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

folders

How can I rename them?

Ben N
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Peter
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  • Why don't you customize your library with your own created folders. – Scorpion99 Apr 19 '16 at 12:22
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    @Scorpion99 Because I want to make use of the default folders. Why create new links, if already links exist. – Peter Apr 19 '16 at 12:24
  • Right-click --> rename? – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Apr 19 '16 at 12:24
  • it exists in Windows 7, and I don't have Windows 10 in front of me to test it right this second. Hence why I asked you in a _comment_, in an attempt to clarify if it worked for you or not. Please stop telling us how to behave. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 Apr 19 '16 at 12:28
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    @Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 The libraries don't have a Rename option on Windows 10 (but it was a good idea to check). Fortunately, the `LocalizedResourceName` entry in `desktop.ini` can be used here - see my answer. – Ben N Apr 21 '16 at 01:33

3 Answers3

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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.

new names in Explorer

Ben N
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    When referencing shell32.dll: `-21769 = Desktop`; `-21770 = Documents`; `-21790 = Music`; `-21779 = Pictures`; `-21791 = Videos`; `-21798 = Downloads` – Stevoisiak Sep 16 '17 at 02:03
  • Note that this doesn't seem to work if you relocalized a folder to an HDD's root. It would show "E:\" for example, ignoring the name instead of displaying "Music" – NaturalBornCamper Feb 12 '18 at 21:14
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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...

enter image description here

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

enter image description here

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.

Keith Miller
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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

William
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  • Hi William, this answer is going to need significant improvements in details and formatting to be acceptable. And periods, maybe some commas. Please revise this to add some value to the OP question, and already accepted answers, or this may be flagged for removal. – Jim Diroff II Aug 25 '20 at 20:17