How To Move Documents, Downloads, Desktop, To Another Drive On Windows 11

The Users folder on Windows 11 is created for PC users when they set up a new system. This folder contains all the important library folders like Documents, Downloads, and many other Desktop folders.

Basically, the user folder is saved on C drive so you can easily access it. However, if C drive or any other drive containing your user folder does not have enough space, it is best to move the user folder to another drive on Windows 11. That is because the user folder can be a bit heavy based on the size of your data, which may slow down your system performance.

How to move user folders to another drive on Windows 11

But is moving user folders dangerous?

Yes, it's a bit risky to move user folders to a new location, but you can move your user files seamlessly if you follow the right method. In this post, you will find suitable methods to move user files to another drive on Windows 11 without losing data. So let's get started! There, you have various modes to move data in your drive, such as:

Method 1. Run File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer > This PC > Device and drivers, select the new drive location.

2. Go to the location where you wish to move user folders.

3. Tap on the New folder button and name the new folder. 

4. Repeat the steps if you want to transfer multiple folders to another drive. 

5. Now, open the Run command by pressing Windows + R keys together.

6. Type the path to open the location with the user account default folders — %HOMEPATH%

7. Right-click on the folder you prefer to move and click on the Properties option.

8. Click on the Location tab > Move button > Select the folder in the new location.

9. Click on the Select Folder button > Apply > Yes, and your default user folder is moved to the new location. 

Video:

Method 2. Apply Windows Settings

1. Go to Windows Settings > Systems > Storage > Where new content is saved.

2. Select the new save location.

The folder won’t be moved, but the new documents will be saved in the new location.

Method 3. Use Registry Editor to move the Documents folder

1. Create a new folder on the drive you want to save Documents.

2. Press Windows + R to launch the Run box and then type "regedit" in the box. Follow this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folder

3. Find the Personal option in the right panel, and double-click it.

4. Change the Value data to the new location.

5. Reboot the PC.

Move the Downloads folder back to the original location in Windows 11

1. In the File Explorer, right-click on the folder and then click Properties.

2. Under the Location tab, click on the Restore Default button and then click the Apply button. Click the Yes button if you get the confirmation prompt.

With this, how to move folder to another drive Windows 10 has become a simple task. You can use any of the abovementioned methods to move the folder.