How Do I Change the User Folder Location in Windows 10

To change the user folder location in Windows 10, you must create a new user account with the desired folder location and transfer all the files to the new account. This process involves changing the registry and creating a new user profile.

Windows 10 makes it easy to store files and documents in your user folder. However, some users may want to change the default location of their user folder to create more space in the system drive or for backup purposes.

This guide will show you how to move your user folder to a different location in Windows 10. Keep in mind that this process involves a few advanced steps such as changing the registry and creating a new user profile, so it’s crucial to follow these steps carefully to avoid any data loss or system errors.

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Preparing To Change User Folder Location

To change the user folder location in Windows 10, you need to prepare your system first. One important step is to create a new user folder as you cannot move the default folder without creating a new one. You can create a new folder on a different drive or partition too. Copying the current user folder is also essential for backing up your data. It is recommended to create a system restore point before making system changes to avoid data loss or corruption. A system restore point helps you to go back to the previous state of your system if any error or issue arises during the process.

Important
Create a new user folder
Copy current user folder for backup
Create system restore point

Methods To Change User Folder Location

To change the location of the user folder in Windows 10, there are three methods you can follow: using sysprep tool, Audit Mode, and Registry Editor.

Sysprep tool: This method involves running a command in the sysprep tool to move the user profile folder to a new location. First, create a new user account, then move the user folder to the desired location, and finally, run the sysprep tool with the appropriate command to complete the process.

Audit Mode: This method is useful for system administrators who want to customize the default user profile before deploying it to multiple computers. To move the user profile folder in audit mode, you need to boot the system into audit mode, create a new user account, and move the user folder to the desired location.

Registry Editor: This method involves modifying the Windows registry to change the location of the user folder. This process can be done by creating a new user account, logging in with admin privileges, editing the registry, and finally moving the user folder to the new location.

Using Sysprep Tool

To change the user folder location in Windows 10, the sysprep tool can be used. Running the sysprep tool requires administrative privileges. The sysprep tool can be customized by modifying the settings to suit the user’s preferences. Once the settings are customized, the user folder can be copied to its new location. The “copyprofile” parameter in the sysprep settings will ensure that the customizations made will be applied to the new user profile. After copying the user folder to its new location, all future user accounts will be created in the new location. This method can help users who need to free up space on their primary drive or simply prefer to keep user data in a separate location.

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Using Audit Mode

If you want to change the user folder location in Windows 10, you can use Audit Mode. This mode allows you to customize the computer before creating user accounts. To access Audit Mode, you need to boot Windows 10 in this mode. Once you are in Audit Mode, you can move the user folder to a new location. This involves modifying the Windows Registry. You can do this by using the Registry Editor. However, you need to create a backup of the Registry before making any changes. Additionally, you need to change the ownership of the user folder to the new location. This will ensure that system files continue to work correctly. Once you have completed these steps, you can test the new user folder location by creating a new user account.

Using Registry Editor

To change the default location of user folders, use Window Registry Editor. First, open the Registry Editor. To do this, type ‘regedit’ in the Windows 10 search bar and open the resulting app. Secondly, create a new user folder path. This is the path that will be used for the user folders. To do this, right-click on the folder where you want the new user folder to reside and select “New Folder”. Finally, modify Registry values to reflect the new user folder path. Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. Next, right-click on the ProfileList key and select ‘Export’. Save the file to a safe location in case you need to restore the original values. Right-click on the same key and select “Modify”. In the Value data field, enter the new user folder path and click ‘OK’. Close the Registry Editor and log out and back into your account for the changes to take effect.

Testing The New User Folder Location

Changing the user folder location in Windows 10 is a simple process. Once you have made the appropriate changes, it is a good idea to test out the new setup. You can test by logging in with a new user account to ensure that the user folder location is set correctly. Once you have verified that the new user folder location is correct, you can delete the old user folder. Deleting the old user folder will free up space on your computer and ensure that all user data is saved in the new location. By following these steps, you can change the user folder location with ease.

Summary:

Steps	Details
Step 1	Login with New User Account
Step 2	Verify User Folder Location
Step 3	Delete Old User Folder

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Conclusion

Changing the user folder location in Windows 10 is a simple task that can take a load off your primary drive. Moving your user folder to another drive can increase storage and make your PC more organized. To change your user folder location, use the steps outlined in this post, and ensure you take caution when making these changes.

With this guide, you can quickly change your user folder’s location to free up storage space on your PC.