Pressing PrnScr "Print Screen" on the keyboard results in a screenshot being silently saved under /home/%user%/Pictures/
How can I change this location?
- I know this question specifies Mint, but since it shows up in Google for Ubuntu. FYI anyone on 18.04+, Ubuntu doesn't use Gnome-screenshots, it uses a settings daemon. The dconf auto-save directory is ignored (it's a WONT_FIX bug). The only way to set the save location is with a Gnome Tweaks extension: askubuntu.com/a/1102530/783117Chris Hayes– Chris Hayes2021-02-05 18:43:31 +00:00Commented Feb 5, 2021 at 18:43
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3 Answers
Open dconf-editor (note that you may need to install it first: sudo apt install dconf-editor)
Navigate to org.gnome.gnome-screenshot:
- org
- gnome
- gnome-screenshot
Then enter a value for auto-save-directory in the format file:///path/to/directory/ e.g
file:///home/yourusername/Pictures/screenshots/ 
answered Apr 29, 2016 at 11:55
Jesse the Wind Wanderer
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- Note: Be sure to press enter when you have finished typing the value entry so that it is saved. If the dconf Editor window looses the focus your changes will be discarded unless you have pressed enter to "Enter" them. ;-)Jesse the Wind Wanderer– Jesse the Wind Wanderer2016-04-29 11:56:04 +00:00Commented Apr 29, 2016 at 11:56
Using the terminal
Setting the auto-save-directory
gsettings set org.gnome.gnome-screenshot auto-save-directory '/home/yourpath' Getting it
gsettings get org.gnome.gnome-screenshot auto-save-directory 
- Note that despite its name, the "auto-save-directory" only provides a default directory for saving. It does NOT save automatically without popping up a dialog.xjcl– xjcl2019-12-13 12:03:18 +00:00Commented Dec 13, 2019 at 12:03
- Works on Cinnamon 19.3James Nuanez– James Nuanez2020-07-10 17:43:53 +00:00Commented Jul 10, 2020 at 17:43
Since looking up this problem led me here first, I'll add this as future reference for others. Though this solution is a bit more rigid and requires you to put your screenshots in a "Pictures" folder of your choice.
You can simply edit your XDG paths in: ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs. If you want to change where your default "Pictures" folder is you can change your default Pictures folder location by setting XDG_PICTURES_DIR, e.g. XDG_PICTURES_DIR="$HOME/SSD/Pictures" in my case. Then taking a screenshot will make it land in $HOME/SSD/Pictures/Screenshots for me.
If it appears to not work, make sure you have a file called ~/.profile and it contains the line source ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs. You should also call xdg-user-dirs-update from your terminal. It has a bonus of adding icons to your folders as well so you can spot if your changes have had effects.
This solution appears to be valid for any GNOME desktop, and perhaps for many screenshot tools' defaults.
