How to Set Up and Remove Folder Redirection on Windows Server (2024)

Mitch Jaehrlich

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Why would you want a redirected folders?

Folder redirection is a classic feature of running a Windows Server environment. But since its inception, there have been new innovations leveraging cloud services. OneDrive and Intune for Azure AD allows live profile syncing to any device across the world. All you need is an internet connection, enabling a smooth transition to work from home.

If you want to upgrade to a modern version of folder redirection, you'll need to remove existing redirection systems. This guide will show you how your classic folder redirection was likely set up, so you know exactly how to tear it down, for an online future.


Step 1: Create a Shared Folder on the Server

Create the folder

Start by creating a shared folder on the server. This is where you will be storing all your user's redirected folder content. You will want to set this up close to the root directory, in case long file names become an issue.

In our example, we will create the directory "C:\Profile$\". The appended $ symbol sets the shared folder as "hidden", so it will not show up in File Explorer lists and must be explicitly browsed to. In this case, it also functions as the 's' in 'Profiles'.

Setup the folder permissions

Right-click the folder, select Properties, open the Security tab, then click Advanced. With the Advanced Security Settings page open, remove access to everything, except System, Administrators, and Creator. Then add the user group for who you want the folder redirection policy to apply.

Click the drop-down box next to Applies To and select This Folder Only. Then click Show Advanced Permissions, and give your users the following permissions:

  • List Folder
  • Read attributes
  • Read extended attributes
  • Create Folders
  • Read Permissions

Also be sure to set the Share permissions with Full Access to the Domain Users group.



Step 2: Create a Folder Redirection GPO

Start by opening gpedit.exe from searching the start menu. Right click an OU that you want folder redirection to apply to, and select Create a GPO, and give it a name.

On the Scope tab, remove Authenticated Users from Security Filtering. Then add the Folder Redirection user group. And then go to the Delegation tab and add Authenticated Users with Read permissions.

Right click the GPO and select Edit. Go to User Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Folder Redirection. Right click a folder you want to redirect and select Properties. In the drop-down menu next to Setting, select Basic. For Target Folder Location, select "Create a folder for each user under the root path". And for the Root Path, enter the path to your shared folder in step 1. e.g. \\Server\Profile$


Step 3: Bask in the Glory of Folder Redirection

At this point, you have a folder ready for redirection. You may add additional folders, to be redirected, too.

Over time, the user's computers in your OU will catch on to the changes and start moving their files over to the server in the background.

To jump start the process, you may want to send a gpupdate /force via Command Prompt.


Step 4: How to Remove Folder Redirection

Now that your users have their files on the server, you will want to move those files back to their computers and disable the policy.

Start by going back into the edit menu of the GPO, User Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Folder Redirection. For each of the redirected folders, right-click the folder and select Properties, then move to the Settings tab. In the Policy Removal section, change the selection to "Redirect the folder back[...]".

Close the edit window and move to the Delegation tab for the GPO. Remove the security group that has your users.

And that's it. You may want to run a gpedit /force to kick start the removal. Either way, the next time the users log out and back into their profiles, the server will copy all their files back to their computer and the files on the server will no longer sync from the user's computers.


Windows Server is No Match for Your Google-fu

Thanks for reading. I hope your Folder Redirection deployment or destruction goes well. Let me know if you have any questions.


How to Set Up and Remove Folder Redirection on Windows Server (2024)

FAQs

How to configure Folder Redirection in Windows server? ›

Configure Folder Redirection settings under User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Folder Redirection. Specify the target folder that we want to redirect to the network location. In this demonstration, the document folder is selected to redirect to the E drive on the server.

How do I remove Folder Redirection from Windows? ›

Step 4: How to Remove Folder Redirection

For each of the redirected folders, right-click the folder and select Properties, then move to the Settings tab. In the Policy Removal section, change the selection to "Redirect the folder back[...]". Close the edit window and move to the Delegation tab for the GPO.

How do I get rid of redirected drives? ›

Typically, when you disconnect from a Remote Desktop session, the redirected drives and folders should be automatically disconnected. If that's not happening, you can try right-click on a redirected drive and select "Disconnect." to manually remove it.

How do I change Folder Redirection? ›

At Composition > Actions By Type > Files and Folders > Folder Redirection, you can configure the redirection of Microsoft Windows User Shell Folders. Folder redirection enables the administrator to redirect the location of certain folders of the user profile to a different path, such as a shared network location.

How to check if Folder Redirection is working? ›

Open File Explorer. Right-click a redirected folder (for example, the My Documents folder in the Documents library), and then select Properties. Select the Location tab, and confirm that the path displays the file share you specified instead of a local path.

How do I fix user Folder Redirection? ›

  1. Check Permissions: Make sure that the file and folder permissions are correctly set. ...
  2. Check the Folder Redirection Policy: Verify that the Folder Redirection GPO is configured correctly. ...
  3. Check DFS Namespace and Replication: Verify that DFS namespace and DFS replication are working correctly.
May 11, 2023

What is Windows Folder Redirection? ›

Folder Redirection enables users and administrators to redirect the path of a known folder to a new location, manually or by using Group Policy. The new location can be a folder on the local computer or a directory on a file share.

Where is Folder Redirection in registry? ›

For a list of other registry keys of folders you can redirect, see the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders entry in your local Windows registry. Windows automatically replaces the %USERNAME% variable with the name of the current user when the policy is applied.

How do I block Folder Redirection on terminal server? ›

How to I stop folder redirect from carrying over to the terminal server? In your Folder Redirection gpo, go to the delegation tab. Add your Terminal Server computer object or group containing the Terminal Server computer objects with the “Deny Read” permission set.

How do I get rid of unwanted redirects? ›

On your computer, open Chrome. Settings. Pop-ups and redirects. Choose the option that you want as your default setting.

How do I fix redirection? ›

See if the following steps will fix your issue.
  1. Check your browser settings. Make sure that your browser is not configured to redirect pages. ...
  2. Check your extensions. Some extensions can cause unwanted redirects. ...
  3. Scan your computer for malware. ...
  4. Contact the website you're trying to visit.
Mar 30, 2023

How do I turn off auto redirection? ›

Stop Redirects Chrome on a PC
  1. Launch Chrome and press the three dots at the top-right corner.
  2. Select “Settings.”
  3. Press “Security and Privacy” in the left menu.
  4. Choose “Site Settings.”
  5. Scroll down and select “Pop-ups and redirects.”
  6. Ensure “Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use directs” is selected.
Mar 15, 2022

How do I optimize Folder Redirection? ›

Under User Configuration, navigate to Policies, then Administrative Templates, then System, then Folder Redirection. Right-click Enable optimized move of contents in Offline Files cache on Folder Redirection server path change, and then select Edit. Select Enabled, and then select OK.

What is the difference between Folder Redirection and home folder? ›

A home folder is a shared drive designation that maps at logon and enables the user to store personal files. On the other hand, folder redirection is an automated way to redirect specific folder contents.

How to configure Active Directory on Windows Server? ›

Domain Controller Prerequisites
  1. Run ipconfig /all. ...
  2. Assign a static IP address to your domain controller. ...
  3. Test your network connectivity. ...
  4. Open Server Manager. ...
  5. Add roles and features. ...
  6. Proceed to the Server Roles page. ...
  7. Begin AD DS Server Role Installation. ...
  8. Wait for installation to complete.

How do I create a Folder Redirection policy? ›

The process to configure folder redirection is straightforward. Within the designated GPO, the administrator should access User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Folder Redirection. Once IT admins right-click the desired folders and select Properties, they can view the configuration options.

How do I redirect folders in Windows Server 2016 Essentials? ›

To enable folder redirection on the Destination Server

In the navigation bar, click Devices. In the Devices Tasks pane, click Implement Group Policy. On the Enable Folder Redirection Group Policy page, select the folders to be redirected, and then click Next. On the Enable Security Policy Settings page, click Finish.

What are the best practices for redirected folders? ›

For optimal performance of the Folder Redirection feature, it is strongly recommended that you create only the root share on the server, and then let the system create the folders for each user. If you must create the folders for users, ensure that you correctly assign permissions.

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