How to Change Default User Profile Location to Another Drive

Default User Profile Creation Location:

After installing Windows, all user profiles are created by default in C:\Users. While this setup works for most users, it can lead to problems when the C: drive has limited space especially if multiple user accounts are created. Over time, this can result in slowness and overall performance degradation.
In this guide, you'll learn how to change the default location for new user profiles to another drive (like D:) using the Windows Registry, and optionally how to give the new user administrator access.

Advantages of Changing the Default User Profile Location:

• Frees up space on the system (C:) drive
• Improves system performance
• Keeps user data separate from operating system files
• Simplifies backups by isolating user profiles
• Prepares for multi-user systems more efficiently

Prerequisite:

• Create new Partition (e.g., D:)
• Administrator privileges
• Access to the Registry Editor

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Modify the Registry

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

3. On the right-hand side, double-click ProfilesDirectory.
4. Change the value from:

   %SystemDrive%\Users

   
   to:

   D:\Users

   

   (Replace D: with your preferred drive letter.)

5. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

Note: There’s no need to manually create the Users folder. Windows will create it automatically when a new user logs in for the first time.

Step 2: Create a New User Account

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click Add someone else to this PC.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to create a new user account and add them to the Administrators group if required.
4. Sign in with the new account.

Windows will now create the new user’s profile folder under D:\Users.

Important Notes

• This change affects only new user accounts created after modifying the registry.
• Existing profiles under C:\Users will remain where they are and won’t be moved automatically.

Optional: Use a Registry Script

To apply the registry change faster, create a .reg file with the following content:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList]
"ProfilesDirectory"="D:\\Users"
    

Save it as ChangeUserProfilePath.reg, then double-click to apply the change.

Conclusion

Changing the default user profile location is a practical way to keep your system running smoothly, especially on systems with limited space on the C: drive or setups involving multiple users. With a simple registry tweak and a clean account setup, you can ensure all new profiles are stored on a different drive improving performance and organization.