How to change the folder path for Documents, Music, etc libraries?

I plan on having an SSD for the OS and a separate hard drive for programs/documents, music, etc. What I don't know is how exactly to change the directory for my Documents, music, videos, pictures, downloads libraries. Can anyone explain how to do this?

This is for Windows 10 (obviously)

If you want to move individual user folders to another location, see this tutorial on our sister site the Seven Forums (it applies to Windows 10, too): User Folders - Change Default Location - Windows 7 Help Forums

If you would rather move the whole Users folder and everything it contains to another location, see this tutorial: Users Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Kari

Hi, I can well understand your intention to separate the OS from your programs and data.

However it's not a good idea to have your installed programs on a different physical disk (E.g. D: ) to your OS as you plan. Why?
1. The registry is on C, the program on D
2. Other files and folders related to the program may well be on C
3. Coordinating backups e.g. disk images of the two separate disks
4. You'd need system restore on on C and D
5. What happens if one disk fails- what do you do then?
6. etc etc.

So simply by specifying your install path as D: doesn't mean (as I assume you know) your program is independent of the OS. Only true of portable programs.

If, say, your boot 'disk' is an SSD, you might be concerned about space depending on how big your SSD is at this point (= how much you're prepared to spend). Then you might have to make an exception for an especially large program, for example.

Further, your boot time will be somewhat reduced if you have programs loaded on startup on your HDD.

+1 dalchina! I recommend creating data folders on the designated partition or hard-drive. And, educating each of your important data-creating programs to default save into [onto] the designated hard-drive's folders you created. When you have to OS restore, your data will not care in the least 'cause it's all residing on another partition [or hard-drive]. Be advised: if you use Firefox, Thunderbird, eM Client, or similar programs -- you can save certain folders to your backups hard-drive just prior to OS restore.

Jagwar said:

I plan on having an SSD for the OS and a separate hard drive for programs/documents, music, etc. What I don't know is how exactly to change the directory for my Documents, music, videos, pictures, downloads libraries. Can anyone explain how to do this?

This is for Windows 10 (obviously)

Hello Jagwar, :)

Actually, you do not need to change the location of Libraries since the location depends on where the folders included in the library are located, and what included folder you set as the default save location. The default save location is where everything you save in the library is actually saved to.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8...dows-10-a.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8...dows-10-a.html

Brink said:

Hello Jagwar, :)

Actually, you do not need to change the location of Libraries since the location depends on where the folders included in the library are located, and what included folder you set as the default save location. The default save location is where everything you save in the library is actually saved to.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8...dows-10-a.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8...dows-10-a.html

I'm looking at the 2nd link and it says to click on "Manage" at the top, but I have no "Manage" button.

Just wondering- was 'Manage' Windows 8, and is it now
Rt click folder
Properties
Location
?

Jagwar said:

I'm looking at the 2nd link and it says to click on "Manage" at the top, but I have no "Manage" button.

When you have a library selected or opened, you should have a "Library Tools" Manage tab that you'll need to click on to open first. You should then see the Manage button in the ribbon.

Ah, finally found the Manage tab. I hadn't actually opened the Library version of Documents, Music, Pictures. (Never needed to!)

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

I see now, I had that menu disabled.