Windows 10: Stop Applications From Using Public Documents and Public Desktop

I've been having trouble ever since performing a factory reset of my computer with applications automatically wanting to use the Public Documents and Public Desktop folders. For example, after installing Adobe CC applications, the "Adobe" folder is added to 'C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ ' instead of the preferred 'C:\Users\Zack\Documents'. Also, Adobe will automatically add shortcuts to 'C:\Users\Public\Public Desktop' instead of the preferred 'C:\Users\Zack\Desktop. This issue is present when installing any application, not just Adobe CC products. I have absolutely no use for the 'Public' folder, as I am the sole user of my PC, and don't plan on having multiple User Accounts. Is there a way to stop newly installed applications/programs from using the Public folder by default, and instead have programs use my User folder by default?

:)

 

Public documents sharing

Hi Peter,

I will be glad to help you with the issue you have sharing only public documents.

Move the files or folders that you want to share into the \Public folder.

The \Public folder is kind of a big cookie jar for everybody who uses your PC: Put a file or folder in the \Public folder so that all the other people who use your computer can get at it.

The \Public folder is available to other people in your HomeGroup, if you have one, but you have little control over who, specifically, can get at the files and folders. (HomeGroups make it easier to set up sharing among Windows computers on a network.)

Here’s how to move a file into one of the Public folders:

• 
  Start File Explorer.
  
  If you’re on the desktop, tap or click the icon down on the Taskbar that looks like a file folder. If you’re on the Start screen, click the tile for the desktop, then choose File Explorer.
  
• 
  Navigate to the folder or file that you want to put in one of your Public folders. Right-click it (or tap and hold) and choose Copy.
  
  
  
• 
  Here’s the tricky part. You want to navigate to the folder \Public\Music.
  
  To do so, on the left, double-click or tap This PC then, near the bottom of the list, double-click on Local Disk (C. Double-click on Users, then Public, then Public Music.
  
  The Public folders are all hidden well away.
  
• 
  Press Ctrl+V or right-click and choose Paste to paste the folder into the Public Music folder.
  
  From that point, anybody who has access to my Public Music folder can play the songs on the album.
  

Files and folders in the \Public folder may also be accessible to other computers connected to your network, workgroup, or domain, depending on various network settings.

Thank you.

 

Public documents sharing

My question is how do other computers see it as homegroup window does not list public folders?

I know how to put files into public it is the next step that I am not understanding in setting up the network/computers etc to see the public folders.

I have spent a day trying to understand/working out how to do this it is not obvious as the homegroup page only shows library folders that I do not want to share.

So how do I get the homegroup to show public folders?

 

Access to public documents

Hi Diane, where are you sharing these public documents from - is it the actual Public Documents Folder in C:\Public\Public Documents?

When you receive an update, does it block access to that folder?