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I use a different name for "Documents" folder.

Previously I had to rename it after every windows update, because updates kept changing it back.

Now I am unable to rename it to the same old name anymore. After typing the name and pressing enter, it stays "Documents", without displaying any message. But I still can give it any other name I don't want :)

Is there a way to use my old relevant name?

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  • You mean to say that you can rename it to other names but not with your desired one?
    – avirk
    Nov 5, 2012 at 14:51
  • exactly. I have used that specific name for more than a year, but every windows update used to change it back to "Documents". Nov 5, 2012 at 14:57
  • Did you try to change it with other name you don't want and then again rename it your desired one.
    – avirk
    Nov 5, 2012 at 15:12
  • Is there already a folder that exists with the desired name? Nov 5, 2012 at 15:12
  • 1
    @JustinasDūdėnas A folder not appearing in Libraries does not mean it doesn't exist in the same location where My Documents exist i.e c:\users\username\
    – clhy
    Oct 19, 2015 at 0:08

3 Answers 3

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Navigate into the folder you want to rename and look for desktop.ini.
Open it in any text editor and you'll find this line

[email protected],-##### (a number)

Now change the string after the equal sign to whatever you want, like this

LocalizedResourceName=My Custom Name

Save and quit. It is not necessary, but recommended, that you set the file to read-only in 'Properties'.

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  • I use this solution to rename it to "Not documents". Then, I mark the file as read-only.
    – user477799
    Mar 12, 2017 at 5:45
  • Still works in Windows 11, thanks!
    – Adam
    Mar 5, 2022 at 15:25
0

One work-around to this issue of renaming and the issue of Documents always reverting it's name after updates may be to simply create a shortcut to the documents folder and rename the shortcut. Place the shortcut where ever you like.

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First of all: can you create such a folder?

First of all, make sure you can create a folder with the desired name.

Try it upfront: right-click the parent folder, then click New, then click Folder, then type in the desired name, and then press Enter.

Had success? Ok, delete (or not) the created folder.

Could you not create the folder? Try running CHKDSK or, if it didn't work, look for any clues at the eventvwr.msc

Ok, a folder with the desired name can be created

You may try changing the default location of 'My Documents'.

Following (more or less) the instructions from Microsoft (at http://goo.gl/EWvhh0).

  1. right-click the current 'Documents' folder (the one you want to rename)
  2. click Properties, and then click the Location tab
  3. change the path in the text box to the desired one, and then click Apply
  4. Windows will then:

    4.1. try to create the new folder (if it does not exist) 4.2. move the files from the original folder to the new one 4.3. and assume the new folder as THE 'My Documents' folder

If Windows fails at step '4.1', well, man, it's past the time for a clean setup.

(Anyways, this question is so old that I doubt @JustinasDūdėnas still needs it to be answered, that he still is using the troubled Windows 7 setup...)

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  • OP is not trying to rename the Documents folder & moving it would not help it
    – clhy
    Oct 17, 2015 at 3:08
  • @The_IT_Guy_You_Don't_Like, you have a point. I rewrote my answer. Thanks. Oct 18, 2015 at 18:32

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