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How to Restore the Default Location of User Folders in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Information
This will show you how to restore the default location of all or a single user folder of your choice in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Tip
If you have duplicate user folders instead, then you will need to backup the contents of the duplicate user folders, do OPTION TWO below, delete the duplicate folders, then you may need to restart the computer a couple of times first before the default location is restored.
EXAMPLE: User folders NOTE:This is at the default C:\Users\(user-name) and Start Menu (shell:UsersFilesFolder) locations.
OPTION ONE
Restore User Folders using it's Folder Properties
NOTE:If using this option does not restore the user folder back to the default location, then use OPTION TWO below instead.
1. If you are in a homegroup, then you will need to change the homegroup settings to no longer share the user folder (ex: My Music) that you want to move first by unchecking the folder and clicking on Save Changes. (see screenshot below) NOTE:This is so the user folder (ex: My Music) will not be shared on the homegroup anymore.
2. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog, type shell:UsersFilesFolder, and press enter. NOTE:This will open your C:\Users\(user-name) folder.
3. Right click or press and hold on the user folder (ex: My Music) that you want to restore the default location for, and click/tap on Properties.
4. Click/tap on the Location tab, and Restore Default button. (See screenshot below)
5. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below) NOTE:Notice that the location has changed to the default C:\Users\(user-name) location.
6. Click/tap on Yes. (See screenshot below)
Note
If you have a folder in the default location named for the user folder already, then you will not see this dialog box.
User Folder
Folder Name
Contacts
Contacts
Desktop
Desktop
My Documents
Documents
Downloads
Downloads
Favorites
Favorites
Links
Links
My Music
Music
My Pictures
Pictures
Saved Games
Saved Games
Searches
Searches
My Videos
Videos
7. Click/tap on Yes. (See screenshot below) WARNING:If you do notclick/tap on Yes, then you will have two copies of this user folder at the C:\Users\(user-name) location. One will be a normal folder (same name) with the contents and the other as the now restored user folder. It is recommended that you click/tap on YES.
8. After a few seconds when the location has been restored, the Properties window (screenshot under step 5) will then close.
9. If you are in a homegroup, then you can now change the homegroup settings back to share the user folder (ex: My Music) again if you like by checking the folder and clicking on Save Changes. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
Manually Restore User Folders using a Reg File Download & Registry Editor
Note
This is a more thorough method of restoring a user folder's default location, or restore missing user folders.
The reg files in the ZIP downloads below will automatically restore the default values at the registry location below for you.
If you have any duplicate user folders, or user folders that do not have a Location properties tab (Option One), then you will need to:
Backup only the folder's contents to another location to be safe.
Now proceed with the steps below
1. Open your C:\Users\(user-name) folder. If theuser folder is missing, then create a New Folder and rename it with the name below for that user folder.
User Folder
Rename with
Contacts
Contacts
Desktop
Desktop
My Documents
Documents
Downloads
Downloads
Favorites
Favorites
Links
Links
My Music
Music
My Pictures
Pictures
Saved Games
Saved Games
Searches
Searches
My Videos
Videos
2. To Restore the Default Contacts Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_Contacts_Location.reg
3. To Restore the Default Desktop Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Desktop_Default_Location.reg
4. To Restore the Default My Documents Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Documents_Default_Location.reg
5. To Restore the Default Downloads Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Downloads_Default_Location.reg
6. To Restore the Default Favorites Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Favorites_Default_Location.reg
7. To Restore the Default Links Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_Links_Location.reg
8. To Restore the Default My Music Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Music_Default_Location.reg
9. To Restore the Default My Pictures Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Pictures_Default_Location.reg
10. To Restore the Default Saved Games Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_Saved_Games_Location.reg
11. To Restore the Default Searches Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_Searches_Location.reg
12. To Restore the Default My Videos Folder Location
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Videos_Default_Location.reg
13.Save the .reg file to the Desktop.
14.Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
15. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.
16. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.
17. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (administrator) or enter administrator's password (if standard user).
18. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
19. In the right pane of Shell Folders, double click/tap on the user folder in the Name column (see table below) that you want to restore the default location of to modify it. (see screenshot above) NOTE:If the Name entry in the table below is not there, then right click or press and hold on a empty space in the right pane, click/tap on New and String Value, and give it the name in bold below for that user folder.
User Folder
Name in Registry
Contacts
{56784854-C6CB-462B-8169-88E350ACB882}
Desktop
Desktop
My Documents
Personal
Downloads
{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}
Favorites
Favorites
Links
{BFB9D5E0-C6A9-404C-B2B2-AE6DB6AF4968}
My Music
My Music
My Pictures
My Pictures
Saved Games
{4C5C32FF-BB9D-43B0-B5B4-2D72E54EAAA4}
Searches
{7D1D3A04-DEBB-4115-95CF-2F29DA2920DA}
My Videos
My Video
20. Type in the full default path (see table below) of the user folder, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below) NOTE:Substitute User-Name in the full path with your user account name instead.
23. In the elevated command prompt, Copy and Paste the command below exactly as is for the user folder icon that you want to restore to default. (see table below) NOTE:This will set the user folder attributes back to default. You can Copy and Paste these to make it easier for you.
User Folder
Command
Contacts
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Contacts" /S /D
Desktop
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop" /S /D
My Documents
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Documents" /S /D
Downloads
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Downloads" /S /D
Favorites
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Favorites" /S /D
Links
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Links" /S /D
My Music
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Music" /S /D
My Pictures
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Pictures" /S /D
Saved Games
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games" /S /D
Searches
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Searches" /S /D
My Videos
attrib +r -s -h "%USERPROFILE%\Videos" /S /D
24. Close the elevated command prompt.
25. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog, Copy and Paste the Shell command (see table below) for the User folder that you want to restore, and press Enter. NOTE:If this opens the missing personal user folder, then you are done and can skip step 26 and go to step 27 instead.
User Folder
Shell Command
Contacts
shell:Contacts
Desktop
shell:desktop
My Documents
shell:Personal
Downloads
shell:downloads
Favorites
shell:Favorites
Links
shell:Links
My Music
shell:My Music
My Pictures
shell:My Pictures
Saved Games
shell:SavedGames
Searches
shell:Searches
My Videos
shell:My Video
26. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to finish restoring the user folder location. NOTE:Sometimes you may need to restart more than once for the changes to be applied.
27. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
28. If you have any duplicate user folders left, or user folders that do not have a Location properties tab (Option One), then you will need to:
Delete all duplicate user folders without the correct default C:\Users\(user-name)\(user-folder) path (see step 19) and user folders without a Location properties tab.
Hi, I was doing this procedure and mistakenly click "yes" as warned in step 6, now I have to desktop folders, and I can't eliminate the duplicate. Can you please give me a link to the post were this is being solved?, I tried trough the search but I couldn't find any solution.
P.D. I now this is a how to but I don't wanna open a new post unless is necessary. Thanks a lot
System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom Made OS Windows 7 CPU Intel Quad Core 2.4Mhz Motherboard MSI G31 Memory 4GB Graphics Card Nvidia 9800GTX+ Sound Card Realtek Integrated 5.1 sound card Monitor(s) Displays Sharp Aquos LCD TV 37"
Keyboard Logitech G15 Mouse Genius Optical Mouse PSU Thermaltake TR2-RX Case Achilles Gaming Case Cooling Thermaltake ISGC fan x4 Hard Drives Maxtor Diamond Max 250GB Sata II
Western Digital Blue Caviar 320GB Sata II
Maxtor Diamond Max 80GB IDE Internet Speed 2mbps
The duplicate Desktop folder, without the default icon and just a yellow folder, should just be a normal folder without the Location tab in it's properties page. Copy all of the contents of this folder into the true Desktop folder, with the default icon, then see if you can delete it.
If not, then do OPTION TWO in the tutorial, restart the computer, and see if you can delete the duplicate Desktop (without default icon) afterwards.
I attempted this solution several times and have rebooted a number of times, but still "My Pictures" doesn't show up under my User directory. I used method 2, the registry fix and shell command. I used regedit to look at the value and it seems right. I have checked ownership of "pictures" and I own the folder.
But nothing I do seems to make the "My Pictures" show up where it can actually be used.
I have attached a screen shot. Any and all suggestions welcome.
Sometimes it may take a bit for it to return. When you type in the Shell command for it, where does it open to?
It opens the correct location, My Pictures. I just can't see it in my user directory (nor can programs).
I have been trying other things, I changed to folder setting to display hidden files. It turns out "My Pictures" is a hidden folder. When I click on properties for that folder, the "hidden" property is checked, but greyed out so I can not alter it.
Any suggestions on how to unhide the folder. I think I will be good if I can restore the directory to be not hidden.
Open a elevated command prompt, then type the command below and press enter to see if that may help bring it out of hiding for you.
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Pictures /S /D
That worked! For some reason it took a couple of attempts (or maybe the effect just was not immediate). But eventually it worked. Do I need to reset that folder to be a system folder? (thats what the -s does, right? make it not system).
Thank you very much for you help. All this was a fix to a previous botched attempt to move My Pictures to a different drive. I will be more careful this time.
I want to say thank you very much! I've had this problem for months now---I was afraid of changing the registry. Well, I finally did it and at first I thought I messed something up but after restarting everything is back to normal.
Information
Tip
OPTION ONE 
Note
Warning
Quote: Originally Posted by Brink 
User Folders - Restore Default Location Issue 
