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  1. C:
  2. Users
  3. <utilisateur>
  4. Desktop
FolderRisk: Caution
  • Localized name

Desktop C:\Users\<utilisateur>\Desktop

User Desktop folder: files and shortcuts shown on the desktop; can be redirected to OneDrive or a network share.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

Everything that appears on the user’s desktop is a file in this folder (FOLDERID_Desktop). French File Explorer shows it as “Bureau”, but the real name on disk stays Desktop. Icons common to all users come in addition from C:\Users\Public\Desktop.

What it contains

Items dropped by the user or by installers: documents, .lnk shortcuts, Internet shortcuts, folders. System icons such as “This PC” or the Recycle Bin are not files in this folder: they are virtual shell items.

Risks and best practices

  • This is user data: include it in the profile backup and do not purge it during a cleanup without the user’s consent.
  • The folder can be redirected to OneDrive (Known Folder Move) or by a folder redirection policy. The real path is then no longer C:\Users\<user>\Desktop, so query it instead of assuming it.
  • A desktop loaded with large files slows sign-in on roaming or redirected profiles. Steer users toward Documents or a share.
  • Files containing passwords are visible on screen there and often synced to OneDrive, so avoid them.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# Real path of the current user's Desktop
[Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop')


# Possible redirection (registry value)
(Get-ItemProperty 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders').Desktop


# Content and size
Get-ChildItem ([Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop')) -Force | Select-Object Name, Length, LastWriteTime

Folder contents

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