Change default location of Downloads folder


kgash

Member
Local time
7:43 AM
Posts
17
OS
WINDOWS 11 22H2
I want to change the default location of my Download folder. When I click on properties There is no Move button to click. Attached is a screen shot of the folder.
Using Windows 11 Home 22H2.

Move Command.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 11 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor
    Motherboard
    ASRock B450 Pro4 (AM4)
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX 5700
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z SE
That is not the Downloads folder recognised by Windows.

What is at this location?
C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads

You can also find it by entering this in the FileExplorer address bar.
Shell:Downloads

You might also like to take a look at
Move or Restore Default Location of Downloads Folder - ElevenForumTutorials


Best of luck,
Denis



Welcome to ElevenForum.

It's really worth making time to browse through the Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every page [within the Tutorials dropdown list].
- At the foot of the Tutorial index is a shortcut to download it as a spreadsheet.
- I download a new copy each month.
- By downloading it as a spreadsheet I can benefit from Excel's excellent filtering capabilities when I search for topics of interest.
- Tutorials are also listed at Tutorials - there's a shortcut to that at the top of every page.

You can search ElevenForum using the search box in the top-right corner of all ElevenForum webpages or using Advanced Search - ElevenForum
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- [This is what the search box in the top-right corner of ElevenForum webpages does automatically]
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
Thanks for you quick reply. Attached is a screenshot of C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads.
I seem to have lost the Downloads folder recognized by Windows.

Is there a way to restore it. Or is there a way to designate a new downloads folder as the default for all downloads?

Thanks,
Ken Gash

Move Command.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 11 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor
    Motherboard
    ASRock B450 Pro4 (AM4)
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX 5700
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z SE
Thanks for you quick reply. Attached is a screenshot of C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads.
I seem to have lost the Downloads folder recognized by Windows.

Is there a way to restore it. Or is there a way to designate a new downloads folder as the default for all downloads?

Thanks,
Ken Gash

View attachment 57257
Did you follow @Try3 suggestion from post #2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build-22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Intel S1200 Core i3 10105
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte S1200 MicroATX B560M DS3H DDR4
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GT710 2GB PCIe Video Card
    Sound Card
    Realtek® Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Acer 24in
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial P1 M.2 PCIe SSD
    PSU
    500W
    Case
    Thermaltake ATX Versa H21 Case
    Cooling
    Internal fans by (3)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 850
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps / 20Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebyte
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build-22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home built Test-PC
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS S1150 MicroATX B85M-E
    Memory
    12.0 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Video Card
    Sound Card
    Integrated Sound Card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Chimei 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    120GB WD 2.5" Green SATA 6Gb/s SSD
    1TB WD 3.5" 7200rpm SATA 6Gb/s Caviar Blue
    PSU
    400W
    Case
    Cougar MicroATX MG100 Case Black
    Cooling
    Deepcool 120mm Case Fan
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless mouse
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless keyboard
    Internet Speed
    50Mbps / 20Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Only running Win 11 on this PC for test purposes
(Windows system) Downloads folder > right click > Properties > Location (tab) > Restore Default to send it back to its native location (or manually designate a new loaction for it)

If that doesn't work, try @Try3 suggestion above Change default location of Downloads folder. Use the option 3 from the Elevenforums link and run the Downloads folder BAT file to restore it
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-9400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x 1TB SSDs
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Classic Australian w.a.p.
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro (latest upadte ... anally always)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
Attached is a screenshot of C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads.
I seem to have lost the Downloads folder recognized by Windows.

Ken,

Your diagram indicates that
C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads.
is your Downloads folder.

There is no need to restore it, it is there already.

All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
Ken,

Your diagram indicates that

is your Downloads folder.

There is no need to restore it, it is there already.

All the best,
Denis
I've seen instances where a folder with the correct/same name as a system folder (Downloads, Documents, Pictures, etc) is in the "correct" path for a systems folder, but it's just not the one listed in the registry. I think this is in the OP's case - there is a folder called Downloads at C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads but that's not in the registry as the location for the systems Downloads folder. Can happen if the user manually moves systems folders around rather that use the recommended steps.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-9400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x 1TB SSDs
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Classic Australian w.a.p.
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro (latest upadte ... anally always)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
Just look at the diagram - it shows that it is the Downloads folder. It has a Location tab.

Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296

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