Whether it’s software, games, movies, YouTube videos, TV shows, or e-books, nowadays, so much content is available at our fingertips. With the cost of the Internet decreasing, there is a significant increase in the number of downloads. But as we keep adding more files, the storage space gets smaller in size.

What is the Downloads Folder Location in Windows 11?

The Downloads folder is accessible from the User Files shortcut on your desktop. The default location of the Downloads folder is C:\Users\<UserName>\Downloads. If you had changed it, the actual location may differ.

Changing the Downloads Folder Location in Windows 11

Now, let’s learn how to change the location of the Downloads folder.

1. Double-click on This PC icon on your Desktop.

2. Go to the drive or folder where you want to create a new Downloads folder. (For example: D:\)

3. Right-click on the empty area, and select New > Folder.

4. Set the new folder name as Downloads.

5. Go to the following directory:

C:\Users\<Your_User_Name>

6. Right-click on the Downloads folder, and select Properties.

7. In the new dialog, click on the Location tab.

8. Click on the Move button.

9. Select your new Downloads folder. (In our example, it’s D:\Downloads).

9. Click on the Select Folder button.

10. Click on Apply, and then OK.

11. A confirmation prompt will appear. Click on Yes.

Note: If you ever wish to revert the earlier Downloads folder location, click on the Restore Default button in the Location tab. Click on OK.

Bonus Tip: Delete Duplicate Downloads & Free-Up Your Storage

Many times, we download the same files multiple times without realizing it. Such duplicate downloads not only take up our storage, but also make it difficult to find the right file. Regularly deleting duplicate files from the Downloads directory will help you avoid such issues.

Steps

1. Download DupInOut Duplicate Finder and install it on your computer.
2. Click on the New Search tab.
3. Click on Add, and select your Downloads folder.
4. Click on Start Search.
5. The scan will take a few moments depending on the number and size of your files.
6. After the scan is finished, you will be able to see which file types are taking up more storage and which ones are taking up less storage. You will also be able to get a list of folders with the total number of duplicates.
7. Click on Review & Fix.
8. Now, you need to specify which files to fix and which ones to keep. There are two ways to do so. First, mark the files you want to fix, and unmark the files you want to keep. The second method is to use the Select Duplicates and Selection Assistant button menu options. These options make it easy to mark/ unmark hundreds of files that match your criteria.
9. Finally, click on the Select Assistant button.
10. Choose one of the following options: Delete permanently, Move to Recycle Bin, Move to Folder, Rename, or Replace with Shortcut.

Benefits:

• Simple, fast and beginner-friendly interface
• Supports multiple duplicate scan: File Content + File Size, Music Search
• Music Search helps find duplicate music using music tags (album, artist, bit rate, etc.)
• Batch mark/ unmark duplicate files with dozens of automated selection patterns
• Displays a detailed history of actions taken
• Multiple options to fix duplicates