Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults
Published: June 2004Send your feedback
Introduction
Windows stores the location of per-user special folders under the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders
When you redirect special folders using Tweak UI or by moving the folder to another location, the User Shell Folder registry path is modified accordingly. To reset the User Shell Folders values to defaults, try this:
Resetting the special folder paths to defaults
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Open Registry Editor and navigate to this location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders
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Backup the above branch to a .REG file.
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In the right-pane, change the Shell Folder path accordingly. The default values are mentioned in the table below for reference:
| Shell Folder | Path |
|---|---|
| AppData | %USERPROFILE%\Application Data |
| Cache | %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files |
| Cookies | %USERPROFILE%\Cookies |
| Desktop | %USERPROFILE%\Desktop |
| Favorites | %USERPROFILE%\Favorites |
| History | %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History |
| Local AppData | %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data |
| Local Settings | %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings |
| My Music | %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Music |
| My Pictures | %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures |
| Nethood | %USERPROFILE%\NetHood |
| Personal [My Documents] | %USERPROFILE%\My Documents |
| PrintHood | %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood |
| Programs | %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs |
| SendTo | %USERPROFILE%\SendTo |
| Start Menu | %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu |
| Startup | %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup |
| Templates | %USERPROFILE%\Templates |
Note: You can automate the above using the FolderRedirector utility, or using TweakUI Powertoy.
You may also this REG fix to reset the User Shell Folders values to Windows XP defaults, for the current user profile.
To reset the per-machine shell folder paths, navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders
Refer the following table for the default values:
| Shell Folder | Path |
|---|---|
| Common AppData | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data |
| Common Desktop | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop |
| Common Documents | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents |
| Common Programs | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs |
| Common Start Menu | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu |
| Common Startup | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup |
| Common Templates | %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Templates |
NOTE: After the Shell Folders values are updated, you need to move your files manually from the old path to the new.
Related articles
How to redirect Special folders in Windows XP
How to redirect shared folders in Windows XP