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UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocationWindows7HelpForums
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Windows7:UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocation
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UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocation
HowtoChangetheDefaultLocationofUserFoldersinWindows7andWindows8
PublishedbyBrink
29Jul2009

HowtoChangetheDefaultLocationofUserFoldersin
Windows7andWindows8

Publishedby

Information
This will show you how to change (move) the default location of your account's C:\Users\(username)
folders to another location of your choice instead in Windows 7andWindows 8, and still have access to
theuserfolderfromtheStartMenu(Windows7only)location.

Brink

Tip
IfyouarejustwantingtosaveHDDspace,thenyoumightconsiderthisbelowtobeabletoaccessthefiles
fromyourlibrarieswiththefilesactuallylocatedwhereyoulikeinstead.Thiswayyouwillnothavetoworry
aboutanypotentialissuesthatcomewithmovinguserfolderlocations.Forexample,whateverpartitionyou
moveyouruserfolderstowillnowbeincludedinasystemimageinWindows7andWindows8.
Createanewfolderatanylocationyouwant.
Moveanyfilesyouwantintothenewfolder.
Includethenewfolderintoalibrary(Windows7orWindows8)ofyourchoice.
If you like, you can also set the new folder to be the default save to location (Windows 7 or
Windows8)forthelibraryaswell.

Warning
If you change the default location of your Favorites folder in Windows 8 or 8.1, your Favorites in
InternetExplorerwillnolongerbeavailableuntilyoumoveyourFavoritesbacktothedefault"C:\Users\
(username)"location.

EXAMPLE:UserFolders
NOTE:ThisisatthedefaultC:\Users\(username)location.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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OPTIONONE
ToChangeMainUserProfileFolderLocation
1.Forhow,see:
UserProfileChangeDefaultLocation
OR
HowtoRelocateUserProfilestoanotherPartitionorDiskinWindows8

OPTIONTWO
ToChangeUserFoldersLocationfromwithinUserProfileFolder
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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1.Ifyouapartofahomegroup,thenyouwillneedtochangethehomegroupsettingstonolongersharetheuserfolder
(ex:MyMusic)thatyouwanttomovefirstbyuncheckingthefolderandclickingonSaveChanges.(seescreenshotbelow)
NOTE:Thisissotheuserfolder(ex:MyMusic)willnotbesharedonthehomegroupanymore.

2.InWindowsExplorer,navigatetowhere(ex:D:drive)youwanttomovethedefaultuserfolder(ex:MyMusic)locationto.
3. Create a New Folder by right clicking or press and hold on a empty space in the main window there, and click/tap on
NewandFolder.Namethenewfolderwithoutspaces(ex:"Music"forMyMusic)fortheuserfolderthatyouwanttomove
there.(Seescreenshotsbelow)
NOTE: The name that you type in for the new folder will be what you see as the user folder name in the Start Menu
(shell:UsersFilesFolder) location when finished with all of these steps. It would be best to use the same name as the user
foldertoavoidconfusion.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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4.Closethiswindow.(Seescreenshotsabove)
5.PresstheWindows+RkeystoopentheRundialog,typeshell:UsersFilesFolder,andpressenter.
NOTE:ThiswillopenyourC:\Users\(username)folder.

6.Rightclickorpressandholdonauserfolder(ex:MyMusic,MyDocuments,MyPictures,etc.....)thatyouwanttomove
thedefaultlocationfor,andclick/taponProperties.(Seescreenshotbelow)

7.Click/tapontheLocationtab,andMovebutton.(Seescreenshotbelow)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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8.Navigatetothesamelocationasinstep2and3above,thenselecttherenamednewfolder(ex:Music),andclick/tapon
theSelectFolderbutton.(Seescreenshotbelow)

9.Click/taponOK.(Seescreenshotbelow)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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10.Click/taponYes.(Seescreenshotbelow)

11.Afterafewsecondswhenthelocationhasbeenchanged,thePropertieswindow(screenshotunderstep9)willthenclose.
12.CheckbackattheC:\Users\(username)locationtomakesurethattheolduserfolder(ex:MyMusic)thatyoumoved
isnolongerthere.Ifitis,thenmakesurethatthecontentsofthefolderweremovedtothenewlocation,anddeleteit.(See
screenshotbelow)
NOTE:Ifyouareunabletodeletethefolder,thenrestartthecomputerandtryagain.

13. You will notice that the folder at the shell:UsersFilesFolder location and the new location (ex: D drive) you moved the
userfolderto,nowhasthedefaultuserfolder(ex:MyMusic)icon.(Seescreenshotbelow)
NOTE:TheStartMenuinWindows7nowopenstheuserfolderfromthenewlocation(ex:D:drive)thatyoumovedtheuser

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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folderto.

14.Ifyouapartofahomegroup,thenyoucannowchangethehomegroupsettingsbacktosharetheuserfolder(ex:
MyMusic)againifyoulikebycheckingthefolder,andclick/taponSaveChanges.(seescreenshotbelow)

Tip
Ifyouwantedtorestorethedefaultlocationoftheuserfolder,thensee:
HowtoRestoretheDefaultLocationofUserFoldersinWindows7andWindows8

That'sit,
Shawn

RelatedTutorials

HowtoCustomizeDefaultUserProfileinAuditMode
HowtoRestoretheDefaultLocationofUserFoldersinWindows7andWindows8
HowtoChangetheDefault"Screenshots"FolderLocationinWindows8
HowtoChangetheWindows7DefaultUserFolderIcons
HowtoPinYourUserFilesFoldertotheWindows7Taskbar
HowtoCreateYourOwnSpecialUserFolder

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocationWindows7HelpForums
HowtoRestoreWindows7DefaultUserFolderIcons
HowtoAddorRemoveyourUserFolderfromtheWindows7NavigationPane
HowtoAlloworPreventUserstoMovetheirUserFolderstoaNewLocation
HowtoChangetheDefaultLocationofaUserProfileinWindows7andVista
HowtoChangetheNameof"MyDocuments"withoutRenamingtheFolder
UserFoldersMovingUserFoldersbyModularScript
HowtoFreeUpandRecoverHardDriveSpaceinWindows7
HowtoChangetheUserFolderNameofaUserProfileinWindows7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocationWindows7HelpForums

HardDiskDataRecovery
Lostyourdata,StellarwouldhelpCallUsForFree
Consultation

29Jul2009

#1

Lee
Win7Prox64,VM
WinXP,Win7Pro
Sandbox,Kubuntu
11
1,741posts

Brink,
Thanks,afterfinishingreading,IprintedittoPDF.ThatwayIcangetrightthefirsttime.Goodinfo.

Fruitland,Idaho

Tip:DownloadWindowsRepairTool

MySystemSpecs
29Jul2009

#2

Brink

You'remostwelcomeLee.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocationWindows7HelpForums
64bitWindows8.1
Enterprise
58,516posts
Oklahoma

MySystemSpecs
28Aug2009

#3

SHOGuide
Windows7
2posts
Alpine

YoupresentedtheexactquestionIwasseeking,butyouranswerillustratesmovingasubfolderofthedefault
user.IinstalledWindows7andprovidedausername,sothedefaultfolderisc:\users\user1.Thereisalockicon
onthisfolder.Iwanttoassignthismachinetojjonesandwantthedefaultdirectorytobec:\users\jjoneswithall
thesubfoldersofmusic,video,documents...Ichangedthelogintojjones(admin),thinkingitwouldchangethe
folders.MaybeImissedastep...Thanks!

MySystemSpecs

28Aug2009

#4

Brink

64bitWindows8.1
Enterprise
58,516posts
Oklahoma

HelloSHOGuide,andwelcometoSevenForums.

TheonlywayyoucanchangetheC:\Users\(username)folderistocreateanewadministratoraccountwitha
differentnamethantheuser1andjjonesthatyouassignedtotheotheraccount.Afterwards,copythecontentsof
yourC:\users\user1foldersintothecorrespondingnewaccount'sC:\Users\(username)folders.Wheneverything
checksoutok,youcanthendeletetheolduseraccountfromwithinthenewone.
Hopethishelps,
Shawn

MySystemSpecs
31Aug2009

#5

SHOGuide
Windows7
2posts
Alpine

Thankyou!ThisiswhatIwaslookingfor.IwashopefulthatifIjustchangedtheonlyAdminloginfromuser1to
jjonesthatWindowswouldsimplypromptmetorenameeverythingthatwasassociatedwithuser1.Afterthinking
aboutit,thatwouldnotbeeasyforthesystemtodo.I'mstilltryingtogetusedtotheLibrariesfolderstructure.It
hasinitiallybeenconfusing.

MySystemSpecs
31Aug2009

#6

Brink

You'rewelcomeSHOGuide.

Ifithelpsany,youcanthinkoftheLibrariesasacollectionsofshortcutstomakeaccessingandchangingfilesfrom
differentlocationseasiertodoinonelocation(library)instead.
64bitWindows8.1
Enterprise
58,516posts
Oklahoma

MySystemSpecs
10Sep2009

#7

churin
W7Ultx64
345posts

WhatisUsersFilesFolderinshell:UsersFilesFolderinSetp3.?IthoughtitisFavoriteswhenIwantedtorelocate
thisfolderbutitdoesnotseemstobeso.

U.S.A.

MySystemSpecs
10Sep2009

#8

Barman58

Quote:OriginallyPostedbychurin

Windows8.1Pro
x64x3+Windows
10Preview,Ubuntu
15,021posts

WhatisUsersFilesFolderinshell:UsersFilesFolderinSetp3.?IthoughtitisFavoriteswhenIwantedto
relocatethisfolderbutitdoesnotseemstobeso.

Newport,South
Wales,UK

Theshell:UsersFilesFolderisthesystemidentifierfortheuserfolderwhichappersastheusernameinthestart
menuorexplorer.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629userfolderschangedefaultlocation.html

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UserFoldersChangeDefaultLocationWindows7HelpForums
Itisthepointertothefolderc:\users\{user}inthedefaultsetupbutisnotasfarasIamawarerelocatableusing
thelocationfunction

MySystemSpecs
10Sep2009

#9

churin

Quote:OriginallyPostedbyBarman58

W7Ultx64
345posts

Quote:OriginallyPostedbychurin

U.S.A.

WhatisUsersFilesFolderinshell:UsersFilesFolderinSetp3.?IthoughtitisFavoriteswhenI
wantedtorelocatethisfolderbutitdoesnotseemstobeso.

Theshell:UsersFilesFolderisthesystemidentifierfortheuserfolderwhichappersastheusernameinthe
startmenuorexplorer.
MyquestioniswhattheUsersFilesFolderis.Whereasyouranswerisshell:UsersFilesFolderis........Pleaseprovide
whatgoesinplaceofUsersFilesFolderbyaspcificexample.
MySystemSpecs
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