The Right Way to Move the Documents Folder in Windows 10

Changing the location of your Documents folder is an option for those of you who have an external hard drive or who have a second internal hard drive. One of the reasons for moving the Documents folder is that it frees up space on your C:\ (or Windows) drive – if hard drive space is a concern. It also keeps your documents safe if something should happen to your C:\ drive or if Windows fails. Once you move the location of your Documents folder, it will function exactly as it did before you moved it – but only if you move it correctly.

Here’s how to move your Documents folder correctly in Windows 10:

1. Click on the Start button.

2. Click on File Explorer. On the drive to which you want to move your documents, create a folder, name it My Documents. Now close File Explorer and reopen it.

3. Right-click Documents on your current Documents folder (not the new one you just created) and choose “Properties”

4. Now click the Location tab at the top.

5. Next, click on Move. In the Destination dialog select the new location for your Documents folder (the folder you created in Step #2. The new location should appear in the text box.

6. Click on OK. Windows will prompt you to confirm. Click Yes and you’re done. Note: It may take a while for the process to complete – while all files in the Documents folder are moved to the new location. The time it will take to transfer your Documents folder depends on how many files and folders are in your Documents folder and how big they are.

When you’ve complete this, you won’t know the difference as the Documents folder in the new location will show up and work in Windows as if it had never been moved.

When you save files to it, they will be saved in Documents as they always have been, the only difference is that the Documents folder is not on your C drive – but on your external.

Despite the location, the Documents folder will function exactly the same. And the best part of this is, you won’t be taking up more than half your C: drive with one folder (Documents) and if anything ever happens to Windows or your C drive, the Documents folder — and all the files in it will be safe on the external drive.

In Windows 10 you can change the location of your Music, Pictures, Videos, folders too. You can do it the same way as you move the Documents folder.