How to change default save locations in Windows 11

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Open system storage settings

   Open the Start menu and click the Settings icon. Navigate to System, then select Storage from the right-hand panel to view your drive distribution.

2. 45 sec

   Access advanced storage options

   Scroll down to the Storage management section and click Advanced storage settings to expand the menu. Select Where new content is saved from the list of options.

3. 1 min

   Assign new save locations

   Review the list of content types, including apps, documents, music, photos, and videos. Use the dropdown menu next to each category to select your secondary drive from the available options.

   Note: Windows will create a folder structure on the new drive automatically.
4. 30 sec

   Confirm the changes

   Click the Apply button after selecting the new location for each category. If prompted, confirm the authorization to change the storage path for that content type.

5. 1 min

   Verify the drive connection

   Ensure the secondary drive remains connected to your system at all times. If the drive is disconnected, Windows will revert to the primary drive location until the storage device is reconnected.

   Note: External drives should use NTFS formatting for best compatibility.