Solved Moved Windows folders still appear in the Users folder

I just moved a few folders from my C:\Users\Steve folder to a folder on my D: drive. I did this using the Location tab on the properties of each folder. The folders moved without issues. I expect to see that the moved folders will appear at their new location and be gone from the old location.

The folders that I moved were Pictures, Music, Videos, Downloads, Documents and 3D Objects.

If I select my Personal Folder from the icon at the bottom of the Start menu, I see what I expect. If I use Explorer to go to C:\Users\Steve I also see what I expect.

If I select "Steve" from the quick links menu on the left side of Explorer, the folders that I moved are still there. The Location tab on each of the icons properties does show the location on D:, but I don't expect to see all these files/folders from multiple locations gathered together.

Why is this happening? Is it normal? How do I distinguish "C:\Users\Steve" from "Steve Norton" in the Explorer? Where does "Steve Norton" exist on the computer?

Try this:

Calab said:

Where does "Steve Norton" exist on the computer?

Click to expand...

We wouldn't have any way of knowing the answer to that question without seeing your computer.
Have you tried typing Steve Norton into the Search blank at the top of the Start menu?

Wisewiz said:

We wouldn't have any way of knowing the answer to that question without seeing your computer.
Have you tried typing Steve Norton into the Search blank at the top of the Start menu?

Click to expand...

Lots of files found, but no folders. It looks like a "virtual" folder that Windows just builds when you put a users name in the address bar. I just find it odd that the Personal Folder icon in the Start menu doesn't open the virtual folder.

If the computer was synced to onedrive, Onedrive backup sync would have had to be turned off first.
STEP 1 in each of the tutorials for moving user folders.

glasskuter said:

If the computer was synced to onedrive, Onedrive backup sync would have had to be turned off first.

Click to expand...

OneDrive sucks big time... First thing I do when I set up Windows is remove OneDrive.

I think I'm just seeing a "virtual folder" created by Windows. I can live with it. I just found it confusing until I realized what was going on.

The folders mentioned are Defaults in C:\Users\USERNAME with an installation of Windows on mine, both Win10 and Win11.

As stated, MS One Drive must be disabled, especially if there are files synced there, before you can use the Location tab to move the User file.
Also, on the new Location drive, you have to create empty folders for Desktop, Documents, Pictures etc.
Then use the Location tab of that folder and Move it to the folder with the Same Name on the different location. Then click OK that you are moving the folder and overwriting the empty folder in the new location.
If you didn't do it this way, you may have Empty folders in C:\Users\Steve folder.

Spunk said:

As stated, MS One Drive must be disabled, especially if there are files synced there, before you can use the Location tab to move the User file.
Also, on the new Location drive, you have to create empty folders for Desktop, Documents, Pictures etc.
Then use the Location tab of that folder and Move it to the folder with the Same Name on the different location. Then click OK that you are moving the folder and overwriting the empty folder in the new location.
If you didn't do it this way, you may have Empty folders in C:\Users\Steve folder.

Click to expand...

One Drive is completely disabled and uninstalled.

I did create empty folders on D: before I used the Location tab to move each folder, and I let Windows move the existing files. I don't have any of the folders that I moved in C:\Users\Steve - they just show up when I use the quick link in Explorer to get to my personal files, which is still C:\Users\Steve.