Where Does VLC Save Snapshots and Recordings?
VLC snapshot and recording default folders on Windows, macOS and Linux, and the preferences that change them.
Last updated
VLC snapshots default to Pictures on Windows and Linux and Desktop on macOS, named vlcsnap plus a timestamp. Recordings default to Videos on most setups.
Both paths are preferences, not fixed rules. Tools, Preferences, then Video (snapshots) and Input/Codecs (recordings) show the live folders.
Where VLC stores this, by platform
%USERPROFILE%\Pictures
Snapshots land here as vlcsnap files by default. Recordings default to %USERPROFILE%\Videos. Change both under Tools, Preferences.
~/Pictures
Older builds defaulted snapshots to Desktop instead. If captures are not in Pictures, check VLC Preferences, Video for the redirected path.
~/Pictures
Snapshots as vlcsnap files; recordings under ~/Videos by default. Both follow XDG user dirs when customized.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change the VLC snapshot folder?
Open Tools, Preferences, Video, and set the snapshot directory at the bottom. The prefix and format controls sit right next to it.
Where is the red record button output?
In the Videos folder by default, as an .mp4 or .ts dump of the stream. Set it under Preferences, Input/Codecs if yours goes elsewhere.
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