CapCut Desktop stores exports in your chosen Export path; on Windows it often defaults to a CapCut folder in Documents, and you can change it any time.
Lost an export after a long render? You’re not alone. CapCut on PC and Mac uses a mix of export folders, project drafts, and cache files. This guide shows where to look on both systems, how to change the export folder, and how to keep space-hungry caches under control. You’ll leave with quick paths you can copy, a repeatable workflow, and a backup plan if you switch drives or machines.
Quick Answer And What To Expect
Exports go wherever you set the save path in the Export window. If you never changed it, the file often lands in a CapCut folder inside Documents on Windows, or in the folder you last used on either system. Drafts and cache live in app data directories. You can switch the export path per project or set a new default and keep a tidy structure for teams or multi-drive setups.
Windows Paths You’ll Use Most
On Windows, you’ll typically see three storage spots:
1) Exported Files (Your Final MP4/MOV/GIF)
By default, many builds send finished files to a CapCut folder under Documents. If you picked a different location in the Export window, that custom folder wins for that render.
C:\Users\<YourUser>\Documents\CapCut\Tip: after a render, click the small folder icon or “Open folder” button in the Export panel. That jumps straight to the file and tells you the current path for future runs.
2) Draft Projects (Your Timelines And Edits)
CapCut keeps working project data under your user’s app data. This is the stuff you’d back up before a clean install or a device swap.
C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\CapCut\User Data\Projects\3) Cache And Temporary Renders
Previews, proxies, thumbnails, and temp renders can grow fast. You’ll find them in CapCut’s cache area.
C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\CapCut\cache\You can clear this inside CapCut settings when space gets tight. Keep projects closed during the cleanup to avoid file locks.
macOS Paths You’ll Use Most
Mac follows the same pattern: your final files go to the export path you choose, while working files and caches live in Library paths under your user account.
1) Exported Files (Your Final MP4/MOV/GIF)
If you didn’t change anything, CapCut saves to whatever folder you last picked in the Export window. Many editors point this to Movies or a project folder on an external drive.
~/Movies/CapCut/ (common choice you can set)
or any folder you pick in the Export window2) Draft Projects (Your Timelines And Edits)
Working project data sits in your user Library. Use Go → Go to Folder in Finder to jump straight there.
~/Library/Application Support/CapCut/User Data/Projects/3) Cache And Temporary Renders
Preview and render cache lives in your user Library as well.
~/Library/Application Support/CapCut/cache/Find The Current Export Folder Inside CapCut
You don’t need to guess. Start an export and look at the path shown in the Export window. You can click the path to pick a new folder for this render. After export, use the “Open folder” shortcut near the file name to reveal it in Explorer or Finder. This is the fastest way to trace where your build landed.
Set A Clean, Permanent Save Structure
A little structure avoids the “where did it go?” moment and prevents duplicate renders across drives.
Suggested Layout
- Projects (Drafts) on a fast internal SSD for snappy editing.
- Exports in a dedicated folder (e.g.,
D:\Video\CapCut\Exports\or~/Movies/Exports/). - Cache left on the internal drive for speed; clear it often.
Change Where Exports Land
- Open your timeline and click Export.
- Under the file name, click the folder path or the small folder icon.
- Pick a new folder (e.g., a dated project folder on a larger drive).
- Run the export. Use Open folder to verify the new location.
“Where Are My Drafts?” (Common Recovery Moves)
If CapCut opens but a project looks missing, try this quick checklist:
- Open a project and check the Path shown in the properties/details pane. That reveals the current draft folder.
- Search the Windows draft path listed earlier. If AppData is hidden, toggle hidden items in File Explorer (see the Windows link below).
- On Mac, use Go → Go to Folder and paste the draft path to jump straight to it.
- Look for folders named by dates or random IDs; inside, you’ll find timeline data and references to your clips.
Close Variant: CapCut PC Save Location Guide
If you need to share a location with a teammate, send the exact path along with a quick note on drive letters. Windows paths won’t match on another user’s machine if their username or drive layout differs. On Mac, tilde (~) expands to the logged-in user’s home folder, which keeps instructions short and clear.
Keep Cache Bloat Under Control
Preview and render cache can balloon over time. Two habits help:
- Clear cache inside CapCut’s settings when a project wraps.
- Enable auto-clear if your version provides it, and keep a modest limit so the app prunes old render data.
Exports stay safe when you clear cache. Drafts remain intact as well. You’re only removing temp files that CapCut can rebuild when needed.
Windows And Mac: Show Hidden Folders Fast
Both platforms hide app data by default. If you need to reveal those folders:
- Windows: turn on hidden items in File Explorer. You can also use the Run box to jump straight to
%LOCALAPPDATA%or%APPDATA%. If you’d like an official walkthrough, see Microsoft’s Show hidden files page. - macOS: in Finder, use Go → Go to Folder… and paste a path like
~/Library/Application Support/CapCut/. Apple’s guide for Go to Folder shows the exact steps.
Table: Typical Folders At A Glance
This snapshot helps you compare the common locations. Adjust your paths as needed for your username, drive letters, and workflow.
| What | Windows (Typical) | macOS (Typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Exports (final files) | C:\Users\<You>\Documents\CapCut\ or the folder you choose in Export |
~/Movies/CapCut/ or the folder you choose in Export |
| Drafts (project data) | %LOCALAPPDATA%\CapCut\User Data\Projects\ |
~/Library/Application Support/CapCut/User Data/Projects/ |
| Cache (previews, temp renders) | %LOCALAPPDATA%\CapCut\cache\ |
~/Library/Application Support/CapCut/cache/ |
Pick A Smarter Export Path For Each Project
Want tidy archives and faster hand-offs? Create a top-level folder per client or series and export into a dated subfolder. That keeps thumbnails, captions, and final renders in one place and avoids hunting through a default folder months later.
Easy Pattern To Reuse
D:\Video\<Client>\<ProjectName>\Exports\YYYY-MM-DD\
~/Movies/<Client>/<ProjectName>/Exports/YYYY-MM-DD/Move Finished Renders To Another Drive
If your internal SSD is cramped, render to a fast local folder, then move the final files to an external drive. Keep drafts and cache local for playback speed; they’re more sensitive to drive latency than exported files.
- Export to your fast internal drive.
- After QC, move the finished MP4/MOV to storage (NAS or USB-C SSD).
- Leave drafts where they are until the project closes.
Backup Before A Reinstall Or Device Swap
A clean reinstall or a new machine doesn’t mean you lose work. Copy the project and user-data folders, then paste them onto the new install before launching CapCut.
Copy These Folders
- Windows:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\CapCut\User Data\and any custom project/excerpt folders. - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/CapCut/User Data/and your export folders.
Bring along any media bins you referenced outside CapCut (stock folders, music, SFX) so the timelines relink without prompts.
Troubleshooting: I Can’t See App Data Or Library
If those folders look missing, they’re just hidden by design. Use the Windows toggle for hidden items, or paste a path in Finder’s Go to Folder on Mac using the links above. Once your job is done, feel free to hide system folders again to avoid stray edits.
CapCut Desktop Save Location Tips (One-Minute Recap)
- Use the Export window to verify and change the destination before you hit render.
- Keep a predictable folder pattern for clients and series.
- Let cache live on a fast internal drive and clear it when projects wrap.
- Back up the “User Data/Projects” directory before reinstalling or switching devices.