The folder cannot be moved because there is a folder in the same location that cannot be redirected

Some users get the error “Cannot move the folder because there is a folder in the same location that cannot be redirected” when they try to change the location of a personal folder for the second time in Windows. This is not specific to a certain version of Windows, as reported in Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

The folder cannot be moved because there is a folder in the same location that cannot be redirected. Access denied

What is causing the error “there is a folder in the same location that cannot be redirected”?

On this particular bug, Windows will warn you that you will encounter the problem if you go ahead and move a personal folder to SkyDrive, OneDrive or similar location.

Windows prompt warns you that you cannot restore to default location

If you remember, you were prompted for a message saying if you continue with the redirect, you will not be able to restore it to the default location.

Windows is simply not equipped to revert this modification automatically if it was redirected.

Fortunately, there is a way that will allow you to restore your personal folders to the default location, but you will have to do it all manually.

How to correct the error “there is a folder in the same location that cannot be redirected”

In this situation where you have burned all the bridges that allowed automatic restoration, You will need to use Registry Editor to avoid the error message and regain normal functionality of your personal folders. Here is a step by step guide with everything you need to do:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Then type »regedit» and press Enter to open the Registry Editor utility. If the UAC appears (User account control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges. Run the dialog: regedit

2. Inside the Registry Editor, use the left panel to navigate to the next location:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER N - Software N - Microsoft N - Windows N - CurrentVersion N - Explorer N - User Shell Folders 

3. Once there, move to the right panel, locate the personal folder displaying the error and double click on it. Find and double click the personal folder in the right pane

4. Now, replace current value data with respective default value using next list:

   Desktop - %USERPROFILE%Desktop
   Favoritos - %USERPROFILE%N-Favorites
   Song - %USERPROFILE%NMusic
   Photos - %USERPROFILE% Photos
   videos - %USERPROFILE%Videos
   Documents - %USERPROFILE% N-Documents
   Downloads - %USERPROFILE%Downloads

   Note: Note that the respective registry key for the Downloads folder is {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}.

5. Once you replace the value data using the above list, press OK to save changes, then close Registry Editor. Return personal folder to default data

6. Reboot your machine. In the next start, the personal folder needs to be fixed and you will no longer find the error “Cannot move the folder because there is a folder in the same location that cannot be redirected”.