Should i save files to my desktop

The files in My Documents will be left untouched. If you still want to back up to the desktop, you should alter Windows a bit to make it safer—and more convenient.

First of all, you need to add the desktop to the Documents library. This protects the desktop from System Restore changes and possibly adds it to backups. Once in the dialog box, click the Include a folder option and select the desktop. If you're doing that, you may as well use an actual folder that won't clutter your desktop. Windows comes with default folders like Documents and Pictures that are perfect for storing your data.

You can create many sub-folders, though there is a limit as the total path can't be more than characters. Nevertheless, that's plenty for even the most obsessive organizers. If you store on the desktop for ease of access, you should consider using a cloud storage provider.

Any good cloud service will also appear as a folder on your computer and automatically sync everything within it to the cloud. This means that your files are not only accessible from multiple devices, but you also have multiple copies of them too.

Many providers also provide revision history, which tracks any change made to a file. If you need to revert to an old version, you can do that with a couple of clicks. That's not possible if you store on the desktop. Of course, the desktop does have a purpose. It isn't great at storing lots of folders and files, but it is good at hosting shortcuts. Shortcuts mean you don't have to navigate through File Explorer to find your files. Instead, you double-click the shortcut and are immediately taken there.

Alternatively, left click and drag a folder or file to the desktop to turn it into a shortcut. Instead of putting the shortcuts on the desktop, you could go one step further. Right click on any shortcut and select either Pin to taskbar or Pin to Start. Of course, you don't want to overload your taskbar or Start menu either, but you can use this to pin the most important files and programs that you need regular access to.

While the Windows desktop does have a purpose, it isn't a warehouse for all your files. Hopefully we've demonstrated the better options available to you. If your desktop is still a bit of a mess and full of junk and shortcuts, take a look at our guide to clean up your Windows desktop. Which Raspberry Pi project should you start with? If you are having trouble determining what drive is associated with a flash drive or another external drive, open My Computer and look at the available drives.

On Windows computers, all document-related files e. We recommend keeping all documents in this folder to make it easier to backup all your important files.

Like the My Documents folder, pictures are automatically defaulted to save in the My Pictures folder. You can save nearly any file online in cloud storage.

Many companies offer file storage options in the cloud, making the files accessible from any computer and other computing devices, like smartphones and tablets. Files in cloud storage can be shared with other users, allowing them to view the files and edit them if given permission. Where should I save files? Note All options mentioned below are recommendations. Tip If you're working with big files, you may run into space limitations.