If you’re a Windows 11 user and have found yourself puzzled by the absence of the screenshot folder, you’re not alone. Capturing screenshots is a common task and Windows 11 offers various methods to do it, such as the native Print Screen key, Windows+Print Screen mode, Snipping Tool(Windows+Shift+S) and Xbox Game Bar(Windows+Alt+Print Screen).
Each method has it’s advantages, but it’s the Windows+Print Screen mode that stores the screenshots in a dedicated “Screenshot” folder, which can sometimes go missing. If you’re facing this issue, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with a solution.
How to Fix the Missing Screenshot Folder in Windows 11
Follow these steps to resolve the issue of the missing screenshot folder in Windows 11:
Access the Registry Editor:
- Right-click on the Start Menu and select “Registry Editor”.
Navigate to the ScreenshotIndex Key:
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer.
- Look for the “ScreenshotIndex” file on the right-hand side menu.
- If it’s not present, right-click on an empty location, select “New > DWORD(32-bit) Value” and name it “ScreenshotIndex”.
Configure ScreenshotIndex:
- Open the “ScreenshotIndex” file, select “Decimal” as it’s Base and set the “Value data” field to “695”.
Navigate to User Shell Folders:
- In the Registry Editor’s address bar, copy and paste the following location: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders.
- Look for the “{B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F}” file on the right-hand side.
Create or Configure User Shell Folders:
- If “{B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F}” is not present, right-click on an empty space, select “New > Expandable String Value” and name it “{B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F}”.
- Double-click to open this file and set the “Value Data” field to “%USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Screenshots”.
Save Changes and Restart:
- Click “OK” to save the changes in both registry locations.
- Restart your PC.
Following these steps should rectify the missing screenshot folder issue in Windows 11.
How to Change the Default Screenshot Folder Location in Windows 11
By default, Windows 11 saves screenshots in the “C:\Users\UserName\Pictures\Screenshots” folder, which can be inconvenient to access. Here’s how to change the default screenshot folder location:
Create a New Screenshot Folder:
- Choose the location where you want to save your screenshots.
- Create a new folder and name it “Screenshots”.
Modify the Default Screenshot Folder Location:
- Go to the default screenshot folder, which is “C:\Users\UserName\Pictures\Screenshots”.
- Right-click on the “Screenshot” folder and select “Properties”.
Move the Folder:
- Navigate to the “Location” tab and click on the “Move” button.
- Choose the newly created “Screenshot” folder and click “Select folder”.
Confirm the Change:
- Click “OK” and then confirm the change by clicking “YES” in the confirmation dialog box.
Now, all your screenshots captured using the Windows+Print Screen key will be saved in the newly designated folder. This simple change can greatly improve the accessibility of your screenshots.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve provided solutions for both the missing screenshot folder issue and changing the default screenshot folder location in Windows 11. If you have any questions or encounter difficulties with these steps, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
