Windows 10: Move Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 10

How to: Move Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 10

How to Move Your Desktop Folder Location in Windows 10


The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your PC and sign in to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open apps or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put items on the desktop, such as files, folders, and shortcuts, and arrange them however you want.

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

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

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

*Warning 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.


Here's How:

1. If you currently have your Desktop 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 Desktop at the location (ex: "E:" ) you want to move your personal Desktop folder to. (see screenshot below)



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



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

*note If you don't have a Location tab, then you can type shell:desktop into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter to find it's current location.



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



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



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



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




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Auto Save Desktop to OneDrive or This PC in Windows 10
• How to Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer
• How to Restore Default Location of Your Personal Folders in Windows 10
• How to Move Users Folder to another Location in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Documents Folder Location in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Downloads Folder Location in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Favorites Folder Location in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Music Folder Location in Windows 10
• How to Change the Location of your OneDrive Folder in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Pictures Folder Location in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Searches Folder Location in Windows 10
• How to Move Your Videos Folder Location in Windows 10
• Turn On or Off Documents, Pictures, and Desktop Folder Protection with OneDrive in Windows 10
• How to Change or Restore Desktop Folder Icon in Windows 10
• How to Change Send to Desktop (create shortcut) Icon in Windows

:)

 

Downloads Folder has merged with The Desktop folder

I accidentaly moved the folder location of the Downloads folder to the location of the Desktop folder, now they are both have the same files, name, icon, and folder location.

If i try to move anything from the Downloads folder, it gets moved from the Desktop folder too and vice versa.

I have tried to Change the folder location of the Downloads folder back, but it changes the folder location of the Desktop too

 

I want folders to open in the same spot on desktop each time I access them and keep same shape/size

Each time I open a folder on the desktop on my windows 10 laptop, I have to adjust the size of the view and move it to a new location on the desktop.

Why can't I save the space and location on the desktop?

The folder icon does stay in place.

 

I'm glad it was able to help Zaphod. *Smile

 

Works great and no need to manually change Registry Entries in
Code: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folder[/quote] This also changes my explorer entries in "This PC" and "Quick Access".

Only one little thing:
Nearly all new created target folders on D:\UserName\... get the matching icon automatically (like Music, Documents, Videos, Pictures, Downloads) but for "Desktop" the original yellow explorer folder icon remains on my new target folder D:\UserName\Desktop".

How can I change this one too?

 

Never mind:

I have just deleted my manually created "Desktop" folder on the target drive and then moved it with the steps in your tutorial. I answered the question "target folder doesn't exist, create new?" with yes and voil , the icon appears as expected.

 

Hey i accidentally changed my desktop to the secondary drive (D:\) how do i get it back to it's original path? *Sad

and...the original path is C:\Users\User\Desktop right? how do i switch it back to normal :s please help , please i just got a new computer for Christmas and i don't want it to mess up

 

@Restore Default Location of Personal Folders in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials