4 best ways to hide or protect a Windows folder, without installing additional software
The methods in this article will help you hide or protect Windows folders from prying eyes.
Move Desktop, Downloads and Documents to another drive on Windows 10
Most of us save downloaded files to the default Downloads folder, and many of us have dozens of folders and files on our desktops. Since most users have several gigabytes of data in both the Downloads folder and the Desktop folder (all desktop items are saved in the Desktop folder), it makes sense to move these folders to another drive if Windows or your system drive is running out of disk space.
With default settings, folders like Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Picture, and Music are all located on the Windows 10 installation drive. For example, if Windows 10 is installed on the “C” drive, you can find these folders by navigating to the C:\Users\YourUserName folder.
If you're running Windows 10 on a relatively small SSD or on a small partition of your hard drive and are running out of drive space, you might consider moving your Documents, Desktop, and Download folders to another drive.
Many users want to move the User Profile folder to another drive to free up disk space on the system partition, but since moving the User Profile folder to another drive is not supported by Windows, there will be problems when upgrading Windows 10 to a new build. Therefore, the method of moving the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music and Pictures folders to another drive (via the User Profile folder) where you have plenty of free space is reasonable.
IMPORTANT NOTE : Do not use this guide if the drive is encrypted.
Move Desktop, Downloads and Documents to another drive
Here's how to move the Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, and Music folders to another drive on Windows 10. Note that you can move the folders you want and don't have to move all of them.
Step 1 : Open File Explorer by clicking its icon on the taskbar or clicking the File Explorer icon in the Start menu.
Step 2 : In the left navigation pane of File Explorer, you can see Desktop, Downloads, Pictures and other folders in Quick Access. Right-click on the folder you want to move to another drive and then click Properties.
For example, if you want to move the Desktop folder, right-click the folder and click Properties to open Desktop Properties. Note that you cannot move multiple folders at once.
Step 3 : Switch to the Location tab , click the Move button , then select a location on any drive (not an external hard drive) and finally, click Select Folder , then hit the Apply button to move the selected folder to the new drive.
And if you see the following confirmation dialog box asking “Do you want to move all of the files from the old location to the new location?", click the Yes button to move all the files to the new location.
Using this method, you can move the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures and Music folders to another drive.
How to restore the original location of folders
In this guide, we will use restoring the Desktop folder to its original location as an example. These instructions also apply to the Downloads, Documents, Music, and Pictures folders.
Step 1 : Open File Explorer, navigate to the location where you saved the Desktop folder. Right-click the Desktop folder, then select Properties .
Step 2 : Click the Location tab , then click the Restore default button to move the selected folder back to its original location. Click the Apply button . Click the Yes button when you see the confirmation dialog.
This method is one of the easiest ways available to free up space on your system drive.
Good luck!
See more articles below:
How to fix The User Profile Service failed the logon error on Windows 10
Most Windows errors occur after you log in to your computer. However, the User Profile Service Failed the Logon error doesn't allow you to log in at all, which is why it's harder to fix than other Windows errors.
How to get another year of free Windows 10 updates
Windows 10 has just three months left until support ends. In October 2025, the operating system will receive its final update, ending its 10-year lifecycle.
How to Fix Repairing Disk Errors on Windows
Errors related to your computer's drive can prevent your system from booting properly and restrict access to your files and applications.
Instructions for setting up and managing FTP Server on Windows 10
If you want to create a private cloud to share and transfer large files without any limits, you can create an FTP Server (File Transfer Protocol Server) on your Windows 10 computer.
How to hide and show files in Windows 11 without software
If you are looking for a way to hide files on Windows 11 without software, just follow the instructions below.
How to turn off hard drive when not in use on Windows 11
If your computer has an SSD and an HDD, you can turn off the hard drive after a period of inactivity.
How to change DNS to surf the web faster, increase Internet speed
Changing DNS on Windows has many benefits, such as: Accessing some blocked websites, speeding up internet connection, improving network stability. Below is how to change DNS on Windows 10, Windows 7 and other Windows versions. In the last part of the article, WebTech360 will talk a little about why changing DNS helps speed up the internet.
How to Create a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) to Prank Your Friends
Blue screen of death (BSOD) is a common and not new error of Windows when the computer is experiencing some serious system error.
Summary of common Run CMD commands
Instead of performing manual and direct access operations on Windows, we can replace them with available CMD commands for faster access.
Try these Wi-Fi tips while on vacation to reduce roaming costs!
Coming home to expensive data roaming charges probably isn't what you want. Luckily, there are some handy ways to cut those roaming costs.
How to fix network adapter not found error on Windows 10
Many people have encountered the problem of network adapter disappearing from Device Manager or receiving a missing network adapter message. This article will guide you on how to fix the missing network adapter driver problem on Windows 10.
How to delete individual system restore points in Windows
Windows automatically creates system restore points up to a set limit, leaving you with dozens of restore points you never use.
Must-Have Windows Desktop Visual Enhancement Tools
If you're tired of staring at the same interface every day, these tools will enhance your desktop experience.
Windows 11 wont respect your privacy until you make these changes!
Windows 11 has a reputation for being a privacy-poor operating system, with many default settings that can cause privacy problems. But don't worry - there are ways to regain some control in this area.