Windows 10: Accidentally renamed Users folder to Downloads--Please help!

Hello all,

I know this has been discussed a few times before, in tenforums.com and also in sevenforums.com, but I promise this is different from those times.

I've done a search and looked through quite a few different solutions, but I just can't seem to find an answer that helps me solve this problem:

So I just recently installed my SSD and I was in the process of changing the location of my Downloads folder from my new SSD drive, to my 1TB HHD, so as to save space. I then changed my mind and wanted to keep the Downloads folder on the SSD drive, so I went to change it back by going into the "Location" tab under Properties and moving it back to the SSD drive.

Bad idea, because now my Users folder has been renamed Downloads and I can't change the name of the folder anymore. I've tried solution #147545 from the sevenforums.com but that didn't work for me.

It's weird because when I look at the folder with a different User account logged in, it shows up like it should with my original user name. So it's only different when I'm logged in as the original user looking at the folder, because I see it as Downloads.

Now if I right-click and select properties, under the "Sharing" tab, it shows that it's perfectly fine and not named Downloads. Also under the "Security" tab, the Object name shows up perfectly fine as well and is not named Downloads.







Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you guys in advance.

:)

 

Is there a way to rename user folder back to the original

I did a migration to a new ssd. When trying to relocate the user directories, I accidentally renamed the C:/user/myname folder to C:/user/downloads. All the subdirectories are now under C:/user/downloads, and some program links are now broken. Is there a
way to rename this folder back to the original c:/user/myname?

I still have the main user profile and login.

 

Help with messed up "download system folder"

I was trying to relocate my user folders on a different drive and accidentally redirected (or merged?) my "download" system folder with my "Document" system folder...

Now, my "download" folder shows the arrow down icon but has been renamed "documents" and I can no longer change its name. How do I restore my original downloads folder?

 

Looking at the first picture, I can't see anything wrong.

 

Hello and welcome!

The naming of the users folders is something that W10 does and it is incredibly difficult to change. It really doesn't matter what the folder name is. You can just live with it or try to go back to where you were with a system restore to a point before you made the change (of course this requires that you have system restore points activated).

System Restore Windows 10

 

Thank you philc43! Yes, I suppose it wouldn't matter too much and I could live with it; but it's just annoying to me because I can't change it back, haha. And that's another thing, I didn't turn on system restore before I made the error, stupid me.

But I guess at this point I don't really have a choice so I will just have to learn to make-do with the mistake.

 

Hello mmmson,

If it really annoys you the following might be worth trying if you want to get back to a sensible name:

Create a new local account with the user name you want, make it an administrator account, and sign in to it. This way the "C:\Users\(user-name)" profile folder will have the name you want.

User Account - Add in Windows 10

Afterwards, you can delete your old account after copying what you want to the new local account. Rather a pain to do I know!

User Account - Delete in Windows 10

 

@philc43 Thank you once again for your helpful input! Yes I've definitely given that route some thought and I believe that I will do just that! Now is there any way to copy over the system settings of my original user account to the new user account? Or am I stuck having to re-do all the settings manually?

 

Well, having system settings automatically apply to your account is one of the features that a Microsoft account login provides since it stores your settings in the cloud (I believe it uses OneDrive) and is activated by the Sync your settings options. Not sure just how many of your settings it takes care of but it includes themes, IE settings, passwords, language, and ease of use.

If you wanted to do this you would have to do the following:

Convert your current account (with the "Downloads" user name) to a Microsoft account - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html - make sure you go into Settings -> Accounts and turn on Sync settings, activating all the settings you want saved. Leave it for a while so that these settings are backed up to the cloud.

Then do the procedure I outlined earlier but make sure your new account is a local one or you will not get the folder name you want. Also make sure it has administrator status.

Then afterwards you can convert your new account back to a Microsoft account using the procedure above and the sign in details you used before and it should after a short time sync your settings back to the ones you had originally.

I know this sounds complicated and time consuming but I do not know of any other way to reliably change the folder name in your C:\Users folder. You will still have to copy over your personal folders and files from the old account to the new one.

Let me know how you get on if you decide to do this.

...Phil

 

Thank you again Phil! I definitely will go about this and I'll let you know how things go after the whole process is over. I'm currently at work and I can't wait to get home to remedy my new laptop, haha.

Best,
Emerson

 

So I was able to create a new user account and after moving over a few files, I ended up deleting my old user name which makes everything back to the way it should. The whole process took about 45 mins from start to finish, but at least my mind is at peace from that ridiculous error I made in merging those two folders together. Thanks again @philc43 for your help!

 

Now you should get yourself a system imagiing software like Macrium Reflect Free and make images before and system changes, new software installations or Cumulative updates, Win10 Build upgrades ....etc. It will save you rear end, and keep the headaches away*Smile

Here is the thread dedicated to Macrium: Solved New Macrium Reflect Update - Windows 10 Forums

 

I read that constantly imaging your SSD reduces it's lifespan? I see you have an SSD as well, how has imaging impacted your system; if at all? I'd like to be able to have peace of mind but at the same time, I don't want to cause harm to my hardware so long as I can have some control over it.

 

When you create an image, it's only reads on the SSD, which has NO impact. Most people image to either an external HDD or like me, a 2nd internal drive(HDD in my case).

Now if you nuke your system a lot, then yeah, you'll write a lot, but it's no different than that of repair installs or clean installs then.

My SSD, the Samsung Pro is one of the best on the market, in Endurance tests. It can take upto 2-3 Petabytes before failing.

 

I need your help with this.