Desktop Folder is Downloads Folder instead. How to Correct this?

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

I was following a tutorial on how to change the default save location in Microsoft paint. Maybe I changed the target location of a folder I think. cant Seem to reverse engineer it. See when I choose desktop folder, it's actually saving it to the downloads folder.

And Right clicking the Desktop Folder does not have a Location TAb to change the destination location. Only does this in MS paint. Not anything else.

How do I get it back to Desktop being Desktop?

W11 Pro

remover · May 21, 2025

So to the right of "downloads" you have a closed arrow pointing down... try clicking on it - to where you want it saved..

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

remover said:
So to the right of "downloads" you have a closed arrow pointing down... try clicking on it - to where you want it saved..

But isnt that just manually changing it each time? I did something permanent that messed up the folder target locations.

antspants · May 21, 2025

Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to move or restore the default location of the Desktop folder for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Desktop folder (shell:Desktop) is a component of the user profile that is used as a unified location for storing personal data. By default, the...

www.elevenforum.com

remover · May 21, 2025

Go to your browser's settings and change the default download location to your Desktop. Follow @antspants way.... post back & let us know

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

antspants said:
Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to move or restore the default location of the Desktop folder for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Desktop folder (shell:Desktop) is a component of the user profile that is used as a unified location for storing personal data. By default, the...

www.elevenforum.com

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Okay I did the Restore to default thing, seems to have fixed the saving location back to normal Desktop being desktop.

But I noticed when I go to "Move", there is two Desktop Folders, is this normal? (top image)

But If I manually open windows explorer > Home, there is only 1 desktop folder (bottom image)

antspants · May 21, 2025

Right click on the Desktop folder with the download icon and unpin it. Is that possible?

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

antspants said:
Right click on the Desktop folder with the download icon and unpin it. Is that possible?

Unpin does not seem to be an option, only to add it, to pin it to quick access.

antspants · May 21, 2025

If you click on the Desktop folder with the Download icon on it, where does it go to?

or you can “Open In New Window” to see

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

antspants said:
If you click on the Desktop folder with the Download icon on it, where does it go to?

or you can “Open In New Window” to see

It opens my desktop: (this is what opened when I did Open in new window):

antspants · May 21, 2025

OK and if you right click on the normal desktop folder in that image and choose Open In New Window, does that also open the correct desktop folder?

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

antspants said:
OK and if you right click on the normal desktop folder in that image and choose Open In New Window, does that also open the correct desktop folder?

Yes, it also opens to the desktop.

antspants · May 21, 2025

And because you can see the contents of the desktop (those 3 documents) that is your correct desktop?

If so:

I would move and select the desktop with the correct Desktop Folder Icon (Not the one with the download arrow on it)
The Desktop folder with the Download Folder Icon, could be some kind of residual link that was created when you made the original mistake.
I wouldn’t worry that it is there because as you said, it all shows correctly in Windows Explorer.

There doesn’t seem to be a delete or remove option in the image with the right click context menu. So I’d leave it alone. I’ll see if I can replicate it later. I doubt I could though.

Just to note, I have had two Folders showing for a user folder after moving the location of a folder. But not for a long time.

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

antspants said:
And because you can see the contents of the desktop (those 3 documents) that is your correct desktop?

If so:

I would move and select the desktop with the correct Desktop Folder Icon (Not the one with the download arrow on it)
The Desktop folder with the Download Folder Icon, could be some kind of residual link that was created when you made the original mistake.
I wouldn’t worry that it is there because as you said, it all shows correctly in Windows Explorer.

There doesn’t seem to be a delete or remove option in the image with the right click context menu. So I’d leave it alone. I’ll see if I can replicate it later. I doubt I could though.

Just to note, I have had two Folders showing for a user folder after moving the location of a folder. But not for a long time.

Okay Ill changed the MOVE target location to that desktop folder without the download icon. Although when I did it, it did not change the target location path. It is still C:\Users\Admin\Desktop, which is fine. Thats correct I think.

I tried the other with the download icon, and same path, C:\Users\Admin\Desktop. So idk, maybe some glitch then from what ever I did before, as you said.

antspants · May 21, 2025

As long as windows Explorer shows the correct user folders, you should be good to go.

But… as a test, can you create a text file and “Save As”, when you get an option of where to save it to, do you still see 2 Desktop Folders? (The correct folder icon and the incorrect folder icon)

pacificSurf · May 21, 2025

antspants said:
As long as windows Explorer shows the correct user folders, you should be good to go.

But… as a test, can you create a text file and “Save As”, when you get an option of where to save it to, do you still see 2 Desktop Folders? (The correct folder icon and the incorrect folder icon)

No, Notepad>Save as> I dont get 2. Just the normal desktop folder:

That secondary desktop folder with the download icon I guess seems to only show when accessing the "Move" button to change the file path location of desktop folder.

antspants · May 21, 2025

then I’d say it’s a residual linkage. Weird but I have seen it before.

Here is something else you could do if it starts appearing.

Follow this tutorial and remove the Desktop from This PC then Add it again. (They’re just links, it wont remove the actual folder)

Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the 3D Objects, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in File Explorer > This PC for all users in Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 25136 and build 22621.160, Microsoft is introducing a refreshed layout...

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You can use the included reg files to remove, then add again.

Under:

Option Two

Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer

Scroll down to option “4. Remove Desktop folder from This PC” to remove the folder.

Under:

Option One

Add Folders under This PC in File Explorer

Scroll down to option “4. Add Desktop folder to This PC” to add the folder.

Desktop Folder is Downloads Folder instead. How to Correct this?

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