Changing where gimp saves

CapellaM44 · **Joined:** May 29, 2015 **Posts:** 20

GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Mac OS
OS Version: 13.7.8
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

Greetings all,
Is there a way to set the default location for saving? I would like it to save to a project folder for whatever project I'm working in. Right now, I will open a project let's call it "gingerbread" from the gingerbread folder. When I go to save this file, it defaults to the desktop. This is making multiple copies if I don't watch what I'm doing. Then I don't know which is the latest and greatest if I return to a project a few days later. I've looked in settings to try and find a way to set the default location to "last opened" but that doesn't seem to be an option. Can anyone please help?

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16008

Might i suggest using Save As instead of save? Then you can select the same folder each time. Also in the save as dialog you can select a folder and add it to the list on the left.

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2025 7:38 am **(#3)**

As a side note:
this behavior was improved in newer GIMP versions (2.10+).
In GIMP 2.8, doing as Rod suggests or use a later version of GIMP,
if this behavior is driving you nuts.
This seems to be a limitation of GIMP 2.8 on all platforms.
It does not support defaulting saves to the last used or project folder.

CapellaM44 · **Joined:** May 29, 2015 **Posts:** 20

That doesn't quite solve the problem but something I can consider. I do like just doing a quick keystroke for a command to save something I just opened. It is kind of frustrating it won't save it to the folder in which it just opened.

Rod wrote:

Might i suggest using Save As instead of save? Then you can select the same folder each time. Also in the save as dialog you can select a folder and add it to the list on the left.

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