User shell folders missing. Right-click Start, and click Run. . Jan 6, 2010 · This problem occurs because there are incorrect entries in the Shell folder of the user who is logged on to Microsoft Windows. " Give the folder the correct name (e. Jul 5, 2017 · I want to move the user profile folders to the Home drive (H:) but the Location tab is missing if I look at the Properties of each folder at C:\\Users\\username I have encountered this issue before but can’t remember what I did to resolve it. Anyone really familiar with "Shell Folders" and "User Shell Folders" registry entries located under Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer? They appear under HKEY_CURRENT_USER HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE HKEY_USERS There are some overlap but also some differences. Apr 16, 2025 · In this guide, you’ll learn 7 proven methods to restore music, pictures and documents folders on Windows 11/10 (also work for older versions), from simple recycle bin tricks to advanced recovery software. Incorrect Windows Registry settings in Shell Folders or User Shell Folders. In this case, you need to recreate it manually. - You can use the same method to Mar 5, 2023 · Locate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. Sep 10, 2024 · If the Videos folder goes missing from Windows File Explorer and reappears as one more Documents folder, then here's an easy fix to solve the issue quickly. g Jan 16, 2020 · Change registry values of user shell folders: Some folders are missing in registry (contacts, searches, and savedgames) Anonymous Jan 16, 2020, 1:50 PM Aug 24, 2025 · Commonly, restoring user shell folder paths involves right-clicking the folder in Windows Explorer, accessing Properties, and selecting the Location tab, where you can click Restore Default. Jan 20, 2022 · The keys in question are named Local AppData and AppData, which are located under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders. Corrupted User Profile. Right-click in an empty area, select "New," and then "Folder. The Pictures folder (shell:My Pictures) is a component of the user profile that is used as a unified location for storing personal data. Windows gets awkward whenever two user folders are collocated. Excess files in %TEMP% folder. Type: shell:personal Click OK. Also, open a Command Prompt window and run: DIR Jun 20, 2025 · Is your desktop folder missing from user profile in Windows 10 or 11? Learn step-by-step fixes to recover it, including File Explorer settings, C drive location, and system restore options. After some Googling I figured out how to find them in regedit. Dealing with Missing Folders: Recreating the Shell Folders Sometimes, the user shell folder might be completely missing. May 28, 2025 · Causes: Folder redirection. Use regedit to go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders and delete the entry My Pictures. Jul 29, 2022 · By default, the location of the personal folders is stored in the C: drive when the windows OS is being installed on any system. Corrupted . Create the Folder: Open File Explorer and navigate to your user profile directory (usually C:\Users\YourUsername). e. If I navigate all the way from the drive root in order to avoid getting into this shell location, they're still here. Sep 18, 2024 · How to restore missing Downloads folder in Windows? 1] Through Shell Command The download folder, if missing from its default location, can be traced through shell commands as described below: Mar 16, 2023 · Hi DCGSyd, The location "C:\Users\xxxxx\Documents" is the default location for the Documents folder. Try as you might, you won't be able to restore these user folders, because they 2. But if there is a space crunch in the C: drive, what users do is they change/move the personal folder to another drive other than the C drive. Interestingly, in the registry the Shell Folders and User Shell Folders do not exist - HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer In Sep 7, 2020 · However, you'll still be able to access the folder the same way you did before you redirected it. Create the new folder first then select its path in the File explorer address bar so you can cut & paste to avoid typos. If not, I suggest you create a new Windows administrator account and use this new user account. This does not include the OneDrive folder. - You can alter the User shell folders Registry entry to put the Pictures folder somewhere else. Then locate the Personal folders settings per user are stored in the User Shell Folders with the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders 3. Trying to figure out what each set is used for. NET Framework or Operating System (OS) missing updates. Learn how to restore it if it went missing, using easy methods. User Profile folder is missing and when I click on C:\ Users, I have only one User Profile i. See if the Location tab is visible. In the folder that opens, right-click on an empty area in the folder and click Properties. Dropbox may have redirected the folder via a registry. Mar 1, 2016 · Try this : In folder C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\, delete Desktop. Here, you can enter the correct path if it was moved. Geeks can manually navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders and Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, right-click on the folder that's moved and select Modify. Jul 25, 2023 · I uninstalled OneDrive, but Windows still insists on automatically creating these folders after I delete them. Corrupted remnant files from a previous installation. Registry locations for ALL Users (REG_EXPAND_SZ) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders On a brand new install of Windows some of the keys may not exist (typically the fonts entry) Registry entries can appear in both the older Shell Folders subkey and the User Shell Folders in both HKLM and HKCU. Mar 1, 2016 · In folder C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\, delete Desktop. Jan 23, 2022 · I'm running into a problem where my user library folders such as C:\Users\Midas\Videos and C:\Users\Midas\Documents are disappearing in the shell representation of my user folder. Sep 3, 2022 · This tutorial will show you how to move or restore the default location of the Pictures folder for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Nov 11, 2014 · At some point, you'll probably run into a problem that doesn't seem to have an easy solution: one of your default User folders in Windows 7 (My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, My Videos, Downloads, and Desktop) will suddenly disappear. User or Public profile folders missing or restricted. Change the data value to the new folder where you want the data to be stored in Jun 16, 2022 · The Pictures folder in Windows 10 is where a lot of us store all our photos. This tutorial will show you how to restore your personal folders back to the default location in your C:\Users\ (user-name) profile folder in Windows 10. Jul 4, 2025 · And how to perform a user folder recovery and get all lost folder and files back becomes a new question. Here, you'll find several useful methods to restore missing/not showing up User folder on the desktop. When Windows Installer accesses the Shell folder assignment of the user who is logged on to the computer, Windows Installer cannot locate the correct entry. Feb 26, 2023 · Geek Blog - Computer tips and how-to articles - Learn how to change the default location for user files in Windows manually. Apr 14, 2021 · 1 Brink mentioned your Pictures folder being collocated with the Documents folder. Jun 19, 2023 · Geeks can manually navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders and Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, right-click on the folder that's moved and select Modify. Check whether there are registry keys of Personal (Documents folder) and My Pictures (Pictures folder). C:\Users\GubbiGrishma, refer screenshot 2. I don't see that unless I type in above in address bar, any reason or any course of action to reset it, by the way I don't see Pictures folder at all. ini (or better - first rename it). kyr lfkij guvddob fu ta3tog9 qvk5 b5le deh n9 ub