Changed defaut downloads to d drive

Question

Changed defaut downloads to d drive

Banisha Sharma 40

I chagned my defautl downloads to d drive (as in the drive itself not a specific folder) and now i cant change it back to C drive (default) as this errors shows and aslo i cant even change it to another folder 53389

Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2026-03-11T10:29:31.09+00:00

Did you select the current Download folder on D: correctly, and what new location did you specify?
Banisha Sharma 40 Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:30:54.3+00:00

i have selected restore default, and also treid to move to a folder in e drive . in both case the error in image is showing.
Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:40:57.67+00:00

The problem seems to be caused by the fact that previously the root folder on D was indicated. Now the system thinks that everything on D (including system folders) represents Downloads. This aspect is probably not sufficiently handled in Windows. If the system asks about moving the files, maybe you should answer No and manually move the necessary files later.

Answer accepted by question author

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Your answer

Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2026-03-11T10:29:31.09+00:00

Did you select the current Download folder on D: correctly, and what new location did you specify?
Banisha Sharma 40 Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:30:54.3+00:00

i have selected restore default, and also treid to move to a folder in e drive . in both case the error in image is showing.
Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:40:57.67+00:00

The problem seems to be caused by the fact that previously the root folder on D was indicated. Now the system thinks that everything on D (including system folders) represents Downloads. This aspect is probably not sufficiently handled in Windows. If the system asks about moving the files, maybe you should answer No and manually move the necessary files later.

Answer 1

DaveM121 929.6K Independent Advisor

1

Right click the Downloads folder and select Properties.

Choose the Location tab.

Click the button to move the Downloads folder back to its default location.

You will be asked if you want to merge the data in the folder, you must choose No.

The Downloads folder should them move successfully back to its default location on the C drive.

2

If that process is not successful:

Click your Start Button, type regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Click View and make sure 'Address Bar' is turned on.

Paste this into the Address Bar at the top and hit Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Please provide a screenshot of that Registry Editor page.

Banisha Sharma 40 Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:29:33.3733333+00:00
Banisha Sharma 40 Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:32:54.7766667+00:00

here
DaveM121 929.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-11T11:36:00.48+00:00

Thank you for the screenshot, your Downloads folder is merged to the D drive, please follow these steps carefully.

1

Open File Explorer, then go to the D drive.

Right click in the D drive and select New - Folder, then name the folder Downloads.

Close File Explorer.

2

Open the Registry Editor again, it will still be on the same page.

3

Double click {7D83EE9B-2244-4E70-B1F5-5393042AF1E4}, set its Value Data to this and click OK

D:\Downloads

4

Double click {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}, set its Value Data to this and click OK

D:\Downloads

5

Close the Registry Editor, then you must restart (not shut down) your PC to apply the changes.

6

This process will have created a new Downloads folder on your D drive and fixed the references in the registry.

You can then either leave the Downloads folder on the D drive or move it back to the C drive.
Banisha Sharma 40 Reputation points

2026-03-11T11:45:57.86+00:00

Ok thanks

Answer 2

Changing the Downloads folder directly to the root of D: has broken the personal folder mapping. Reset the Downloads folder path in the registry back to its default, then Windows will let it be moved again.

Important: Modifying the registry incorrectly can cause serious problems. Back up the registry first using the guidance in the referenced article.

Follow these steps to fix it:

Right‑click the Windows logo and select Run.
Type regedit.exe and press Enter. If User Account Control appears, select Yes.

In Registry Editor, browse to:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the right pane, locate the entry for the Downloads folder:
- Registry key: {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}
Double‑click this entry and set Value data to the default path:
- %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
Select OK to save.
Restart File Explorer so the change takes effect:
- Either sign out and sign back in, restart the PC, or end and restart Explorer.exe from Task Manager.

After this, the Downloads folder will be back on the default C: location (C:\Users\<username>\Downloads), and the Location tab in Properties will work normally again if a different folder is needed.

References:

Operation to change a personal folder location fails in Windows