How to Move User Profile Folders to Another Drive in Windows 11
Learn how to move Windows 11 user profile folders (Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Pictures) to another drive using the Location tab. Includes Group Policy folder redirection for enterprise deployments.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Time required
- 5 minutes
- Steps
- 5
- Platform
- Windows 11
- Last tested
- July 19, 2026
Table of contents
Quick Answer
Go to the stepsRight-click the folder you want to move (e.g., Downloads) inside C:\Users\YourName, click Properties, go to the Location tab, click Move, select the new location on your second drive, and click OK. Windows moves all files and updates the path automatically.
- Open C:\Users\YourName in File Explorer.
- Right-click the folder to move (e.g., Downloads) and select Properties.
- Click the Location tab.
- Click Move and select the new location on another drive.
- Click OK and confirm moving existing files.
C:\Users\YourName > Right-click folder > Properties > Location > MoveExpected result: The folder now points to the new location on the second drive. All apps that use the folder continue working because Windows updated the shell path.
Key takeaways
- You'll learn how to relocate Windows 11 user profile subfolders (Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Music, Pictures, Videos) from your system drive to another drive using the built-in Location tab.
- Moving profile folders to a secondary drive frees up space on small SSDs and keeps user data separate from the OS, making system reinstallation easier.
- Use Properties > Location > Move on individual profile subfolders to relocate them to another drive safely.
Introduction
Windows 11 stores user profile folders like Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Music, Pictures, and Videos under C:\Users\YourName by default. On devices with small SSDs, these folders can fill up the system drive quickly.
Windows provides a built-in way to move these subfolders to another drive using the Location tab in each folder's Properties. This method is supported by Microsoft and preserves app compatibility because Windows updates the shell folder paths in the registry automatically.
Don't confuse this with moving the entire C:\Users folder, which Microsoft explicitly warns against. Per Microsoft Learn, changing the ProfilesDirectory to another volume blocks upgrades and servicing.
Who this is for: Home users wanting to free up SSD space, and IT admins managing folder redirection for enterprise desktops.
Before you start
- Access
- File Explorer access. No admin rights needed for your own profile folders. Group Policy folder redirection requires domain admin.
- Required roles
- Standard user
- Standard user (admin for Group Policy method)
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Last tested
- Backup required
5 minutes per folder
Warning: backup your files first
Before moving folders, copy the contents to the destination drive as a backup. If the move is interrupted, you may lose data.
Critical: Don't move the entire Users folder
Per Microsoft Learn, moving the entire C:\Users folder to another volume blocks Windows upgrades and servicing. Only move individual subfolders using the Location tab.
1Open Your User Profile Folder
Navigate to the folder you want to move.
C:\Users\YourNameOpen File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\YourName. You'll see the standard profile subfolders: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos. These are the folders that support the Location tab method.
Expected result: File Explorer shows your profile subfolders with their standard icons.
Note
If you use OneDrive, some folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) may already be redirected to your OneDrive folder. Check the current path before moving.
2Create the Destination Folder on the Second Drive
Prepare the new location on the target drive.
Open File Explorer and navigate to your second drive (e.g., D:). Create a new folder for each profile folder you want to move. For example, create D:\Documents, D:\Downloads, D:\Desktop.
Use clear, simple folder names. Don't nest them too deeply, as long paths can cause issues with some applications.
Expected result: Empty destination folders exist on the second drive.
Note
The drive must be formatted as NTFS. FAT32 and exFAT don't support Windows security permissions properly.
3Open the Location Tab in Folder Properties
Access the built-in folder redirection feature.
Right-click folder > Properties > Location tabGo back to C:\Users\YourName. Right-click the folder you want to move (e.g., Downloads). Select Properties. Click the Location tab.
The Location tab shows the current path (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\Downloads). This is the built-in Windows feature for relocating shell folders.
Expected result: The Properties dialog opens with a Location tab showing the current folder path, a Move button, and a Restore Default button.
Note
If the Location tab is missing, the folder isn't a standard shell folder. Only Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos have the Location tab.
4Move the Folder to the New Location
Redirect the folder to the second drive.
Click Move. Browse to the destination folder you created (e.g., D:\Downloads). Click Select Folder, then click OK.
Windows asks: 'Do you want to move all of the files from the old location to the new location?' Click Yes. Windows copies all existing files to the new location and updates the registry path.
Expected result: All files are moved to the new location. The folder in your profile now points to the new drive. Apps and shortcuts continue working.
Note
The move may take several minutes if the folder contains many files. Don't interrupt the process.
5Verify the New Location
Confirm the folder now points to the new drive.
Open File Explorer. In the left sidebar, click the folder you moved (e.g., Downloads). Check the address bar, which should now show the new path (e.g., D:\Downloads). You can also right-click the folder in your profile, go to Properties > Location to confirm the path.
Expected result: The address bar shows the new path on the second drive. All files are accessible.
Note
To restore the original location, open Properties > Location and click Restore Default, then click OK and confirm moving files back.
Confirm Your Folders Point to the New Drive
Confirm configuration
After moving, Windows updates the shell folder registry entries automatically. All applications that use standard Windows APIs to find user folders (like Environment.GetFolderPath or SHGetKnownFolderPath) will use the new location without any configuration changes.
You can verify by opening any application and checking where it saves files by default. For example, open a browser and download a file, then check that it appears in the new Downloads location on your second drive.
Repeat the process for each folder you want to move. You can move some folders while keeping others on the system drive.
Normal result: Folder Properties > Location shows the new path. Files open normally. New saves go to the second drive.
Abnormal result: Apps save to the old location (C: drive). This means the registry path wasn't updated. Re-do the move using the Location tab method.
Moved Downloads
D:\Downloads
Downloads folder relocated to D: drive.
Original location
C:\Users\YourName\Downloads
Default path before moving.
Troubleshooting
Location tab is missing from folder Properties
Note
Cause: The folder isn't a standard Windows shell folder. Only Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos have the Location tab.
Only standard profile subfolders support the Location tab. For other folders, use symbolic links (mklink /D) from an elevated command prompt, but this is unsupported by Microsoft and can cause issues with Windows Update.
Files didn't move to the new location
Warning
Cause: The move was interrupted, or files were in use by another application.
Close all applications using files in the folder. Open Properties > Location and click Move again to the same destination. If files remain in both locations, manually move the remaining files and delete the old copies.
Apps still save to the old location on C:
Note
Cause: Some older applications hardcode the path instead of using Windows APIs to resolve the shell folder location.
Check the application's settings for a custom save location and update it to the new path. Most modern applications use the Windows API and will follow the redirect automatically.
OneDrive conflicts with folder move
Warning
Cause: OneDrive Known Folder Move has already redirected Documents, Desktop, or Pictures to the OneDrive folder.
Disable OneDrive Known Folder Move for the affected folders first (OneDrive settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup), then use the Location tab to move them to the new drive.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move the entire C:\Users folder to another drive?
Microsoft explicitly warns against this. Per Microsoft Learn, moving the ProfilesDirectory to another volume blocks Windows upgrades, service packs, and future Windows versions. Only move individual subfolders using the Location tab.
Will my apps still work after moving folders?
Yes. Windows updates the shell folder path in the registry when you use the Location tab. Applications that use standard Windows APIs to find user folders will automatically use the new location.
Can I move folders back to the original location?
Yes. Right-click the folder, go to Properties > Location, click Restore Default, then click OK. Windows moves the files back to the original C: drive location.
Does the target drive need to be NTFS?
Yes. The target drive should be NTFS to support Windows security permissions. FAT32 and exFAT don't support file-level permissions and may cause issues with some applications.
How is this different from OneDrive Known Folder Move?
The Location tab moves folders to a local drive. OneDrive Known Folder Move syncs folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) to OneDrive cloud storage. They serve different purposes and can conflict if both are configured for the same folder.
Conclusion
Windows 11 lets you move profile subfolders (Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Music, Pictures, Videos) to another drive using the built-in Location tab in folder Properties. This frees up SSD space and keeps user data separate from the OS without breaking app compatibility.
Don't move the entire C:\Users folder. Per Microsoft Learn, this blocks upgrades and servicing. Stick to the Location tab method for individual folders.
Use Properties > Location > Move on individual profile subfolders to relocate them to another drive safely.
C:\Users\YourName > Right-click folder > Properties > Location > Move
