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I currently do not have a home directory on my laptop, and all users are under C:\Users. I want a folder, C:\Users\username, to become C:\home\username. On Linux I know this is mkhomedir_helper, but I am unfamiliar with how to implement this on Windows 10.

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Find your SID

Run the following command from the command prompt:

wmic useraccount where name="USER" get sid

Remember to replace USER with your username. Write this down as you will need it later.

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Move your User Profile

Using an administrator account other than the one you want to move, copy the folder C:\Users\Username to C:\home\username.

Open Regedit to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

In the left pane under the Profilelist key, select the key that matches the SID your got before. In the right pane, right click on ProfileImagePath, and click on Modify. Enter the full path to where you copied your User Profile to (i.e. C:\home\username.

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    Works fine, but may break some some applications. These can't find some of their old data anymore, due to hardcoded paths. E.g. MS Outlook 2016 and MiKTeX. I would recommand to avoid moving the user profile if the user already used the account. – someonr Feb 4 '20 at 12:27
  • also update your user variables in System properties. – Tony S Nov 24 '20 at 20:56
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(update: this might only work on Windows 10 Pro)

Plonis answer is good but instead of going to the registry:

  • start menu > type "users" > select "Edit local users or groups" (or lusrmgr.msc)
  • double click Users
  • double click the user you want to change
  • Profile tab > Home folder > Local path > enter the new path
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    Um, no? imgur.com/uDRhfKi – gman Feb 28 '19 at 5:57
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    Unfortunately this doesn't work on Windows 10 Home. – dr. Sybren Aug 5 '20 at 14:00
  • And what is it supposed to work on? – Martin Andersson Aug 12 '20 at 16:21
  • When I posted this I was on Windows 10 Pro but today I'm afraid I can't test this anymore. – user829755 Aug 13 '20 at 10:09
  • I just used this method. Worked fine. Thank you. (Windows 10 Pro) – Andrew Charneski Dec 3 '20 at 2:46
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The following steps work on Windows 10 Pro

  1. Search for and open lusrmgr.msc
  2. Open Users folder
  3. Right click on the user you want to change
  4. Select Properties
  5. Select Profile tab
  6. In the section titled Home folder, enter the new location of the home folder in Local path. Alternatively, you can map a drive letter to a network location.
  7. Select OK to apply the changes
  8. You will need to restart to see the changes take effect, shells will still consider the old location as $HOME
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