Change Default Screenshot Saving Location in Windows and Mac

Whether you want to attach an image in email or preparing a documentation, taking screenshots is one of the basic tasks for all computer users. Fortunately, both Mac and Windows offer in-built tools for capturing or recording the screen. However, the captured images will be stored in a default location in both cases. If you ever wonder how to change the default screenshot location, here is how you can do it Windows 11 and Mac.

Default Screenshot Saving Locations in Windows and Mac

Windows 11 offers Snipping Tool for capturing images and videos. After capturing, the tool will show the captured image in a floating window and keep it in the clipboard history. If you do not save the image, Snipping Tool will also automatically save the item in “Pictures > Screenshots” folder under your user account. You can anytime access the captured images from this location – C:\Users\<Username>\Pictures\Screenshots.

Frankly, this is much better than macOS. Mac offers a Screenshot app which will also show the floating screen of the captured image. If you do not save the capture, Screenshot app will save it in your desktop by default.

Over period, you will easily accumulate the images and videos which will be scattered all over you Mac’s desktop and in the “Screenshots” folder in Windows 11.

Changing Default Saving Location in Windows 11 Snipping Tool

You can’t disable saving the screenshots in clipboard. However, you can disable automatically saving to “Screenshots” folder and ask for selecting the location when saving the capture.

• Search and open Snipping Tool and click three dots “See more” icon on top right corner.
• Select “Settings” from the menu items.

• When you are in the settings page, disable “Automatically save screenshots” option. And then enable, “Ask to save edited screenshots” option. If you do not enable this option, screenshot will be only kept in clipboard and never saved in your computer.

Changing Default Saving Location in Mac Screenshot App

• Press “Command + Shift + 5” and open Screenshot app. Alternatively, you can use Spotlight Search and open the app.
• When the app opens, click “Options” showing at the end.
• It will show a list of menu items and select one of the locations under “Save to” section. You can select Desktop, Documents or Clipboard location. The best way to save storage space is to keep it in the clipboard. Since Mac holds only one item in clipboard, capture image will be automatically deleted from clipboard when you copy any content or capture another image. Alternatively, you can choose Mail, Messages or Preview app to open the screenshot in the app and send/share from there without saving it in your Mac.
• If you really want to organize the captured screenshots, then select “Other Location…” option and select a folder where you want to save the items.

• You can also disable the floating window by unchecking “Floating Thumbnail” option.

Learn more on how to change the screenshot file format from PNG to JPG or TIFF in Mac.