Find the Steam screenshot folder on Windows, macOS and Linux, then set an external folder without losing Steam’s managed screenshot library.
On Windows, Steam normally stores F12 screenshots in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<account-ID>\760\remote\<AppID>\screenshots. The safest way to find the right folder is through Steam’s screenshot manager and Show on Disk. To use another location, enable an external screenshot copy in Steam’s In Game settings and choose its folder.
How do I open the Steam screenshot folder?
- Open Steam’s media manager. From the Steam desktop client, select View, then Recordings & Screenshots. Some client layouts label this simply Screenshots.
- Choose the game. Filter the media list by the flight simulator or other game whose screenshots you want.
- Reveal the file. Select a screenshot and use the folder icon, context menu or Show on Disk command. Steam opens the exact directory for that game and account.
This is more reliable than searching manually because one PC can contain several account-ID and AppID folders. For the complete capture process, including the F12 shortcut and Steam Overlay requirements, see our Steam screenshot workflow for flight simulators.
Where does Steam save screenshots by default?
Steam keeps its managed screenshots below the client’s userdata directory, separated by Steam account and game AppID.
| Platform | Typical Steam screenshot location |
|---|---|
| Windows | C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<account-ID>\760\remote\<AppID>\screenshots |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/<account-ID>/760/remote/<AppID>/screenshots |
| Linux | ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<account-ID>/760/remote/<AppID>/screenshots |
If Steam was installed somewhere else, start from that Steam installation’s userdata folder. Linux package formats can also place Steam inside a sandboxed data directory, so Show on Disk remains the dependable method.
The numbered folder before 760 identifies the local Steam account; the folder after remote is the game’s AppID. Installing a game on another Steam library drive does not normally move these screenshots, because they belong to Steam’s user data rather than the game installation.
How do you change the Steam screenshot folder?
Steam lets you choose a folder for an external copy, but it does not relocate the managed screenshot library under userdata.
- Open Steam Settings. Select the In Game section.
- Find the screenshot options. Enable the option to save an external copy of screenshots. Older client wording may describe this as saving an uncompressed copy.
- Choose the external folder. Select a writable location such as a dedicated folder under Pictures rather than a protected system directory.
- Take a test screenshot. Launch a game, press the configured Steam screenshot key and confirm that a new file appears in both Steam’s manager and the external folder.
The setting applies to future captures and is global rather than a separate relocation for each game. It does not copy existing screenshots into the new directory. If the folder selector is present but the external-copy option is disabled, Steam may continue saving only its managed copy.
Why is my Steam screenshot folder empty?
- A different capture tool was used: Windows capture features, graphics-driver utilities, Print Screen and simulator-native screenshot commands save elsewhere. FSX’s V-key captures are separate from Steam F12 images; our breakdown of FSX and Steam screenshot locations explains that distinction.
- The wrong account or AppID is open: shared computers commonly have several numbered directories under
userdata. Open the image through Steam rather than guessing which number belongs to the game. - The Steam Overlay is disabled: F12 will not create a Steam screenshot if overlay capture is unavailable or the screenshot shortcut has been reassigned.
- The external folder is not writable: Steam may retain its managed copy but fail to create the second file in a protected, disconnected or read-only location.
- The setting was changed after capture: Steam does not retroactively export older screenshots to a newly selected external folder.
Can I move existing Steam screenshots?
Copy existing screenshots if you want an archive, but leave the originals in place if they must remain usable through Steam’s screenshot manager. Steam records file information in its own metadata, so manually moving or renaming files can leave missing thumbnails and broken entries.
To remove old captures, delete them through Steam’s media manager after making any required backup. Editing Steam’s screenshot metadata or replacing its folders with symbolic links is unsupported and unnecessary for most users; the external-copy setting is the safer way to direct future screenshots elsewhere.