Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10  

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    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10

    How to Move Your Documents Folder Location in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    03 Sep 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Move Your Documents Folder Location in Windows 10


    By default, Windows stores your personal Documents folder in your account's %UserProfile% folder (ex: "C:\Users\Brink").

    You can change where files in this Documents folder are stored to another place on the hard drive, another drive, or another computer on the network.

    See also: Configuration of the My Documents folder | Microsoft Support

    This tutorial will show you how to move the default location of your Documents folder to where you want in Windows 10.

    It is highly recommended to create a system image backup first to make it easy to undo if you were to make a mistake in the steps below.


    For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

    Move or Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Windows 11




    Here's How:

    1 If you currently have your Documents folder protected by OneDrive, then you will need to temporarily turn off OneDrive protection for this folder until after you move it.

    2 If you haven't already, you will need to create a new folder named Documents at the location (ex: "E:" ) you want to move your personal Documents folder to. (see screenshot below)

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-1.png

    3 Open This PC in File Explorer (Win+E), right click on your Documents folder, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

    If you don't see the Documents folder in This PC, then you can also click/tap on the icon in the address bar of File Explorer, type shell:Personal into the address bar, and press Enter to open your Documents folder no matter where it may be located.

    You can then right click or press and hold on an empty area in your Documents folder, and click/tap on Properties.

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-2.png

    4 Click/tap on the Location tab, and click/tap on the Move button. (see screenshot below)

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-3.png

    5 Browse to and select the Documents folder at the location (ex: "E:\Documents" ) from step 2, and click/tap on Select Folder. (see screenshot below)

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-4.png

    6 Click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-5.png

    7 Click/tap on Yes to move all the files from the old location to the new location. (see screenshot below)

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-6.png

    8 Your personal Documents folder and all of its contents will now be moved to the new location (ex: "E:\Documents" ). (see screenshot below)

    Move Location of Documents Folder in Windows 10-move_documents_folder_location-7.png


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 75
    Windows 10 Professional (x64)
       #1

    How do I make sure that the security permissions of the moved Documents folders are correct?

    I have a shared computer with an admin account and 2 user accounts. When I move the user's Documents to the new drive, it seems that the permissions are the default of the drive itself. So now one user can read the documents of another user. Is there a way to move the security permissions too?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,669
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Isaac, :)

    I would recommend to see what the permissions are set to for the original location and make note of them, then you could set them back if needed for the new location.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 457
    Windows 10
       #3

    I dont have a Location tab for Documents, Music Pictures etc. Is there a cure for this? I am running the latest build (17046).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,669
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello Alan, :)

    Are you looking in the "This PC" folder for them?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 457
    Windows 10
       #5

    No, I click on Personal Folders to get to them, I wanted to move them to a different location but the 'Location' tab is not in the properties of the mentioned folders.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,669
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Open "This PC" to see if the folder is there at the top. If so, see if it may have the "Location" tab. If not, then you should be able to use what's in the blue note box under step 2 to find your "Documents" folder with the Location tab.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 457
    Windows 10
       #7

    Thank you very much Brink
    Following your last post did the trick.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,669
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Great news.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 138
    Windows 10
       #9

    @Brink

    If the downloads folder was moved to an external drive. What happens when files are save when then external is disconnected from the PC?
      My Computer


 

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