How to Allow or Prevent Users to Move their User Folders to a New Location
Information
This tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent all or specific users from being able to change the location of their user folders in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
EXAMPLE: User Folders
NOTE: These are located at C:\Users\(user-name).
EXAMPLE: Moving User Profile Folders Allowed and Prevented
NOTE: This is an example of moving the Music user folder if set to allow or prevent.
OPTION ONE
Using a REG File Download
1. To Allow Moving User Profile Folders
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Allow_Moving_User_Folders_Location.reg
Download
2. To Prevent Moving User Profile Folders
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Prevent_Movning_User_Folders_Location.reg
Download
3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
5. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) OR Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK.
6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWO
Through the Local Group Policy Editor
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Desktop. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, right click on Prohibit User from Manually redirecting Profile Folders, and click/tap on Edit. (see screenshot above)
4. To Allow Moving User Profile Folders
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
5. To Prevent Moving User Profile Folders
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
That's it,
Shawn
Last edited:
