Library - Set Default & Public Save Locations in Windows 8

Brink · Nov 13, 2012

How to Set "Default Save Location" and "Public Save Location" for a Library in Windows 8

Information

Libraries are collections where you can get to all your documents, music, pictures, and other files in one single place. In some ways, a library works like a folder: you can use it to browse and sort files. But unlike a folder, a library gathers files that are stored in several locations. This is a subtle, but important, difference. Libraries don't actually store your items. They pull from included folders that contain your items, and let you access and arrange the items in different ways. For example, if you have music files in folders on your PC, a shared folder on your network or homegroup, and/or on an external drive, you can include these folders in your Music library so that you can access all of your music files from your Music library.

The set save location for a library is the added folder in the library that is set as the default location to actually save files to when they are saved into the library.

In Windows 7, you were able to select an added folder in a library to be used as the default save location for that library. In Windows 8, you can do the same for a library as in Windows 7, but now it's to do so for both a default save location for your user account, and a public save location for users or homegroups that you set to share the library with.

This tutorial will show you how to select the added folder(s) in a library that will be used as the "default save location" and "public save location" for this library in Windows 8.

Note

By default, your user folders are set as the "default save location" and the Public folders are set as the "public save location" in each of your libraries.

You can set any added folder in a library as either the "default save location" or "public save location", or set as both the "default save location" and "public save location" for the library. It's your choice.

OPTION ONE

Set Save Location for Library using "Set save location" Ribbon Button

1. Open File Explorer, select or open a library (ex: Music), click/tap on the Manage (Library Tools) tab, and click/tap on the Set save location button in the ribbon. (see screenshot below)

2. To Set "Default Save Location" for Library

A) Click/tap on a listed folder (ex: My Music) or drive above Set public save location to set it. The set folder's icon will be highlighted in blue.

3. To Set "Public Save Location" for Library

A) Click/tap on or hover over Set public save location to expand it's menu, then click/tap on a listed folder (ex: Public Music) or drive to set it. The set folder's icon will be highlighted in blue.

OPTION TWO

Set Save Location for Library using Manage Library Tools

1. Open File Explorer, select or open a library (ex: Music), click/tap on the Manage (Library Tools) tab, and click/tap on the Manage library button in the ribbon. (see screenshot below)

2. Right click or press and hold on an added folder or drive you want to set as a save location, and do step 3 and/or 4 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below step 5)

3. To Set "Default Save Location" for Library

A) Click/tap Set as default save location to set it. (see screenshot below step 5)

NOTE: If the folder or drive is already currently set as the "Default save location", then this option will not be available.

4. To Set "Public Save Location" for Library

A) Click/tap Set as public save location. (see screenshot below step 5)

NOTE: If the folder or drive is already currently set as the "Public save location", then this option will not be available.

5. When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

OPTION THREE

Set Save Location for Library using Manage Library Properties

1. Open File Explorer, right click or press and hold on a library (ex: Music), and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

2. Do step 3 and/or 4 below for what you would like to do.

3. To Set "Default Save Location" for Library

A) Click/tap on an added folder or drive, click/tap on the Set save location button, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below step 5)

NOTE: If the folder or drive is already currently set as the "Default save location", then this button will be grayed out.

OR

B) Right click or press and hold on an added folder or drive, click/tap Set as default save location, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below step 5)

NOTE: If the folder or drive is already currently set as the "Default save location", then this option will not be available.

4. To Set "Public Save Location" for Library

A) Click/tap on an added folder or drive, click/tap on the Set public save location button, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below step 5)

NOTE: If the folder or drive is already currently set as the "Public save location", then this button will be grayed out.

OR

B) Right click or press and hold on an added folder or drive, click/tap Set as public save location, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below step 5)

NOTE: If the folder or drive is already currently set as the "Public save location", then this option will not be available.

5. When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Library - Set Default & Public Save Locations in Windows 8

Set Save Location for Library using "Set save location" Ribbon Button

Set Save Location for Library using Manage Library Tools

Set Save Location for Library using Manage Library Properties

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