How can I get `defaults write com.apple.screencapture` to change screen capture location in Mountain Lion

Question

I used to be able to set the key location under com.apple.screencapture to change the save location for the system-wide screen capture facility.

This doesn't work for me anymore -- screenshots save to the Desktop regardless of the setting of location. Here's what defaults says:

$ defaults read com.apple.screencapture
{
 location = "/Users/jogloran/Desktop/Screenshots";
}

It was a permissions issue on that folder in the end.
– jogloran
Sep 23, 2012 at 23:59 — jogloran, Sep 23, 2012 at 23:59

Stu Wilson · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-21 16:58:54Z

6

Works for me quite happily.

enter image description here

Have you restarted UIserver?

killall SystemUIServer

Does the path exist?

UPDATE: If the screen capture cannot find or write to the designated folder, it will default to the current user's desktop.

answered Sep 21, 2012 at 7:44

Stu Wilson

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+1 for this. As well, have you made sure to include the "location" portion of the command? I forgot to do this myself a couple times and never got any correction from the command line.
– Terrance Shaw
Sep 21, 2012 at 9:17
1

@Veil I'm sure he has, as the output of the defaults read command gives a valid looking path
– Stu Wilson
Sep 21, 2012 at 10:24
I definitely have. The path does exist. I've tried restarting SystemUIServer too -- this persists through reboots.
– jogloran
Sep 21, 2012 at 12:48
4

@jogloran if screen capture cannot find or write to the folder, then it will default to the Desktop. Check your file permissions on the folder, triple check the path, and all else fails, run repair permissions.
– Stu Wilson
Sep 21, 2012 at 17:00

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