To find the right Starfield screenshot location, first identify the tool that created the image: Photo Mode, Steam, Xbox, Microsoft Store, or Windows Game Bar. Similar images can land in different folders. That is the main reason players lose track of captures.
Key points
- Bethesda lists separate screenshot locations for Steam, Microsoft Store/Xbox App, Xbox Console, Game Bar, and Photo Mode.
- Photo Mode snapshots on PC are listed under Documents/My Games/Starfield/Data/Textures/Photos.
- The Xbox listing confirms Starfield on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and handheld.
- The PlayStation listing confirms Starfield on PS5 and PS5 Pro Enhanced.
This guide is for PC and Xbox players who want to recover photos, back them up, fix loading-screen images, or stop jumping between capture folders. You can also follow our broader coverage through latest news, articles, and news categories.
Key Points
- Photo Mode images are not always stored with Steam or Xbox screenshots.
- On PC, Bethesda lists Documents/My Games/Starfield/Data/Textures/Photos for Photo Mode snapshots.
- Steam F12 screenshots are easiest to find through Steam’s screenshot manager.
- Xbox console captures are found through My games and apps, Apps, then Captures.
- An empty in-game gallery does not always mean the files are gone.
Starfield screenshot location by capture method
The most common mistake is looking for a Photo Mode picture inside Steam’s screenshot folder. The reverse also happens. Starfield, your launcher, your console, and Windows can all create separate files.
- If you opened Starfield Photo Mode, check the game’s Photo Mode folder.
- If you pressed F12 while using Steam, use the Steam screenshot manager.
- If you used an Xbox controller or console capture button, check Xbox captures.
- If you used Xbox Game Bar on PC, check Windows capture settings.
Bethesda’s support page is the safest reference for these locations: official capture help. Xbox also confirms the supported platforms on its store page: Starfield on Xbox.
Starfield screenshot location on Steam and Microsoft Store
On Steam, open View, then Screenshots. Select Starfield from the game list, pick any image, and open the local folder from the manager. This avoids guessing the path.
For the Microsoft Store or Xbox App version on PC, Bethesda points players toward the install folder, often C:\XboxGames\Starfield. If you captured through Windows Game Bar, open Windows Settings, Gaming, Captures, and use Open folder.
| Capture method | First place to check | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Steam F12 | Steam > View > Screenshots | Open the local folder from Steam |
| Xbox App PC | C:\XboxGames\Starfield | Check the install folder |
| Windows Game Bar | Windows Settings > Gaming > Captures | Use Open folder |
| Starfield Photo Mode | Documents/My Games/Starfield/Data/Textures/Photos | Check the game Photo Mode folder |
Recover Photo Mode images safely
Photo Mode files are easy to misplace because they can feed the in-game gallery or loading screens. On PC, Bethesda lists Documents/My Games/Starfield/Data/Textures/Photos as the Photo Mode snapshot location.
Create a backup folder outside the game directory, such as Pictures/Starfield exports. Copy the files you want to keep. Do not rename the whole Photos folder.
- Open the Photo Mode folder.
- Sort by date modified.
- Copy important files to a separate folder.
- Keep one untouched original.
- Relaunch the game after confirming the source files still exist.
Fix an empty Starfield gallery
An empty gallery does not automatically mean your Starfield screenshots were deleted. The game may be reading another folder. You may also be looking for a console capture created outside Photo Mode.
On PC, inspect Documents/My Games/Starfield and the photo-related folders. If you also play through Steam, check the Steam screenshot manager before assuming data loss.
Troubleshoot by copying, not moving. Test one image, relaunch Starfield, and see whether the gallery reacts normally.
Organize Starfield captures for sharing
Starfield encourages huge photo libraries: planets, ships, cities, interiors, zero-G fights, and crew moments. After a few sessions, organization matters.
Use filenames with the date, place, and scene type. A name like 2026-05-23_New-Atlantis_Frontier-ship.jpg will help far more than image001.jpg later.
Keep a raw folder and an export folder. Add the source to the filename if you play across platforms: Steam, Xbox, GameBar, or PhotoMode.
Mistakes to avoid with Starfield screenshots
Do not move the whole Photos folder just to free space. Copy first, then clean up later. Do not assume a Steam screenshot and a Photo Mode image are identical.
Do not rely only on loading screens as proof that your gallery is healthy. Open the files in your file explorer and confirm they exist. Then back them up to another drive or cloud storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Starfield Photo Mode screenshots stored on PC?Bethesda lists Documents/My Games/Starfield/Data/Textures/Photos for Photo Mode snapshots.
Open Steam, go to View, Screenshots, select Starfield, then open the local folder from the manager.
You may have used another capture tool. Check Photo Mode, Steam, Game Bar, and Xbox captures separately.
Copy them first. Moving or renaming originals can make them disappear from the in-game gallery.
No. Xbox console captures and Starfield Photo Mode snapshots can be stored and surfaced differently.
Open Windows Settings, Gaming, Captures, then use Open folder to jump to the capture location.
Rename exported copies freely. Avoid renaming original Photo Mode files if you want them visible in-game.
Use Bethesda Support, the Steam page, and the Xbox listing.
Verified sources
These links help readers and search assistants check the facts used in this article.
