How to Change Game DVR Folder Location in Windows 10

Changing the Game DVR (Captures) folder location in Windows 10 allows you to manage storage more efficiently, especially if your system drive has limited space. Moving your captures to an external drive or another partition helps prevent your primary drive from filling up, ensuring smoother gameplay and system performance. Before starting, ensure you have the destination drive or folder ready and sufficient permissions to create or modify folders. This guide walks you through each step to customize your Game DVR folder location easily and safely.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with Game DVR enabled
• Access to the folder where captures are stored (default is in your Videos folder)
• Permission to create and modify folders on your target drive or location
• Optional: External drive or additional partition with enough space for your captures

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app by clicking the Start menu and selecting the gear icon or pressing Windows + I on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the “Gaming” section within Settings. Click on “Gaming” to access game-related options.
3. Select the “Captures” tab from the sidebar on the left.
4. Under the “Captures location” section, click the “Open folder” link. This opens the current folder where your game clips and screenshots are stored.
5. Close the File Explorer window. Now, create a new folder on your preferred drive or partition where you want to store your captures. Name it clearly, e.g., “GameCaptures”.
6. Go back to the “Captures” settings in Windows. Under the same section, click “Change” or “Browse” (depending on your Windows version).
7. In the folder selection dialog, navigate to the new folder you created in step 5. Select it, then click “Select Folder” or “OK”.
8. Windows will now set this folder as your new Game DVR captures location. Confirm that the path displayed is correct.
9. Test the setup by recording a short clip or taking a screenshot in a game, then check if the capture appears in your new folder.
10. Ensure your new folder has proper permissions so that Windows can save files without issues. Right-click the folder, select “Properties,” then go to the “Security” tab to verify permissions.

Common Mistakes

• Choosing a folder without write permissions, causing capture failures.
• Not moving existing captures manually, leading to confusion or storage issues.
• Selecting a folder on a slow or unreliable external drive, which may cause lag or data loss.
• Attempting to move the folder without creating a new destination first, resulting in errors.
• Ignoring permissions or security settings that prevent Windows from saving files to the new location.

Tips

• Always back up important captures before moving or changing settings.
• If using an external drive, ensure it is connected before starting recording to avoid missing clips.
• Use a dedicated folder for captures to keep your storage organized.
• Regularly check your new capture folder to manage storage space and delete old clips if necessary.
• Consider creating a symbolic link if you want to keep the default folder location but store captures elsewhere (advanced users).

Troubleshooting

If your captures are not saving to the new location or you encounter errors, try the following steps:

• Verify that the folder path selected is correct and accessible. Re-select the folder if necessary.
• Check folder permissions to ensure Windows has write access.
• Restart your PC after changing the capture location to apply settings properly.
• Ensure your storage device has enough free space and is properly connected.
• If using an external drive, disconnect and reconnect it, then retry setting the folder location.
• Reset the capture location to default and then try changing it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I move existing captures to the new folder?

Yes, manually move your existing capture files from the old folder to the new one using File Explorer. Windows will then save new captures in the new location.

2. Will changing the capture folder affect my gameplay performance?

No, changing the folder location does not impact game performance. It only changes where your recordings are stored.

3. What if I want to revert to the default capture folder?

Go back to Settings > Gaming > Captures and click the “Change” button to select the default folder, typically in your Videos directory.

4. Can I set different capture locations for screenshots and recordings?

Currently, Windows 10 uses the same folder for both screenshots and game clips. You can manually organize them after capturing if needed.

5. Is it possible to automate moving captures to another drive?

Yes, advanced users can create symbolic links or use scripts to automatically sync or move files, but this requires technical knowledge.

6. How much space should I allocate for game captures?

This depends on your recording quality and duration. For high-quality 1080p clips, allocate sufficient space — typically several gigabytes per hour of recording.

Changing the Game DVR folder location in Windows 10 is a straightforward process that can help you better manage storage and keep your gaming environment organized. Follow these steps carefully, avoid common mistakes, and you’ll have your captures stored exactly where you want them, with minimal hassle.

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