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.
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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1Works 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
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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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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
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I just used this method. Worked fine. Thank you. (Windows 10 Pro) – Andrew Charneski Dec 3 '20 at 2:46
The following steps work on Windows 10 Pro
- Search for and open
lusrmgr.msc
- Open
Users
folder - Right click on the user you want to change
- Select
Properties
- Select
Profile
tab - In the section titled
Home folder
, enter the new location of the home folder inLocal path
. Alternatively, you can map a drive letter to a network location. - Select
OK
to apply the changes - You will need to restart to see the changes take effect, shells will still consider the old location as
$HOME