Any bad effect after changed the location of default user profile to another drive

Question

We are studying to change the location of default user profile to another drive, say another disk for Windows 10 & Windows 11 for production user PCs.

One of the point that we are consider any bad effect, or say risk after changed applied this configuration. I have found below 2 similar article but not enough.

I would like to have any more information to supporting any warning or "not recommendation" to changing the location of default user profile for production PC of Windows 10 & Windows 11. Thanks.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/user-profiles-and-logon/relocation-of-users-and-programdata-directories

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-folderlocations

Answer 1

Hello Ka Ho Cheng,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Changing the location of the default user profile in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is generally not recommended for several reasons, especially in a production environment:

1.System Stability: Moving the default user profile can lead to system instability as many applications and system processes depend on user profile paths being in their default locations.

2.Update Issues: Windows updates and patches are tested and optimized for the default setup. Changing the profile location may lead to complications during updates, potentially causing update failures or other issues.

3.Compatibility: Some software and applications may not properly support a non-default user profile path. This can result in unexpected behavior or crashes.

4.Backup and Restore: Backup solutions are often configured to work with default paths. Changing these paths can complicate backup and restore procedures, potentially causing data loss if not managed correctly.

5.Permissions and Security: Changing the user profile location requires careful handling of file permissions and security settings. Incorrect configurations can lead to security vulnerabilities and access issues.

6.Documentation and Support: Most support documentation and troubleshooting guides assume default paths. This can make it harder to find relevant help or instructions when issues arise.

7.Group Policies and Scripts: Many group policies and login scripts assume the default profile paths. Changing these paths would require corresponding changes to all related policies and scripts, which increases administrative overhead.

If you still need to change the user profile path, ensure you thoroughly test the configuration in a controlled environment before applying it to a production system.

It’s also crucial to maintain detailed documentation of the changes made and to have a clear rollback plan in case something goes wrong.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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