All Memory Locations BotW: Complete Guide to Find Every Memory

Blogs rtdfsg 04 Jul , 2026 0

Introduction

If you came here searching for all memory locations BotW, you already know how powerful and emotional Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s captured memories can be. These scattered recollections unlock the truth of Link and Zelda’s past, fill out the story, and reward completionists with pivotal cutscenes. This guide walks you through the full memory hunt, shows how to locate every captured memory, and gives clear tips so you can find them faster using the Sheikah Sensor+, photo clues, and smart routes.

Why find all memories in Breath of the Wild?

Breath of the Wild memories are more than collectible flavor. Finding the required number of captured memories advances the main quest Captured Memories, allowing Impa to recount Zelda’s story. Collecting all memory locations BotW completes Zelda’s narrative arc and reveals the final scenes surrounding Calamity Ganon. Beyond story rewards, searching for memories encourages exploration, teaches you to read in-game landscape clues, and helps you master navigation and camera use.

Overview: How memories work and how many there are

There are 18 captured memories scattered across Hyrule in Breath of the Wild. When you first speak with Impa, she gives you a quest to recover Zelda’s lost memories. The photo album in the Sheikah Slate stores snapshots hinting at where each memory is located, so you are searching for places that match those photos. Finding 12 of these memories unlocks a major story advancement, but many players aim to collect all 18 to complete the album and fully understand the plot.

Preparation: Tools and tips before you start the memory hunt

Before you try to find all memory locations BotW, prepare smartly. The right gear and settings greatly speed up the search and reduce frustration.

Upgrade Sheikah Sensor+ at Hateno Ancient Tech Lab to detect memories. Use the sensor to mark proximity when you get close to a memory site.
Use the Camera rune to compare your environment with the reference photos in your album. Stand where the photo hint aligns with landmarks.
Fast travel to nearby shrines or towers to quickly hop between regions. Learning a good route makes collecting all 18 memories manageable in a few sessions.
Bring travel essentials like stamina food, a paraglider, and cold/warm gear depending on region. Some memories require climbing or traversing harsh climates.
Save often before searching in tough areas so you can retry puzzle or combat encounters without losing progress.

How to interpret the memory photos and use clues

Memory album pictures are intentionally cryptic. They show partial landmarks, lighting, or character positions. Here are strategies to decode them so you can find the captured memories locations:

Match skyline silhouettes — Mountain outlines, towers, and odd rock formations are the most consistent photo clues.
Look for unique flora or ruins — A lone tree, a ruined wall, or a nearby river can anchor where the scene is.
Time of day matters — Some memory photos show sun angles. Visit during morning or evening if the shadows are distinct.
Use elevation — Many memories require angling your camera from above or standing at a precise spot on a hill or cliff to trigger the recollection.
Sheikah Sensor+ beeps when you are near. Use it together with visual matching to narrow down the exact trigger point.

All memory locations BotW: Region-by-region list and how to find each

Below is a practical, region-based walkthrough of the 18 captured memories in Breath of the Wild. Each entry gives a clear landmark, a tip on where to stand, and a short trick to trigger the memory quickly. Use this list alongside your in-game photos for confirmation.

1. Great Plateau region

Landmark hints: Old ruins near the Great Plateau Tower, a camp scene. The Great Plateau holds an early memory that’s accessible without leaving the starting area. Look for a ruined outpost and align the background landscape shown in the photo.

Tip: Climb to a nearby hill to match the skyline and activate the memory.

2. Hyrule Field / Central Hyrule

Landmark hints: Open plains with a visible distant castle. This memory uses Hyrule Castle as a backdrop and usually triggers when you stand on a ruined road or near an old field camp.

Tip: Use a paraglider to approach from above so you can line up the castle with foreground objects in the photo.

3. Dueling Peaks region

Landmark hints: The twin mountains of Dueling Peaks are distinctive. Find a viewpoint between the two peaks where a small shrine or broken wall appears in the photo.

Tip: Climb the ridge north of the bridge between the peaks and rotate the camera until the photo matches.

4. West Necluda / Hateno boundary

Landmark hints: A field with a large tree and rolling hills. Many players find this memory by exploring the road between Hateno and Kakariko or near a recognizable house ruin.

Tip: Use the Hateno Tower area to fast travel close, then walk the road and let the Sheikah Sensor direct you.

5. Hateno Village area

Landmark hints: This memory often shows the village or a nearby laboratory. Look around the cliffs and terraces around Hateno; exact spots are near the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab.

Tip: Use the Camera while standing on terraces for the precise angle Impa’s photo implies.

6. Lanayru / Lake region

Landmark hints: Lakeshore with a broken pillar or shrine nearby. The waterline and reflective surface often help match the image.

Tip: Visit at calm weather; rain distorts the visual clues.

7. Akkala region

Landmark hints: Cliffs and an abandoned outpost near Akkala. The memory requires you to stand near a crumbled structure overlooking a ravine.

Tip: Paraglide to the precise ledge if the terrain is steep, then match the photo’s angle.

8. East Gerudo or Hebra foothills

Landmark hints: A desert-touch or snowy foothill area with a distant spire. The contrasting environment helps locate this memory quickly.

Tip: Wear appropriate armor for heat or cold depending on the region to avoid dying while exploring.

9. Eldin / Death Mountain region

Landmark hints: Rock formations, lava glow visible in the background, or a high plateau. Memories near Eldin often require careful traversal or a path around molten terrain.

Tip: Wait for safer paths or take a long detour to avoid hostile elements if you don’t have proper fire resistance gear.

10. Gerudo Highlands / Westlands

Landmark hints: Wide canyon, red rock, or a distinct ruin. The wide vistas here mean you may need to move slowly until the Sheikah Sensor signals proximity.

Tip: Search elevated paths; the memory trigger is frequently at the edge of a drop overlooking the landscape.

11. Faron Woods area

Landmark hints: Dense tree cover or a small clearing. Memory photos in forested regions can be tricky — match tree shapes and clearing placement.

Tip: Use the Camera all around a clearing to line up trunks and distant hill shapes.

12. Woodland or Korok Forest approach

Landmark hints: Mossy ruins and tall trees. The Korok Forest area yields a moody image that’s easier to find by sound and vegetation.

Tip: Use stealth and listen for wildlife; avoiding enemies preserves your health for a clean memory search.

13. Lanayru Highlands

Landmark hints: Coastal cliffs or an estuary. Photos featuring water and cliffs point to Lanayru regions where sunlight often glints on the ocean.

Tip: Approach from a tower and triangulate the shoreline alignment with the photo.

14. Akkala Ancient Tech Lab surroundings

Landmark hints: Ruined lab or towers. This memory ties into the ancient tech architecture scattered across Akkala.

Tip: Follow roads leading from the lab; many memory spots are just off beaten paths near old roads.

15. West Hyrule or Ridgeland

Landmark hints: Rolling hills and scattered ruins near Ridgeland. The environment here is open, making visual matching simpler if you find the right ridge.

Tip: Use the Sheikah Sensor to narrow wide-open areas faster.

16. South Hyrule near Lake Hylia

Landmark hints: Lakeshore or a small island visible in the photo. Match water edges and small islands to pinpoint the location.

Tip: Swim or raft across small lakes if needed; some memories require standing on the shoreline shown in the image.

17. Northern Hebra ridges

Landmark hints: Snowy cliffs and cold mountains. Photos in Hebra often show snow patterns and distinct frozen trees.

Tip: Bring cold resistance elixirs or armor and climb slowly to avoid falls.

18. Final memory near major story site

Landmark hints: Locations tied to the main plot, often near Hyrule Castle or the Sanctum region. The final memories sometimes require defeating a nearby guardian or clearing out enemies before you can stand where the photo indicates.

Tip: Clear nearby enemies or return after weakening dangerous patrols to safely access the trigger spot.

Efficient routes and time-saving tips for the memory hunt

Collecting all memories can be done efficiently by planning region loops. Here are practical tips to speed up your all memory locations BotW run:

Start from towers — Unlock towers early to fast travel close to multiple memory sites in a region.
Do in thematic batches — Complete all nearby memories in one session rather than jumping across Hyrule repeatedly.
Use the Sheikah Sensor+ to narrow the exact spot once you are in the general area.
Fly with a paraglider between ridges to line up photos from the correct elevations quickly.
Document tough spots — If a photo is ambiguous, leave a marker in your head or a quick map note to return after exploring other nearby markers.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Relying solely on landmarks: Photos are partial by design. Combine landscape matching with Sheikah Sensor beeps for accuracy.
Wrong time of day: If a photo shows sunset or sunrise lighting, make sure to visit at that time for better matching.
Enemy interruptions: Clear the area before trying to trigger a memory to avoid combat knocking you out of position.
Environmental hazards: Bring cold/heat protection for Hebra and Eldin memories. Falling or lava can ruin the attempt.

FAQs

Below are five common questions players ask about all memory locations BotW.

Q1: How many memories are there to find in Breath of the Wild?

A1: There are 18 captured memories scattered around Hyrule. Recovering twelve moves the main story forward, but collecting all 18 completes the album and reveals the full narrative.

Q2: Can I find memories without Sheikah Sensor+?

A2: Yes, you can find memories without Sheikah Sensor+, but the sensor significantly speeds up the search by detecting the memory’s general vicinity. Visual matching and camera use alone still work but require more time.

Q3: Do memories trigger automatically when standing in the right spot?

A3: Yes. Once you stand in the exact location and match the photo conditions, the memory will trigger automatically. Make sure enemies or obstacles aren’t interrupting you, and the camera angle matches the photo if needed.

Q4: Are memory locations different in the Master Mode or after beating Ganon?

A4: The memory locations themselves do not change between normal and Master Mode, but enemy placement and difficulty can vary. After beating Ganon, you can still collect memories you missed, and a final memory may be available tied to the endgame sequence.

Q5: Is there a map with all memory locations marked?

A5: Many community-created maps show all memory locations by coordinates or icons. Use in-game photo clues plus a trusted map guide if you want direct markers. However, part of the enjoyment is decoding the memory photos in-game and discovering them organically.

Conclusion

Finding all memory locations BotW is a rewarding way to experience Breath of the Wild’s story and explore Hyrule thoroughly. Use your Sheikah Sensor+, interpret photo clues, plan regional loops, and bring the right gear to make the hunt smooth. Whether you aim for the minimum number to progress Impa’s quest or want to collect all 18 captured memories for the full emotional payoff, this guide gives the practical tips and region-based direction to help you complete the album with confidence. Happy exploring, and may your camera angles always match the memories you’re chasing.