![[Updated] Set Custom Save Path for Screen Captures (Mac) for 2024](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/xSHtE9tL82nCUVR18o4SkLJaAw8=/400x300/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/GettyImages-962954554-5c338fc146e0fb0001346aec.jpg)
[Updated] Set Custom Save Path for Screen Captures (Mac) for 2024
![](/images/site-logo.png)
Set Custom Save Path for Screen Captures (Mac)
How to Change the Destination Where Screenshots are Saved on your Mac
Max Wales
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Whenever you take a screenshot on a Mac computer, a file is saved to the desktop by default. Most Mac users never have the need to change this setting, because they can always move the file to a folder where they want to store it. On the other hand, creating a lot of screenshots every day can make a chaos on your desktop. Luckily changing the destination where your screenshots are saved is a simple process that lets you decide where your images will be stored.
Here’s how you can change the location where the screenshots you take using the keyboard shortcuts will be saved.
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Part 1: How to Save Screenshots to a Specific Folder on Mac
Changing the folder where you store your screenshots is not an irreversible process, which means that you can reset the destination where the files are saved to Desktop at any point. Do not delete the new folder, because your Mac may not be able to take screenshots, afterward. The process described below is the only way you can delete a folder or add a new destination for your screenshots, and failing to comply with it may cause your Mac to malfunction.
Create a new folder on the desired location on your hard drive, and then launch Terminal, by typing Terminal in the Search Box and clicking on its icon. Once the app is open, you should insert the following command into the Terminal window:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location
Then enter a space at the end after ‘location’.
The next step is to add the new location at which screenshots will be saved and you can do this by simply dragging the folder you created into Terminal and adding it at the end of the command you just entered. A path is created and the command line should now contain the folder’s unique location and it should look like this:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Users/username/Screenshots
To execute the command you have to press Enter. After Terminal finishes running the command, its window will appear on the screen again. You should proceed to confirm the changes you’ve just made by resetting the User Interface on your computer. In order to do so, you’ll have to insert this command below the one you previously entered:
killall SystemUIServer
Hit Enter once more to confirm the changes and run the new command. Close Terminal app by clicking on the Terminal menu and selecting the Quick Terminal option. The default location where the screenshots are saved on your Mac is now changed and every time you take a screenshot using the Command + Shift + 3 shortcut the file will be saved at the new location. If for whatever reason you want to make the Desktop once again the destination where the screenshots on your computer will be saved here’s how you can do it.
Part 2: How to Change the Screenshot Save Location Back to Desktop
The process of changing the default screenshot save location back to Desktop is nearly identical to the process we just described. You just have to open the Terminal app and insert the following command into the prompt.
defaults write com.apple.screen capture location /Users/Username/Desktop/
Make sure that your username is properly written, and then press Enter to run the command. Now you only have to reset the UI so it can recognize the changes you’ve made, and you can do it by inserting the killall SystemUIServer command into the Terminal window and pressing Enter to execute it.
Don’t forget that deleting the folder you use as a default location for storing screenshots should only be done using the process we just described in the Terminal application, since all other methods may cause unnecessary trouble.
Max Wales
Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Max Wales
Max Wales
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Whenever you take a screenshot on a Mac computer, a file is saved to the desktop by default. Most Mac users never have the need to change this setting, because they can always move the file to a folder where they want to store it. On the other hand, creating a lot of screenshots every day can make a chaos on your desktop. Luckily changing the destination where your screenshots are saved is a simple process that lets you decide where your images will be stored.
Here’s how you can change the location where the screenshots you take using the keyboard shortcuts will be saved.
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Part 1: How to Save Screenshots to a Specific Folder on Mac
Changing the folder where you store your screenshots is not an irreversible process, which means that you can reset the destination where the files are saved to Desktop at any point. Do not delete the new folder, because your Mac may not be able to take screenshots, afterward. The process described below is the only way you can delete a folder or add a new destination for your screenshots, and failing to comply with it may cause your Mac to malfunction.
Create a new folder on the desired location on your hard drive, and then launch Terminal, by typing Terminal in the Search Box and clicking on its icon. Once the app is open, you should insert the following command into the Terminal window:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location
Then enter a space at the end after ‘location’.
The next step is to add the new location at which screenshots will be saved and you can do this by simply dragging the folder you created into Terminal and adding it at the end of the command you just entered. A path is created and the command line should now contain the folder’s unique location and it should look like this:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Users/username/Screenshots
To execute the command you have to press Enter. After Terminal finishes running the command, its window will appear on the screen again. You should proceed to confirm the changes you’ve just made by resetting the User Interface on your computer. In order to do so, you’ll have to insert this command below the one you previously entered:
killall SystemUIServer
Hit Enter once more to confirm the changes and run the new command. Close Terminal app by clicking on the Terminal menu and selecting the Quick Terminal option. The default location where the screenshots are saved on your Mac is now changed and every time you take a screenshot using the Command + Shift + 3 shortcut the file will be saved at the new location. If for whatever reason you want to make the Desktop once again the destination where the screenshots on your computer will be saved here’s how you can do it.
Part 2: How to Change the Screenshot Save Location Back to Desktop
The process of changing the default screenshot save location back to Desktop is nearly identical to the process we just described. You just have to open the Terminal app and insert the following command into the prompt.
defaults write com.apple.screen capture location /Users/Username/Desktop/
Make sure that your username is properly written, and then press Enter to run the command. Now you only have to reset the UI so it can recognize the changes you’ve made, and you can do it by inserting the killall SystemUIServer command into the Terminal window and pressing Enter to execute it.
Don’t forget that deleting the folder you use as a default location for storing screenshots should only be done using the process we just described in the Terminal application, since all other methods may cause unnecessary trouble.
Max Wales
Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Max Wales
Max Wales
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Whenever you take a screenshot on a Mac computer, a file is saved to the desktop by default. Most Mac users never have the need to change this setting, because they can always move the file to a folder where they want to store it. On the other hand, creating a lot of screenshots every day can make a chaos on your desktop. Luckily changing the destination where your screenshots are saved is a simple process that lets you decide where your images will be stored.
Here’s how you can change the location where the screenshots you take using the keyboard shortcuts will be saved.
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Part 1: How to Save Screenshots to a Specific Folder on Mac
Changing the folder where you store your screenshots is not an irreversible process, which means that you can reset the destination where the files are saved to Desktop at any point. Do not delete the new folder, because your Mac may not be able to take screenshots, afterward. The process described below is the only way you can delete a folder or add a new destination for your screenshots, and failing to comply with it may cause your Mac to malfunction.
Create a new folder on the desired location on your hard drive, and then launch Terminal, by typing Terminal in the Search Box and clicking on its icon. Once the app is open, you should insert the following command into the Terminal window:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location
Then enter a space at the end after ‘location’.
The next step is to add the new location at which screenshots will be saved and you can do this by simply dragging the folder you created into Terminal and adding it at the end of the command you just entered. A path is created and the command line should now contain the folder’s unique location and it should look like this:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Users/username/Screenshots
To execute the command you have to press Enter. After Terminal finishes running the command, its window will appear on the screen again. You should proceed to confirm the changes you’ve just made by resetting the User Interface on your computer. In order to do so, you’ll have to insert this command below the one you previously entered:
killall SystemUIServer
Hit Enter once more to confirm the changes and run the new command. Close Terminal app by clicking on the Terminal menu and selecting the Quick Terminal option. The default location where the screenshots are saved on your Mac is now changed and every time you take a screenshot using the Command + Shift + 3 shortcut the file will be saved at the new location. If for whatever reason you want to make the Desktop once again the destination where the screenshots on your computer will be saved here’s how you can do it.
Part 2: How to Change the Screenshot Save Location Back to Desktop
The process of changing the default screenshot save location back to Desktop is nearly identical to the process we just described. You just have to open the Terminal app and insert the following command into the prompt.
defaults write com.apple.screen capture location /Users/Username/Desktop/
Make sure that your username is properly written, and then press Enter to run the command. Now you only have to reset the UI so it can recognize the changes you’ve made, and you can do it by inserting the killall SystemUIServer command into the Terminal window and pressing Enter to execute it.
Don’t forget that deleting the folder you use as a default location for storing screenshots should only be done using the process we just described in the Terminal application, since all other methods may cause unnecessary trouble.
Max Wales
Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Max Wales
Max Wales
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Whenever you take a screenshot on a Mac computer, a file is saved to the desktop by default. Most Mac users never have the need to change this setting, because they can always move the file to a folder where they want to store it. On the other hand, creating a lot of screenshots every day can make a chaos on your desktop. Luckily changing the destination where your screenshots are saved is a simple process that lets you decide where your images will be stored.
Here’s how you can change the location where the screenshots you take using the keyboard shortcuts will be saved.
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Part 1: How to Save Screenshots to a Specific Folder on Mac
Changing the folder where you store your screenshots is not an irreversible process, which means that you can reset the destination where the files are saved to Desktop at any point. Do not delete the new folder, because your Mac may not be able to take screenshots, afterward. The process described below is the only way you can delete a folder or add a new destination for your screenshots, and failing to comply with it may cause your Mac to malfunction.
Create a new folder on the desired location on your hard drive, and then launch Terminal, by typing Terminal in the Search Box and clicking on its icon. Once the app is open, you should insert the following command into the Terminal window:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location
Then enter a space at the end after ‘location’.
The next step is to add the new location at which screenshots will be saved and you can do this by simply dragging the folder you created into Terminal and adding it at the end of the command you just entered. A path is created and the command line should now contain the folder’s unique location and it should look like this:
defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /Users/username/Screenshots
To execute the command you have to press Enter. After Terminal finishes running the command, its window will appear on the screen again. You should proceed to confirm the changes you’ve just made by resetting the User Interface on your computer. In order to do so, you’ll have to insert this command below the one you previously entered:
killall SystemUIServer
Hit Enter once more to confirm the changes and run the new command. Close Terminal app by clicking on the Terminal menu and selecting the Quick Terminal option. The default location where the screenshots are saved on your Mac is now changed and every time you take a screenshot using the Command + Shift + 3 shortcut the file will be saved at the new location. If for whatever reason you want to make the Desktop once again the destination where the screenshots on your computer will be saved here’s how you can do it.
Part 2: How to Change the Screenshot Save Location Back to Desktop
The process of changing the default screenshot save location back to Desktop is nearly identical to the process we just described. You just have to open the Terminal app and insert the following command into the prompt.
defaults write com.apple.screen capture location /Users/Username/Desktop/
Make sure that your username is properly written, and then press Enter to run the command. Now you only have to reset the UI so it can recognize the changes you’ve made, and you can do it by inserting the killall SystemUIServer command into the Terminal window and pressing Enter to execute it.
Don’t forget that deleting the folder you use as a default location for storing screenshots should only be done using the process we just described in the Terminal application, since all other methods may cause unnecessary trouble.
Max Wales
Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Max Wales
Also read:
- "Revamp Your Recordings with These Expert Tips"
- "[Updated] Essential Techniques for Saving Roblox Playback on Mac"
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Maximize Your OBS-FB Integration Tips\""
- "FrameFraction Review"
- "\"[New] 2024 Approved Transform Gameplay Into a Masterpiece Using FBX\""
- "\"In 2024, Utilizing Open-Source for Broadcasting Workshops\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Essential Mac Screen Recorders – Top 10 FREE List!\""
- "\"[New] Best of the Best Windows 11 Webcams for Recording\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Mastering DuRecorder Complete Breakdown\""
- "[New] In 2024, Complimentary Brandless Display Screen Recorder"
- "\"2024 Approved Pivot to Alternatives? Considerations with Vidma's Reader\""
- "\"[Updated] Revamping Screen Recording - A Critical Look at CamStudio's New Features for 2024\""
- "\"Unlocking Fullscreen Footage Screen Recording Made Simple for Mac Users\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Visual Flow Control Simple Fade Strategies\""
- "[Updated] How to Record League of Legends for 2024"
- "[Updated] In 2024, Top Tips for Efficient Film Recording on PC & Mobile"
- "[Updated] Detailed Methodology to Masterboard Use in Desktop/iOS/Android Zoom Sessions"
- "\"In 2024, Best Aggregate Video Chat & Multi-User Platforms\""
- "\"[New] 2024 Approved Preserve Precision 4 Advanced Screen Recording for Gamers\""
- "\"Time-Saving Techniques Capturing Your Google Voice Conversations\""
- "[Updated] Ultimate Strategies for Captivating Your Online Audience with Videos for 2024"
- "\"[New] 2024 Approved StopCapture Screen Freeze Assist\""
- "\"[New] 2024 Approved Tips for Effective PPT Sharing via Google Meet\""
- "\"Best for Broadcasting Is OBS Superior to Twitch Studio, In 2024\""
- "\"[Updated] BeyondBasics The FuturePost-MyCam Cameras\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Advanced Strategies for Screen Recording on iPad\""
- "[New] In 2024, Deciphering the Technicalities of Recmeister Screen Recording"
- "\"[New] Virtual Venue Vetting Picking OBS or Twitch for 2024\""
- "\"[New] Crafting Excellence Essential Tips for Ginger Island Life\""
- "[New] Breakthrough Tactics for Optimal IPTV Screening for 2024"
- "[Updated] Cheap, Yet Superior Gaming Keyboard Guide Under $100"
- "[New] In 2024, Remote Recording Techniques for Podcasts"
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved SnapSpectacular High-Quality Windows/Mac Screenshots\""
- "\"[Updated] Ultimate List of Android's GB-Compatible Simulators for 2024\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved Navigating Video Editor Landscape Choose Filmora or Democracy Creator?\""
- "\"[Updated] 2024 Approved SyncSavvy Experts Opinion\""
- "[Updated] In 2024, Excellent Top 10 Budget Cam Recorder Software"
- "In 2024, Precision Game Recording in Apex Legends, 2023 Edition"
- "[New] In 2024, 10 Basic Blocks House Concepts for MC Players"
- "\"[New] Unplugged Delight Your Guide to Free Screen-Free Games for Android for 2024\""
- "\"[New] Unraveling Zoom's Secrets Mastery of Screenshot Sharing\""
- In 2024, How to Bypass Google FRP Lock from Asus ROG Phone 8 Devices
- Essential Steps for Capturing Clear Audio on Your iPhone for 2024
- 10 Free Location Spoofers to Fake GPS Location on your Oppo A2 | Dr.fone
- The Best of the Best Top 10 Free and Paid Android Video Editing Apps
- How to Reset your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Lock Screen Password
- Which Pokémon can Evolve with a Moon Stone For Vivo Y100i Power 5G? | Dr.fone
- New Discover the Best Audio Conversion Software for Your Needs for 2024
- 5 Solutions For Motorola Edge 40 Neo Unlock Without Password
- How to Downgrade iPhone 6s to the Previous iOS System Version? | Dr.fone
- Updated In 2024, The Ultimate List 10 Free Video Rotators for Any Device
- Updated In 2024, Filmora Editor Download for Free
- 10 Easy-to-Use FRP Bypass Tools for Unlocking Google Accounts On Oppo A1 5G
- Top 10 Password Cracking Tools For Xiaomi Redmi K70
- 6 Fixes to Unfortunately WhatsApp has stopped Error Popups On Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate | Dr.fone
- Updated Flip Videos with Ease Best Online Editors for 2024
- How to Share Location in Messenger On Vivo Y100? | Dr.fone
- Here Are Some Reliable Ways to Get Pokemon Go Friend Codes For Samsung Galaxy M14 5G | Dr.fone
- How to Unlock Samsung Galaxy A25 5G Phone Password Without Factory Reset?
- Title: [Updated] Set Custom Save Path for Screen Captures (Mac) for 2024
- Author: Jane
- Created at : 2024-05-18 11:59:17
- Updated at : 2024-05-19 11:59:17
- Link: https://screen-activity-recording.techidaily.com/updated-set-custom-save-path-for-screen-captures-mac-for-2024/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.