How to rename a default folder in the Windows user library

Question

In Windows 10, there are several folders in the user library (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos):

How can I rename them?

Answer 1

Set your Folder Options to show hidden and system files. You'll then see a file called desktop.ini in each user folder. The one in Desktop contains this:

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183

Other folders may have more entries, but they're not relevant here. The LocalizedResourceName line is what lets Windows know to display a translated folder name. You can change its value to a constant string, like so:

LocalizedResourceName=Top of the Desk

Consider making a back-up of these desktop.ini files in case you want to put the localizable default back. You can also use a semicolon (;) to comment out lines in INI files.

Once you're done, log off and back on. (Restarting explorer.exe is not enough.) Your custom name will appear in Quick access, This PC, and every place that supports localized folder names.

Answer 2

No need to edit the desktop.ini file directly. While the Folder shortcuts under This PC don't offer the Rename command in their context menus, their corresponding target folders do. So, from This PC:

• Right-click the folder shortcut & select Properties
• Select the Location tab
• Click Find Target...

• The parent of the target folder opens with the target selected

Fron there it can be renamed through any of the standard methods --- all of which actually modify the desktop.ini file rather than actually renaming the folder in the filesystem.

Answer 3

In Windows 10 if you have changed you downloads to another HDD drive for example E:\Downloads to rename your default folder name just delete the desktop.ini file but make a backup first and then restart the default folder should change to whatever you have named your downloads folder