CapCut saves projects in a folder on your hard drive, not in the cloud by default

When you create a project in CapCut on Windows, the program stores it locally on your computer in a specific folder. By default, CapCut creates a directory called CapCut inside your user folder under AppData. The exact path is C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\CapCut. Inside that folder, you'll find subfolders for your projects, drafts, and cache files.

The project files themselves are not video files—they're data files that contain references to your clips, effects, transitions, and timeline information. The actual video clips you imported stay wherever you originally saved them on your computer. When you open a CapCut project, the program reads the project file and pulls in those clips from their original locations.

This matters because if you move or delete the original video files after creating a project, CapCut will show a broken link when you try to open that project. The program can't find the clips anymore, even though the project file itself still exists.

Key Takeaways

  • CapCut projects are stored in C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\CapCut by default on Windows.
  • Project files contain editing information but not the actual video clips—those stay in their original locations.
  • Moving or deleting your original video files after creating a project will break the links in that project.
  • You can change where CapCut saves new projects by adjusting the program settings before you start editing.
  • Backing up your project folder protects your editing work, but you also need to keep the original video files safe.

How to find your CapCut projects folder

To navigate to your CapCut folder manually, open File Explorer and type the path directly into the address bar. Click on the address bar at the top of the window, clear it, and paste C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\CapCut, replacing [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. Press Enter and you'll land in the CapCut directory.

If you don't know your username, open File Explorer, click on "This PC" in the left sidebar, and look at the path shown in the address bar. It will show something like C:\Users\JohnSmith—that part after Users\ is your username.

Inside the CapCut folder, you'll see several subfolders. The projects folder holds your saved projects. Each project gets its own subfolder with a name you assigned when you created it. The drafts folder contains projects you started but didn't save with a final name. The cache

Why AppData is hidden by default

The AppData folder doesn't show up when you browse your user folder normally because Windows hides it. This is intentional—AppData contains system and program settings that most users don't need to touch, and hiding it prevents accidental deletion or changes.

If you want AppData to show up in File Explorer without typing the path each time, you can unhide it. Open File Explorer, click the View tab at the top, then check the box next to "Hidden items." Now AppData will appear in your user folder alongside Documents, Downloads, and Desktop.

Changing where CapCut saves new projects

CapCut doesn't offer a built-in settings menu to change the default project folder location the way some other programs do. The process is designed to use the AppData folder, and that setting isn't exposed in the preferences.

If you want your projects in a more accessible location, you can create a shortcut to your CapCut projects folder and place it on your Desktop or in your Documents folder. This doesn't move the actual files—it just creates a quick link to them. Right-click the CapCut projects folder, select "Send to," then choose "Desktop (create shortcut)."

Alternatively, you can manually copy completed projects to a folder you create yourself—say, C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\My CapCut Projects—for backup and organization. Keep the originals in AppData so CapCut can find them, but maintain copies elsewhere as a safety measure.

What happens when you export a video from CapCut

Exporting is different from saving a project. When you export, CapCut renders your timeline into an actual video file (usually MP4 format) and saves it wherever you choose. The export dialog lets you pick the destination folder. This exported video is separate from your project file—you can delete the project and keep the video, or vice versa.

The project file stays in your CapCut folder in AppData. The exported video goes to whatever folder you selected during export, often the Downloads folder or Desktop by default. If you want to find an exported video later, check those common locations first, or use Windows Search to look for the filename.

Backing up your CapCut projects

To protect your editing work, copy your entire CapCut folder to an external drive or cloud storage. Plug in an external USB drive, open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local, right-click the CapCut folder, and select "Copy." Then navigate to your external drive and paste it there.

Remember that this backup only protects the project files themselves. If you've imported video clips from specific locations on your computer, those original files aren't included in the CapCut folder backup. To fully protect your work, you should also back up the folder where you store your source video clips.

For a complete safety net, keep three things: your project files (in the CapCut folder), your original video clips (wherever you imported them from), and your exported final videos (wherever you chose to save them during export).

Recovering a deleted CapCut project

If you delete a project from CapCut, the project file goes to your Windows Recycle Bin. Open the Recycle Bin on your Desktop, look for the project folder or file, right-click it, and select "Restore." The project will return to your CapCut folder and you can open it again in the program.

This only works if you haven't emptied the Recycle Bin. Once you empty it, recovery becomes much harder and usually requires professional data recovery software, which is expensive and not may provide to work. If you've deleted something important, stop using your computer when ready and consult a data recovery service before the space gets overwritten.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my CapCut projects to a different folder?

You can copy your projects to another folder for backup, but CapCut expects them in the AppData location. If you move the original project folder, CapCut won't find your projects when you open the program. Keep the originals in AppData and maintain copies elsewhere if you want them in a different location.

What's the difference between a project file and an exported video?

A project file contains all your editing information—clips, effects, transitions, timeline layout. An exported video is the finished product, rendered into a playable MP4 file. You need the project file to edit further; you need the exported video to share or watch on other devices.

Will my CapCut projects sync to the cloud?

CapCut on Windows stores projects locally by default and does not automatically sync them to cloud storage. If you want cloud backup, you must manually copy your CapCut folder to OneDrive, Google Drive, or another cloud service. Some users do this regularly to protect their work.

Why does CapCut say my clips are missing when I open a project?

This happens when you've moved or deleted the original video files after creating the project. CapCut stores only references to those files, not the files themselves. Move the clips back to their original location, or re-import them into the project to fix the broken links.

How much disk space do CapCut projects take up?

Project files themselves are small—usually just a few megabytes each. The cache folder can grow large during editing, sometimes several gigabytes, because CapCut stores temporary preview files there. You can delete the cache folder to free space; CapCut will recreate it as needed.