How to change the default screenshot save location on macOS

Learn how to redirect your Mac screenshot save location to a custom folder using Terminal commands. Organize your desktop files efficiently.

1. Create the target folder. Open Finder and navigate to the directory where you want your screenshots stored. Create a new folder, name it clearly, such as 'Screenshots', and note its location.
2. Open the Terminal application. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search. Type 'Terminal' and press Enter to launch the command-line interface.
3. Enter the save location command. Type 'defaults write com.apple.screencapture location ' into the Terminal window. Do not press Enter yet. Drag and drop your target folder directly from Finder into the Terminal window to automatically populate the exact file path.
4. Apply the new configuration. Press Enter to execute the command. Next, enter the command 'killall SystemUIServer' and press Enter to restart the screenshot process and apply the changes.
5. Test the new location. Press Shift + Command + 3 to capture your screen. Navigate to your new target folder to confirm the file has been saved in the correct directory.