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On most Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs, automatically saved screenshots are in %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots. In File Explorer, open Pictures > Screenshots.
That location is not universal for every screenshot method. PrtScn and Alt + PrtScn copy an image to the clipboard instead of creating a file, while OneDrive and Snipping Tool settings can change where saved images appear.
Open the default Screenshot folder
The standard local folder is:
C:Users<username>PicturesScreenshotsThe quickest way to open it is:
- Press Windows logo key + E to open File Explorer.
- Select Pictures in the navigation pane.
- Open Screenshots.
You can also click File Explorer’s address bar, enter the following path, and press Enter:
%USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshotsThe %USERPROFILE% variable automatically uses the name of the account currently signed in, so you do not need to replace it with your Windows username.
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Which screenshot shortcuts save files automatically?
| Shortcut or method | What it captures | Where the result goes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows logo key + PrtScn | Entire screen | Automatically saved in PicturesScreenshots, unless Pictures has been redirected or the folder has changed |
| Windows logo key + Shift + S | Rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen snip | Copied to the clipboard and, in current Snipping Tool versions, automatically saved to its configured Screenshots folder |
| PrtScn | Entire screen | Clipboard only; paste it into Paint or another app and save it manually |
| Alt + PrtScn | Active window | Clipboard only; no screenshot file is created automatically |
| Fn + Windows logo key + Space Bar | Alternative screenshot command on some keyboards without a PrtScn key | Use the behavior supported by that device and Windows configuration |
Find screenshots taken with Windows logo key + PrtScn
If you pressed Windows logo key + PrtScn, start with:
%USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshotsWindows normally saves full-screen captures there as image files. The filenames typically identify them as screenshots and include a number, so sort the folder by Date modified if you have many images.
If the folder does not exist, use the shortcut once and check again. If it is still missing, the likely explanations are that a different shortcut was used, Pictures is managed by OneDrive, or the screenshot location has been changed.
Find Snipping Tool screenshots
Current Snipping Tool versions for Windows 10 and Windows 11 automatically save captured snips to the configured Screenshots folder. The folder may not be the standard local Pictures folder if its setting was changed.
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To check the location and automatic-save setting:
- Open Snipping Tool from the Start menu.
- Select See More (…) in the toolbar.
- Choose Settings.
- Review the automatic-save option and the configured Screenshots folder.
Windows logo key + Shift + S opens the capture overlay. After selecting an area, Windows places the capture in the clipboard and displays a notification. Select the notification to open the image in Snipping Tool. In current versions, the capture is also automatically saved to the configured folder.
Check a manually saved Snipping Tool image
If you used the editor’s Save as Image button, the file is wherever you chose to save it. That can be the Desktop, Downloads, Documents, or a custom folder; it does not have to be the automatic Screenshots folder.
- Open the capture in Snipping Tool.
- Select the Save as Image button.
- Look at the folder shown in the Save dialog.
- Choose a filename and location, then select Save.
When screenshots are in OneDrive
If OneDrive backs up or redirects your Pictures folder, screenshots may be under a OneDrive path such as:
C:Users<username>OneDrivePicturesScreenshotsTry opening this path in File Explorer:
%USERPROFILE%OneDrivePicturesScreenshotsThe exact OneDrive folder may be elsewhere, so do not assume that C:Users<username>OneDrive is correct. To inspect it:
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- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
- Select OneDrive Help and Settings.
- Choose Settings.
- Open the Account tab and inspect the folder location.
Microsoft has removed the old dedicated Save screenshots to OneDrive checkbox. Current OneDrive behavior depends on whether the Pictures folder is included in OneDrive backup or redirected there. Therefore, instructions that say to open OneDrive > Settings > Backup > Manage backup > Save screenshots to OneDrive are outdated.
Why nothing is in Pictures > Screenshots
You used PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn
These shortcuts copy the image to the clipboard but do not create a file. Open Paint, press Ctrl + V, and then use File > Save as to create an image file. The same applies if you took a capture and only used the initial clipboard result without allowing Snipping Tool to save it.
Snipping Tool uses another folder
Open Snipping Tool > See More (…) > Settings and check its automatic-save location. A changed folder means searching PicturesScreenshots will not find newer snips.
Pictures is under OneDrive
Look in the OneDrive version of Pictures, check the OneDrive Account settings, and confirm whether Pictures is being backed up. A screenshot can be present in OneDrive while the local C:Users<username>Pictures folder appears empty or contains older files.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
You saved the image from another application
Images pasted into Paint, Word, an email editor, or an image-editing program are saved according to that application’s Save dialog. Check Downloads, Desktop, and the last folder shown in the application.
Move or change the screenshot folder
For Snipping Tool, use Snipping Tool > See More (…) > Settings to change its automatic-save behavior or Screenshots folder.
If the standard folder is under OneDrive, the broader location is controlled by OneDrive’s folder configuration. To move the OneDrive folder, Microsoft’s process is to unlink the PC, move or choose a new folder location, then relink OneDrive and select Change Location. Moving it manually without following that process can cause sync problems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fastest way to locate the newest screenshot
- Open File Explorer.
- Search for
kind:=picturefrom This PC, or search forScreenshot. - Sort the results by Date modified.
- Check both the local Pictures folder and the OneDrive Pictures folder.
- If you used PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn, press Ctrl + V in Paint to see whether the capture is still in the clipboard.
Searching by file type can also help. Common screenshot formats include PNG and JPG, although the format depends on the application used to save the image.
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FAQ
Where is the screenshot folder in Windows 11?
Open File Explorer and go to Pictures > Screenshots, or enter %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots in the address bar.
Where is the screenshot folder in Windows 10?
The default location is also %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots. Current Windows 10 versions of Snipping Tool can automatically save captures there, although its configured folder may be different.
Why did my screenshot not save to the Screenshots folder?
You may have used PrtScn or Alt + PrtScn, which copy the image to the clipboard only. The file may also be in a changed Snipping Tool folder or under OneDrivePicturesScreenshots.
Does Windows logo key + Shift + S save a screenshot?
The shortcut opens Snipping Tool, copies the capture to the clipboard, and shows a notification. Current Snipping Tool versions also automatically save it to the configured Screenshots folder. You can open the notification and use Save as Image to choose another location.
How do I save a PrtScn screenshot as a file?
Open Paint, press Ctrl + V, select File > Save as, choose an image format and folder, and save the file.
Can screenshots be saved in OneDrive?
Yes. If OneDrive backs up or redirects the Pictures folder, look under a path such as %USERPROFILE%OneDrivePicturesScreenshots. The exact OneDrive location is shown under the OneDrive cloud icon > Help and Settings > Settings > Account.
The Bottom Line
For a normal full-screen capture made with Windows logo key + PrtScn, open %USERPROFILE%PicturesScreenshots. If it is empty, determine whether you used a clipboard-only shortcut, check Snipping Tool > See More (…) > Settings, and then check the OneDrive version of the Pictures folder.
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