Solved How to change the Downloads folder location?

kiwiaz · Dec 30, 2023

OK, so the machine in question was upgraded to Win11. The old installation stored documents in D:\My Documents, but the new install defaults to C:\User etc.
How can I redirect that and have it appear correctly in the Quick Access panel?

TairikuOkami · Dec 30, 2023

Move or Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

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

www.elevenforum.com

I would do it like this. Run CMD and copy/paste:

Code:

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Personal" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\My Documents" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "{F42EE2D3-909F-4907-8871-4C22FC0BF756}" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "D:\My Documents" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "Personal" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "D:\My Documents" /f
takeown /s %computername% /u %username% /f "%USERPROFILE%\Documents" /r /d y
icacls "%USERPROFILE%\Documents" /inheritance:r /grant:r %username%:(OI)(CI)F /t /l /q /c
xcopy "%USERPROFILE%\Documents" "D:\My Documents" /s /i /y
rd "%USERPROFILE%\Documents" /s /q
mklink /d "%USERPROFILE%\Documents" "D:\My Documents"
taskkill /im explorer.exe /f & explorer.exe

Sir_George · Dec 30, 2023

kiwiaz said:
OK, so the machine in question was upgraded to Win11. The old installation stored documents in D:\My Documents, but the new install defaults to C:\User etc.
How can I redirect that and have it appear correctly in the Quick Access panel?

The easiest way I've found to move it to another drive is to use the Location property. Create a new Documents folder on another drive - like D:\Documents - then right-click the original Documents folder, choose Properties, select the Location tab, enter the path to the new Documents folder and click Move.

BamaInArk · Dec 30, 2023

The Title of your post says Downloads but do you mean default locations to "Save" files/documents? I ask because this really depends on what you're actually looking to do. You can change the default "Download" locations from within your internet Browser of choice. You can also have the Browser "Ask" you every time where you'd like to save downloads. Default installations of Programs can be changed via Settings --> System --> Storage and under Storage look down to Advanced storage settings. Under this you'll find "Where new content is saved." From there you have multiple settings/options to choose/change.
If you want to just change the default location for "Documents" some of the above suggestions will work.

allan · Dec 30, 2023

Sir_George said:
The easiest way I've found to move it to another drive is to use the Location property. Create a new Documents folder on another drive - like D:\Documents - then right-click the original Documents folder, choose Properties, select the Location tab, enter the path to the new Documents folder and click Move.

First, and respectfully, while that works, it's not necessary. Just right-click and drag the existing "Documents" folder to where you want it - then choose "move". The rest takes care of itself.

Second, I'm not really sure what it is the OP is trying to do. Kiwiaz - perhaps you can explain in more detail?

kiwiaz · Dec 30, 2023

BamaInArk said:
The Title of your post says Downloads but do you mean default locations to "Save" files/documents? I ask because this really depends on what you're actually looking to do.

Thanks @BamaInArk . I did confuse issues with my post title! I did need to change the default folder locations, but was also looking for a strategy to move all the docs from the old location to a new drive. I think I got answers to both questions.

allan · Dec 30, 2023

If you need more assistance, just ask

kiwiaz · Dec 30, 2023

That's the great thing about this resource - awesome contributors and ... no waiting!

gmcgee78 · Dec 30, 2023

I'll second that. This forum is the best.

pietcorus2 · Dec 31, 2023

If you love your SSD , place the download-folder on a different internal HD .
Your SSD will have a longer life , if it does not have to swallow all the ( sometimes very big ! ) downloads ! :wink: