If you're running out of space on your primary drive or simply prefer to store your iCloud Photos in a different location on your Windows 11 PC, you might find that the iCloud for Windows application does not offer an obvious way to change the download location. However, you can achieve this by using a symbolic link. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing iCloud Photos Download Location

Step 1: Close iCloud for Windows

Before making any changes, ensure that iCloud for Windows is completely closed:

1. Check the system tray to make sure it’s not running in the background.
2. Right-click the iCloud icon and select "Exit" if it’s running.

Step 2: Move the Existing iCloud Photos Folder

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Pictures\iCloud Photos. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual username, which in this example is alexc.
2. Move all contents from the current iCloud Photos folder to the new desired location, such as D:\iCloud Photos.

Step 3: Delete the Existing iCloud Photos Folder

1. Ensure the existing iCloud Photos folder in C:\Users\alexc\Pictures is empty after moving its contents.
2. Delete the empty iCloud Photos folder.

Step 4: Verify No Existing Folder or Link

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows Terminal (Admin)".
2. Navigate to the Pictures directory with the following command:
   sh

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   cd C:\Users\alexc\Pictures
3. Verify that there is no iCloud Photos directory by listing the contents of the directory:
   sh

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   dir
4. If iCloud Photos still appears, ensure it is deleted. You can use:
   sh

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   rmdir "iCloud Photos"

Step 5: Create a Symbolic Link

1. Once the iCloud Photos directory is confirmed deleted, create the symbolic link with the following command:
   sh

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   mklink /D "C:\Users\alexc\Pictures\iCloud Photos" "D:\iCloud Photos"

Step 6: Restart iCloud for Windows

1. Open iCloud for Windows again. It should now use the new location for your iCloud Photos.

Why This Method Works

A symbolic link, also known as a symlink, is a type of file that points to another file or directory. By creating a symbolic link, you can make iCloud for Windows believe it’s still writing to the default location, while it’s actually using the new location you specified.

Final Thoughts

While iCloud for Windows does not provide a built-in option to change the download location of your photos, using a symbolic link is an effective workaround. This method helps you manage your storage more efficiently and ensures that your iCloud Photos are stored in a location that best suits your needs.

By following these steps, you can easily change the iCloud Photos download location on your Windows 11 PC. If you encounter any issues, double-check each step to ensure accuracy, and you should be able to set it up correctly.