Windows 10: Accidental merge of desktop folder with User folder

hello, I was moving my user folder from my SSD to my HDD, I first started with the desktop folder but decided to move it back, I ended up merging my user and desktop file.i Have tried to follow the answer to this question, but it didn't work: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/i-accidentally-merged-my-users-folder-with-desktop/f6a746d5-f26c-4e81-a750-dd05c70c985e

:)

 

User Folder name shows incorrectly in Explorer after an accidental merge with Desktop folder. How to correct?

While moving the location of my user profile folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc) to a second drive to save space on my SSD boot drive, I accidentally merged the Pictures and Desktop folders together. This was repaired by using the "Restore
Default" option under the Location tab in Properties. However, I then accidentally merged the Desktop folder with my User Profile folder when moving it back to the SSD boot drive (I thought Desktop could stay on that drive afterall). The situation at present
is the following:

My Desktop folder has been restored to the location

C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop

All is functioning as normal, and the folder has been re-identified as a system folder (a lot of forum searching to make that happen).

However, the issue that is still present is that my User Profile folder is incorrectly shown in File Exporer as

C:\Users\Desktop

even though in the registry and file structure (using cmd prompt etc) it is correctly listed as

C:\Users\USERNAME

for this folder and all sub-folders.

I have been unable to rectify this issue and would appreciate any help. The computer is fully functional as is, with the only glitch seeming to show in File Explorer. If any clarification is necessary, please ask. Thanks-

 

Accidentally merged desktop folder with user

You can untangle this without a restore. I think what you're seeing is that you accidentally moved the Desktop folder to your User folder. Now what was your Username folder is showing as 'Desktop' with the Desktop icon. You can clear the renaming & icon
by deleting the Desktop.ini file in that folder. The file will have it's Hidden & System attributes set, so you have to set Explorer's view options to Show hidden files as well as clear the checkbox for Hide protected operating system files.





Then you can create a Desktop folder wherever you like & edit the path for Desktop in the User Shell Folder key mentioned in an earlier post.

Keith

 

Desktop and user folder merging

Hi,

There are different ways for you to recover the previous folder settings on your computer. One of these is by following the steps below to organize and relocate your desktop or user folder.

• Press Windows key + E to launch File Explorer.
• Right-click on the special folder that you want to restore (Desktop).
  
• Then select Properties.
• Navigate to the Location tab.
• Click Restore Default.
• Then click Apply to save the changes.

Let us know if you have any further questions.