Share via

Move content from all subfolders to their parent folders

Anonymous
2022-04-04T09:59:54+00:00

Hi all,

I have a drive with hundreds of folders in this fashion:

e:/a/aa/(any content)

e:/b/bb/(any content)

...

e:/z/zz/(any content)

I need the subfolders (1 per main folder, but maybe some have 2, kind of zz1 zz2) and its content (files and/or folders, these need to be as they are now), to be upped one level to have a cleaner route:

e:/aa/(any content)

e:/bb/(any content)

...

e:/zz/(any content)

Some subfolders have same name as parent ones, but not all.

I don't need to move all files to one folder, just "trim" the route by upping subfolders to their parent...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

7 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2022-04-04T13:15:21+00:00

    Hi, I'm Elise, and I'd be happy to help with your issue.

    If you have similar file types, you can use the search function in file explorer to locate all the files in the sub folders. Then simply select then all and cut/paste the files.

    Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

    Kind Regards,

    Elise

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-04-11T08:48:26+00:00

    You say you can't do this manually by opening 2 instances of file explorer, one of the left and one on the right? You know how that works I assume?

    The files you want to move you move them from the right instance into the left instance and into the correct folder. Then you delete the empty folder on the right that the files were moved from. This would involve a manual sorting of files.

    It's easier than selecting the "Move" option on the file explorer ribbon that involves more steps because you are just dragging files. Use the "Sort by" options on the ribbon to find similar type files in your folders.

    Thank you for your answer.

    Yes. I even tried a double-pane (double instance-like) explorer software. But even with that possibility, it would need be done manually with every parent folder - hundreds. Kind of thought of a macro keypresses software kind of AutoKey... Even with that, it is too risky because once done - and possibly failed, as I tested with a copy of a fraction of the troubling files, when there was mixed content - there would be no "easy" undoing option (hundreds of ctrl+z?).

    I still think that CMD is the answer (or PowerShell), but I cannot find, adapt or figgure anything that works. Closest one I got somewhere, it failed when in subfolder was mixed content (files and sub-subfolders) but worked flawlessly when there were only sub-subfolders.

    Or any folder management software, but I was also unable to find any that did the job in any way.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2022-04-07T10:35:52+00:00

    Thank you all for your answers.

    I cannot find a fitting solution for this. Closest one I found was a CMD script that did the job if within the subfolders were only other sub-subfolders, but if there were any file next to them (.jpg, .txt...), it did skip the whole subfolder batch line and it ended being a nice mess xD

    I'll keep searching for future situations like this.

    Again, thanks.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2022-04-05T06:30:34+00:00

    Hey Juan. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

    Here's the best solutions found:

    https://superuser.com/questions/746632/windows-...

    https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2236930-...

    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/63056616/mo...

    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/64935230/re...

    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/50193121/re...

    https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/move-copy-fi...

    For further questions on this I'd ask at one of the developers forums linked where the handle scripting as we do not normally handle such questions here in this strictly end-consumer forums.

    I hope it helps.

    ______________________________________________

    Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-04-04T13:30:03+00:00

    Hi, I'm Elise, and I'd be happy to help with your issue.

    If you have similar file types, you can use the search function in file explorer to locate all the files in the sub folders. Then simply select then all and cut/paste the files.

    Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

    Kind Regards,
    Elise

    Hi,

    Thanks for your answer.

    I am trying to move all content (files and/or folders) one level up, so copy and paste from a search is not an option since I would paste - merge - all files to one single random folder.

    I need to move all content (mixed - folders and files) within a subfolder to its parent folder, this action being performed on EVERY folder in E:/.

    Example:

    E:/folder1/subfolder1/(mixed content)
    E:/folder1/subfolder2/(mixed content)

    ...

    To

    E:/subfolder1/(mixed content)
    E:/subfolder2/(mixed content)

    ...

    'Mixed content' may include files, folders (with or without relative subfolders), or both at the same time.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments