location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Snipping Tool is included in both Windows 10 and 11, and Windows 10 has a similar tool called Snip & Sketch. Both allow you to take custom screenshots and save files in a specific location. If you need help determining\u00a0where you saved your last screenshot, these tools remember the last location you saved a file. To find out, take another screenshot and look for the prompt to save the new file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you still can\u2019t find your screenshot, look in File Explorer under \u201cThis PC\u201d for the Documents or Pictures folders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Modify the Location of Your Screenshots<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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- First, navigate to the location where you want your screenshots saved in the File Explorer. It could be anywhere, including your computer\u2019s desktop. After that, make a folder called \u201cScreenshots.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Now, repeat the steps from the previous section to get to the \u201cPictures\u201d folder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Right-click on the \u201cScreenshots\u201d folder and select \u201cProperties\u201d from the menu that appears.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In the folder\u2019s \u201cProperties,\u201d click on the \u201cLocation\u201d tab. The current location of the Screenshots folder will be displayed. To relocate the folder, select \u201cMove.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In the new Explorer window that appears, navigate to and select the new Screenshots folder you created earlier. Once there, click the \u201cSelect Folder\u201d button in the bottom-right corner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
All subsequent screenshots taken with Windows + PrtScn will be saved there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Are You Unable to Locate Your Screenshots?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are numerous reasons why you are unable to view your screenshots. Here are some potential explanations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Images are not saved in the default location<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lost the entire key combination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Incorrect key combination<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Screenshot copied only to the clipboard<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Forgotten to paste the image on compatible programs such as Microsoft Paint. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The default hotkey for screen capture has been changed\/modified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Can You Find Your Screenshots<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After examining the possible causes for your inability to locate your screenshots, you can try the solutions listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1. Examine Whether Screenshots Are Saved in a Different Location<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even though the default location for any image file type is the primary drive (in most cases,\u00a0C:), this location could have been altered. Follow these steps to\u00a0determine where your images and screenshots are being saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Win + I will launch the Settings app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Next, navigate to System > Storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Under More storage settings on the right, locate Change where new content is saved and click it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Go to the location where you saved your screenshots to retrieve them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
#2. Check the Onedrive Configuration<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
All of your screenshots are automatically saved to the Onedrive folder, which is one of the reasons why you cannot see them. The following steps may be used to rectify the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Launch Onedrive and navigate to Settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Uncheck Automatically save screenshots to OneDrive when I capture them<\/strong> under the Autosave tab.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
#4. Search for the File<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Windows saves screenshots by default in a folder named \u201cScreenshots.\u201d If it is not there, you can search for it by typing the filename into the search bar in Windows Explorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After it appears in the search results, right-click the file and select \u201cOpen file location\u201d from the context menu. There are likely to be all previously captured screenshots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#5. Check to See Whether Prtsc Key Is Overridden<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
PrtScr is the default Windows key for capturing screenshots. However, if you use\u00a0a third-party tool to capture your screen and take screenshots, its settings have likely\u00a0overridden the Windows PrtSc key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To resolve this issue, you can assign a different keybinding for this tool\u2019s screenshot function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#6. Grant Write Permissions to Screenshot Folder<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If the screenshot folder lacks write permission, it will be impossible to save screenshots to that folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how to check permissions and grant them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Right-click the Screenshot folder to open it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select the Properties menu option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click the Edit button on the Security tab.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check the box next to Allow next to the Full Control field.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n