Struggling to locate your captures? Here's where does Windows save screenshots for every method: Print Screen, Win+Shift+S, and Game Bar. We also explain how to change where screenshots are saved windows 11, customize save locations, and quickly find old screenshots on any PC.
Where are my screenshots saved? It's neither in the pc's screenshots folder, nor in OneDrive's...
I was trying to look at previous screenshots I took, but I can neither find them in the Image folder, where there is no screenshot folder, nor in OneDrive, where there are only screenshots up to June 2024.
- Question from reddit.com
Millions of users capture screens daily, only to spend way too much time hunting through folders. Whether you need a quick screenshot for work, a bug report, or just to share something funny with friends, losing track of those captures is frustrating.
Windows actually saves them in predictable places—once you know where to look. This guide covers every capture method, from old-school PrtScn to the modern Snipping Tool, and even shows you how to recover lost screenshots if they vanish. Let’s find out more.
There are different ways to take screenshots on a Windows computer:
Note: On some laptops, you may need to use Fn + Windows Key + Spacebar to take a screenshot.
The best way to take screenshots is to press PrtScn (or Windows + PrtScn) for immediate saving, or use Windows + Shift + S for the versatile Snipping Tool.
Where does Windows save screenshots? It depends on the way you take screenshots.
Where does Windows save screenshots? Depending on which shortcut or tool you use, Windows sends the capture to different destinations. Some go straight to a folder, others hide in the clipboard, and a few even pop up in an editor before you save them manually.
Pressing PrtScn alone doesn’t save anything to a file. It copies the entire screen to your clipboard. You then need to paste it (Ctrl+V) into an app like Paint or Word and save it manually. If copy and paste is not working, click to get solutions.
So if you’re wondering, "Where does Windows save screenshots?" after just hitting PrtScn—nowhere, it’s on you to save it. Use Win+PrtScn instead for automatic saving.
If you press Win + PrtScn instead to take screenshots. It briefly dims your screen and automatically saves the screenshot. The file location is in: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\Pictures\Screenshots. If OneDrive is active, they may be in C:\Users\Username\OneDrive\Pictures\Screenshots.
Tip: If you can't find it? Open File Explorer, paste %UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots into the address bar, and hit Enter. That works every time, even if your username has spaces or special characters.
You’ll find a folder named “Screenshots” inside Pictures. Every Win+PrtScn capture gets named “Screenshot (1),” “Screenshot (2),” and so on.
On Windows 7/8/10/11, if you use the Snipping Tool, when you press Windows+ Shift + S, the screen dims, and a small thumbnail appears in the bottom-right corner.
Where do Windows + Shift + S screenshots go? It automatically saves your screenshots in the default location: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\Pictures\Screenshots.
When you use Alt + PrtScn in Windows, the screenshot of the active window is not saved as a file automatically. Instead, it is copied to your clipboard (temporary memory). You must paste it using Ctrl + V into an image editor (like Paint), document, or email to save it. The screenshots' location depends on your choice.
Where does Windows save screenshots using Edge? When you press Ctrl + Shift + S, it will call up the options to take a screenshot. After taking screenshots, it will show you the Save option and other options, click Save and it will automatically save your screenshots in the Downloads (C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Downloads) folder as JPEG files.
If you press the Windows + G key combination, it will call up the capture window. After taking a screenshot, it will notify you about the screenshot like this.
Where does Windows save screenshots using Xbox Game Bar? Windows saves Xbox Game Bar screenshots and recordings in the default folder: C:\Users\[Username]\Videos\Captures. You can also access them directly through the Game Bar by:
It saves screenshots as PNG files and saves videos as MP4 files.
Tired of digging through different locations? You can move that folder anywhere you like.
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures.
2. Right-click the “Screenshots” folder and select Properties.
3. Go to Location > Move, then choose or create a new folder. Click Select Folder.
4. Then Apply, and finally OK.
Windows asks if you want to move all existing screenshots to the new location—say yes.
From now on, every Win+PrtScn capture goes straight to your custom folder.
You can also change the default screenshots location for Snipping Tool. Here it is:
1. Search Snipping Tool in the Windows search box, and choose it.
2. Tap the three dots>Settings.
3. Expand the option: Automatically save original screenshots, and hit Change next to the screenshots location.
4. Pick a new folder as the destination. Now, every time you use Win+Shift+S, the screenshot saves automatically as a PNG file in that folder.
You cannot directly change the folder within the Game Bar, but you can move the default location:
1. Navigate to C:\Users\[Username]\Videos.
2. Right-click the Captures folder and select Properties.
3. Go to the Location tab and click Move to choose a new destination.
You deleted a screenshot by accident. Or maybe a failed cut-and-paste made it vanish. Don’t panic—and don’t keep using that drive. Every new file you save risks overwriting the lost screenshot.
You need a powerful Windows data recovery software, MyRecover, to get things back. MyRecover is designed to dig up deleted files from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, etc. Even if you emptied the Recycle Bin, MyRecover can bring back your screenshots.
Here is how to recover deleted or lost screenshots with MyRecover in Windows 11/10/8/7:
1. Please download and install MyRecover on your computer.
2. Tap Deleted Files Recovery, hover over the drive where the deleted screenshots were located before, and hit Scan. Wait for the process to complete.
3. Preview and select the screenshots and hit Recover.
4. Choose a new location to keep them safe, and hit Select Folder.
Where does Windows save screenshots from Win + Print Screen?
A: They go to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\Screenshots. To jump there instantly, open the Run dialogue and paste %UserProfile%\Pictures\Screenshots and hit Enter. Each screenshot is automatically named “Screenshot (number).png".
How do I find screenshots I took with Snipping Tool?
A: If you have auto‑save enabled in Snipping Tool settings, check C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\Screenshots or whatever custom folder you set. To confirm, open Snipping Tool, click the three dots > Settings, and look at the “Automatically save original screenshots” location. Or the screenshot was only copied to the clipboard without saving.
Why aren’t my Windows screenshots showing up in the Screenshots folder?
A: Three common reasons. One: you used PrtScn alone (clipboard only). Two: you used Win+Shift+S but haven’t enabled auto‑save. Three: the Screenshots folder got moved or deleted. Try searching your whole PC for Screenshot using File Explorer. Also check OneDrive’s Pictures folder—sometimes Windows redirects saves there.
Can I change where Windows saves screenshots by default?
A: Yes, for Win+PrtScn captures, move the Screenshots folder via its Properties > Location tab. For Win+Shift+S (Snipping Tool), turn on auto‑save in Settings and choose a new folder.
How do I recover a screenshot I deleted by mistake?
A: First, stop using the drive to avoid overwriting. Then use a recovery tool like MyRecover. Install it on a different drive, scan the original drive, filter for PNG/JPG files, preview them, and recover to a separate location.
Does Windows save screenshots to OneDrive automatically?
A: It can. If OneDrive is set up to back up your Pictures folder, then any screenshot saved in "Pictures\Screenshots" syncs to OneDrive. Also, OneDrive has a feature: when you take a Win+PrtScn screenshot, a pop-up asks if you want to save it to OneDrive. If you click yes, future captures go there. Check OneDrive Settings > Backup > Manage backup to see if “Pictures” is toggled on.
Where does Windows save screenshots using different ways?
If you use PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn to take screenshots, it only copies the screenshots to the clipboard, not saves them automatically.
If you use Windows + PrtScn or Snipping Tool, these screenshots are stored by default in: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\Pictures\Screenshots.
If you use Edge or Chrome to take screenshots, they will be saved in C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Downloads.
And Windows saves Xbox Game Bar screenshots and recordings in the default folder: C:\Users\[Username]\Videos\Captures.
If you need to change the screenshots' default location, follow the guide to do so.