UWP - Get path to user download folder

Question

I have been looking for a little while now and am not finding much help via MSDN resources and others.

My predicament is simple: my app needs a base directory to the Downloads folder. I am aware of the DownloadsFolder class however that is not suiting my needs currently.

How do I get the current user's Download folder path in a Windows Universal App?

Answer 1

Is that what you need?

string localfolder = ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder.Path;
var array = localfolder.Split('\\');
var username = array[2];
string downloads = @"C:\Users\" + username + @"\Downloads";

This will result

C:\Users\username\Downloads

Answer 2

Use Windows.Storage.UserDataPaths to get the path of user's download folder.

string downloadsPath = UserDataPaths.GetDefault().Downloads;

• This method is introduced in build 16232, so clients with RS3(1709) or later will be able to run it.
• You shouldn't obtain downloads folder path using LocalFolder, which might result in wrong folder when the user changed the default location for it.

Answer 3

System.Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%userprofile%/downloads/")