Messed up my Downloads folder. How to get it back?

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I've changed my Downloads folder location to D:\Test\Downloads. Then I accidentally set the Desktop folder to D:\Test.

After getting it back to C:\Users\MyName\Desktop, the D:\Test\Downloads is not marked as a user folder anymore, meaning that at properties, the Location option is not more available.

Trying to get it back, I've created a folder named Downloads at C:\Users\MyName\Downloads, but it also does not have the Location option.

When I run (Windows+R) shell:Downloads, windows cannot find it.

So, how can I get back the Downloads folder?

OS: Windows 7 x64 Pro.

Pedro77

Posted 2014-02-28T19:09:21.263

Reputation: 1 367

Question was closed 2014-03-01T14:47:28.597

Answers

2

You'll need to point the Downloads library link back to D:\Test\Downloads.

You can do that through Right Click > Properties then selecting the Location tab.

  • Restore - This will set the path back to default, as you see in the screenshot.
  • Move... - This opens a window that will let you choose a new location for the downloads directory.
  • Find Target... - This will open the directory where the currently set Downloads folder resides. In the example below: C:\Users\Michael\

Download Properties

Note: You can only get to the "correct" Downloads properties by entering from the \Users\Username\ folder directly. See the screenshot below:

Download Properties 2

If the above method doesn't work or the Location tab is completely gone, and you're not just looking in the wrong place. You may need to reset the Download folders registry link.

There are two locations that will need to be reset:

HKCU > Shell Folders

and

HKCU > User Shell Folders

Michael Frank

Posted 2014-02-28T19:09:21.263

Reputation: 7 412

As I said, the Location tab is gone. This is the problem. I can't find it, actually, I think it does not exists anymore, since "shell:Downloads" results in error. I need to reset it, but I don't know how/where. :( – Pedro77 – 2014-02-28T19:23:10.873

I've expanded my answer to include a screenshot of which icon to enter properties from. I can't see if for some reason, hopefully you can. – Michael Frank – 2014-02-28T19:30:49.953

Sorry, this is not the solution, I found it at: http://superuser.com/questions/267626/accidentally-deleted-the-downloads-folder-a-windows-special-folder-how-to-re

– Pedro77 – 2014-02-28T19:39:07.367

Next time, mention that you deleted the folder. ;) – Michael Frank – 2014-02-28T19:41:11.813

I will say that @MichaelFrank did give an accurate answer, although there is an alternative when the tabs are not available, which it the answer you found. – CharlieRB – 2014-02-28T19:41:43.550

I didn't, but you didn't understand that the Location tab was gone. – Pedro77 – 2014-02-28T19:42:12.460

Thanks @MichaelFrank for the very detailed answer. Unfortunately I can't mark it as answer since it is not the correct one. Also, I don't know how should I proceed in this case, when the answer is inside a similar question. Any moderator can help? :) – Pedro77 – 2014-02-28T19:53:48.727

I'll add a couple screenshots to show the registry edit method as well. That way, it'll be a more complete answer for people with this problem in the future. – Michael Frank – 2014-02-28T20:04:15.087

Asked: 2014-02-28T19:09:21.263

Viewed: 5 990 times

Active: 2014-02-28T20:07:05.980