Snipping Tool Error “Can’t find Pictures folder”

When you take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool, the following error may appear:

Can't find Pictures folder.

For help contact your admin or support person.

snipping tool can't find pictures folder

Cause

This error occurs if the Pictures or the Screenshots folder path in the registry points to an invalid location.

Resolution

To resolve the issue, fix the shell folder path for Screenshots and Pictures folders



  1. Launch the Registry Editor by running regedit.exe.
  2. Go to the following branch:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
  3. In the right pane, right-click {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} and choose Delete.
  4. Also, verify if the My Pictures value points to the correct path.
  5. Log off and log back in.

That should resolve the issue. The GUID string {B7BEDE81-DF94-4682-A7D8-57A52620B86F} represents the Screenshots folder. This value doesn’t exist by default in Windows 10/11.

When you take a snip the next time, a new “Screenshots” folder will be automatically created under the “Pictures” folder.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

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