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How to change location of My Documents folder on Windows 10 when Location tab is not present in Dialog Box displayed after having clicked Properties contextual menu linked to My Documents folder as visible in following printscreen and as explained in Symbolic link two users document and desktop folders

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Translation explanations:

Général = Common 
Partage = Share
Sécurité = Security
Versions précédentes = Previous versions
Personnaliser = Customize

If it is impossible to restore Location Tab visibility, how can I redirect My Documents folder to D:\Documents folder.

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3 Answers 3

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Most likely, you're not seeing a Location tab because the folder is not designated as one of the User Shell folders.

To check, in the Explorer Address bar, copy & paste or type the following commands one at a time to verify the location assigned to the Shell folders:

Shell:Personal
Shell:Local Documents

enter image description here

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  • Your answer don't solve my problem because (before deleting registry key) it is not possible to modify location of 'Documents' folder that is display in my Personal folder. You explain only 'why' but my question is 'how' ! But I like (voteup) your explanation on 'shell' command in File Explorer.
    – schlebe
    Commented Dec 22, 2019 at 7:40
  • So what were the paths for the folder(s) opened by the Shell commands? If they didn't open to the folder in question (Documents in Personal), then, as far as the OS is concerned, Documents is just an ordinary file folder, despite its name. To "relocate" it, you would move it like any normal file folder.
    – Keith Miller
    Commented Dec 22, 2019 at 11:49
  • If this Documents folder is the folder you want designated as the User Shell Folder, you would use the Location tab in the Properties of the folder opened by the Shell commands given earler and relocate _that _ folder to C:\Users\bema\Documents. Then the Properties dialog for C:\Users\bema\Documents will have a Location tab.
    – Keith Miller
    Commented Dec 22, 2019 at 12:04
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The Documents folder is linked to Microsoft OneDrive product and don't have possibilities to change Location because this tab is not there.

I have checked following registry key

  \HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    \Software
      \Microsoft
        \Windows
          \CurrentVersion
            \Explorer
              \User Shell Folders

and I have found one numbered key between { and } that contains the same folder path.

I have deleted this entry in registry. I have reboot and now I can click active Properties contextual menu of Documents folder and I can see the Location tab.

The problem happens because Microsoft has added a User Shell folder in registry that has deactivated/replaced standard User Documents folder.

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    Would it not be easier to disable the OneDrive feature that added the registry key rather then manually edit the registry. You don’t specify which key you removed
    – Ramhound
    Commented Dec 21, 2019 at 23:39
  • I have removed a numbered key between { and } it is not a named key. But it is now impossible for me to retrieve it; it is deleted from registry and I don't have a recent backup of my registry.
    – schlebe
    Commented Dec 22, 2019 at 7:44
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Open My Documents and then on the Desktop icon or Documents icon on the left, right click and choose Properties. Location in on that tab.

I highly recommend keeping My Documents on Drive C as I have found over time that Windows works better this way

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  • When I right click on Desktop icon, 'Location' tab is not displayed ! That is my question ! Why on my PC, location tab is not there ?
    – schlebe
    Commented Dec 21, 2019 at 17:07
  • Did you open up Desktop so you can see folders on the right. The way you describe (as I read it) Location is not a tab. Same here. But open it up and then within Windows Explorer, right click on Desktop / Documents on the left and then Location is a tab. Two different ways to get at it, one shows Location and the other way does not show Location
    – anon
    Commented Dec 21, 2019 at 17:14
  • I have checked and I can see LOCATION tab for image but not for DOCUMENTS folder that is linked to OneDrive ! But that help me to find the solution. I will now post an answer.
    – schlebe
    Commented Dec 21, 2019 at 19:43
  • See My Documents in Nirsoft's Special Folder View for some idea where that reference is stored. nirsoft.net/utils/special_folders_view.html
    – DrMoishe Pippik
    Commented Dec 21, 2019 at 23:17

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