Where Are Folder Redirection Settings Stored?
Folder Redirection moves Documents and Desktop to network shares through Group Policy registry settings.
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Folder Redirection moves shell folders like Documents and Desktop onto network shares through Group Policy. The client records the mapping in the registry and syncs through Offline Files.
That layering decides every troubleshooting step. Redirection settings show where files should live, the network share shows where they do, and the CSC cache covers the gap offline. Server moves break the mapping first, so verify the policy before touching any files.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Redirection mappings per user in the registry, applied by Group Policy. Verify the target share here before assuming files are lost in a server move.
Frequently asked questions
A user's Documents are empty after a server move. Where did they go?
Check the redirection policy and the network path first. Offline Files cache covers outages, but a dead server plus an empty cache means genuinely missing files, not hidden ones.
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