How to Move Downloads Folder to Another Drive on Windows 10/11

Cedric updated on Apr 02, 2024 to PC Transfer | How-to Articles

Are you running short of space in C drive? If yes, then here you will read about different ways on how to move Downloads folder to another drive Windows 11/10? So, ensure that you read the post till the end.

If you are a regular internet user, you may download a lot of stuff on your computer. It can include game files, software programs, media files, documents, etc. When you download anything using the internet connection in Windows, it automatically gets stored in the Downloads folder.

It is a very convenient folder because you are not required to search through different folders to find a downloaded file. Downloads folder eradicates the need for your installed programs to set or make their own downloads folder. When it comes to the location of this folder in Windows, you can find it within the home directory located in the C drive of your PC.

Thus, you can locate the downloads folder by following the C:\Users\UserName\Downloads\ location. But you can always move the Downloads folder to another Windows 11/10 drive. This post will teach you easy ways to move the Downloads folder to another Windows 10 and above drive. So, read it through to the end.

Move Downloads Folder to Another Drive Using a Free PC Data Transfer Tool

The quickest solution to move Downloads folder to another drive is to rely on the best PC data transfer tool - EaseUS Todo PCTrans Free. It allows you to transfer applications, user accounts, files, and other settings between computers and laptops.

To move the Downloads folder to another drive or any other partition with free PC data transfer software, you can use the large file/folder move feature. It is a hassle-free and quick way to change the Download location. Not only this, but you can use EaseUS Todo PCTrans Free to restore and back up files and move programs or applications from one computer to another or from one drive to another.

Here are the steps to move the large Downloader folder from one drive to another with this simple PC file transfer program. 

Step 1. Open EaseUS Todo PCTrans on your computer. Click "Large File Cleanup", then click "Start" button to go on. This feature enables you to transfer files from one drive to another or move data from one disk to another.  

Step 2. Choose the hard drive or disk you want to scan for files.

Step 3. When the scan completes, files larger than 20M will be listed. Select the target files to transfer and set the target location as you need. Then, click the "Move" button to the next step. 

Step 4. Confirm the transfer operation again and click the "Move" button to start the process. When the file transfer finishes, you will get enough free space on the source drive/disk. 

Here are some other features of this tool:

  • Move everything safely: With EaseUS Todo PCTrans, you can easily transfer everything from an old PC to a new one. Be it applications, files, programs, or folders, you can use this tool to safely move all the essential folders.
  • Fast and automatic: The tool is fast; you aren't required to spare long hours transferring your files and folders from one PC to another. Unlike manual transfer, EaseUS Todo PCTrans uses an auto-transfer feature to make things efficient.
  • Ready-to-use programs: After copying installed programs and other data to the new computer, you can instantly use them. It means you are not required to re-install them. Otherwise, you may need to download and install all the transferred applications on your PC.
  • Free Assistance: EaseUS offers spot-on assistance whenever required. The technical experts will help you 24/7 if you need any help with data transfer.

Download it, and you can enjoy the transfer convenience!

Move Downloads Folder to Another Drive Manually in 2 Ways

Relying on a third-party tool is an efficient way. But we still provide other solutions. This part will introduce two ways to manually move the Downloads folder from one drive to another or any other drive. Let's discuss both ways in detail:

1. Set and Change the Default Location in Settings

You can set and change the download folder save location by following the below-mentioned steps:

Step 1. Open your PC's "Settings" option and click the "System" option. Then, click on the "Storage" option.

Step 2. Now, tap the "Change where new content is saved" option.

Step 3. Here, set the desired download location for each category.

In this way, you can change the location of downloaded files. You may also meet errors as follows:

How to Fix We Couldn't Set Your Default Save Location Error

When moving your app data, are you facing the 'We Couldn't Set Your Default Save Location' error? Find out how to resolve this issue in the following guide.

2. Use the Move Feature in Properties 

You can change Downloads location by using the move feature. Follow the steps listed below to know how to move Downloads folder to another drive Windows 10:

Step 1. With the keyboard shortcut "Win + E," open the File Explorer on your PC.

Step 2. Go to the drive where you want to move the downloads folder. Right-click and choose the "New" option and then the "Folder" option. You can name it Downloads.

Step 3. Under the Quick Access bar, right-click on the actual "Downloads Folder" and click the "Properties" option.

Step 4. Tap on the "Location" tab and click the "Move" option in the properties windows.

Step 5. In the "Select a Destination" window, return to the folder you created previously. Select the folder and tap on the "Select Folder" option.

Step 6. Now, the new location will be added to the properties window. Tap the "Apply" and OK options to save the changes.

Step 7. You will be prompted with a message asking whether you want to move all the files from the old to the new location. Tap on the "Yes" option.

That's how you can move the Downloads folder to another drive Windows 11/10. It will be the new default Download folder in another drive. If you think this tutorial solves your problem, you can share it with others in need.

 

Why Move Downloads Folder to Another Drive

As and when you download different files and applications on your PC, the downloads folder becomes crowded and starts taking up hard drive space in the PC. You can notice this situation, especially when you don't clean the downloads folder often. But stuffing up the drive will restrict the number of applications you can install on your PC. In addition, it may also start showing a low disk space warning.

Also, if you happen to re-install Windows or when you can’t boot into it, you may end up losing all the files in the Downloads folder. To keep such a situation at bay, you can move the Downloads folder from one drive to another drive. It will also ensure you are not lining up one drive with all the random downloads.

Thus, if you change the download location, it will be a safe action. Now, let's see some of the benefits of moving the downloads folder to another drive on your PC:

  • When the downloaded files are stored on another drive or partition, you can save more storage space in the target drive
  • You will be able to access the downloaded files when you are dual-booting
  • The downloaded files will remain secure when you reinstall Windows
  • You will be able to access the downloaded files when you can't boot into Windows

This guide will provide some solutions to move the downloads folder to another drive. You can click the links below if you want to transfer to specific drives, such as moving downloads from C drive to D drive.

How to Move Downloads from C Drive to D Drive Windows 11/10

This article will provide three ways to move Downloads from C drive to D drive. You can use the Properties or Settings with Windows to change the default download address or use EaseUS Todo PCTrans to migrate Downloads.

Conclusion

With this, how to move downloads folder to another drive Windows 10 has become a simple task. You can use any of the abovementioned methods to move the downloads folder. However, we suggest you try your hands on EaseUS Todo PCTrans. Since it is a reliable and efficient tool, you won't face difficulties migrating the folder.