System › User Profiles
Set user home folder
Supported on At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
What it does
This policy setting allows you to specify the location and root (file share or local path) of a user's home folder for a logon session. If you enable this policy setting, the user's home folder is configured to the specified local or network location, creating a new folder for each user name. To use this policy setting, in the Location list, choose the location for the home folder. If you choose “On the network,” enter the path to a file share in the Path box (for example, \\ComputerName\ShareName), and then choose the drive letter to assign to the file share. If you choose “On the local computer,” enter a local path (for example, C:\HomeFolder) in the Path box. Do not specify environment variables or ellipses in the path. Also, do not specify a placeholder for the user name because the user name will be appended at logon. Note: The Drive letter box is ignored if you choose “On the local computer” from the Location list. If you choose “On the local computer” and enter a file share, the user's home folder will be placed in the network location without mapping the file share to a drive letter. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the user's home folder is configured as specified in the user's Active Directory Domain Services account. If the "Set Remote Desktop Services User Home Directory" policy setting is enabled, the “Set user home folder” policy setting has no effect.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Why it needs changes for Intune
- Policy references a Windows supportedOn definition.
- ADMX-INTUNE-WINDOWS-SUPPORTEDON-REFERENCE
In Intune
Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_UserProfiles/USER_HOMEADMX_UserProfiles on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Drop-down list | HomeDirLocation |
|
| PathRequired | Text | HomeDir |
Up to 255 characters |
| Drive letterDefault: Z: | Drop-down list | HomeDirDrive |
|
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Fix the highlighted options to generate output.
History 2 retained releases
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Wording changed.
- 1607 · 2.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
Template
- Internal name
USER_HOME- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.UserProfiles- Template file
UserProfiles.admx- Release
- Windows 10 22H2 · 1.0 · file set
bc15f6a5271783ee…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.USER_HOME)" explainText="$(string.USER_HOME_EXPLAIN)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" name="USER_HOME" presentation="$(presentation.USER_HOME)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.UserProfiles:UserProfiles" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows8" />
<elements>
<enum id="USER_HOME_LOCATION" valueName="HomeDirLocation">
<item displayName="$(string.On_the_Network)">
<value>
<decimal value="1" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.on_the_Local_Computer)">
<value>
<decimal value="0" />
</value>
</item>
</enum>
<text id="HOME_PATH" required="true" valueName="HomeDir" />
<enum id="DRIVE_LETTER" valueName="HomeDirDrive">
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_G)">
<value>
<string>G:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_H)">
<value>
<string>H:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_I)">
<value>
<string>I:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_J)">
<value>
<string>J:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_K)">
<value>
<string>K:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_L)">
<value>
<string>L:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_M)">
<value>
<string>M:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_N)">
<value>
<string>N:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_O)">
<value>
<string>O:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_P)">
<value>
<string>P:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_Q)">
<value>
<string>Q:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_R)">
<value>
<string>R:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_S)">
<value>
<string>S:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_T)">
<value>
<string>T:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_U)">
<value>
<string>U:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_V)">
<value>
<string>V:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_W)">
<value>
<string>W:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_X)">
<value>
<string>X:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_Y)">
<value>
<string>Y:</string>
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.DRIVE_Z)">
<value>
<string>Z:</string>
</value>
</item>
</enum>
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="USER_HOME" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<dropdownList noSort="true" refId="USER_HOME_LOCATION">Location:</dropdownList>
<textBox refId="HOME_PATH">
<label>Path:</label>
</textBox>
<text>If you chose "On the Network," specify the drive letter for the mapped drive.</text>
<dropdownList defaultItem="19" refId="DRIVE_LETTER">Drive letter</dropdownList>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
sha256:4b3cb6917b5e5b7cd142c0157f10882786b3e9ee67c29fd7b8f4c6cb2eec5fe7
Microsoft.Policies.UserProfiles:category:UserProfiles
<category displayName="$(string.UserProfiles)" name="UserProfiles" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:System
<category displayName="$(string.System)" explainText="$(string.System_Help)" name="System" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows8
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows8)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows8" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
<product displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows)" name="MicrosoftWindows" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000" versionIndex="1">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP2)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP2" versionIndex="2" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP3)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP3" versionIndex="3" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP4)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP4" versionIndex="4" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP" versionIndex="2">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP2)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP2" versionIndex="2" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003" versionIndex="3">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_R2)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_R2" versionIndex="2" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP2)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP2" versionIndex="3" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsVista)" name="MicrosoftWindowsVista" versionIndex="4">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsVista_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsVista_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsVista_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindowsVista_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsServer2008)" name="WindowsServer2008" versionIndex="5">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsServer2008_RTM)" name="WindowsServer2008_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsServer2008_R2)" name="WindowsServer2008_R2" versionIndex="1" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows7)" name="MicrosoftWindows7" versionIndex="6">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows7_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows7_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer8)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer8" versionIndex="7">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer8_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer8_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows8)" name="MicrosoftWindows8" versionIndex="8">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows8_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows8_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_RT)" name="MicrosoftWindows_RT" versionIndex="9">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_RT_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_RT_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3" versionIndex="10">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3" versionIndex="11">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT" versionIndex="12">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0" versionIndex="13">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0" versionIndex="14">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT" versionIndex="15">
<minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
</majorVersion>
</product>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows">Windows operating system</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000">Windows 2000 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_RTM">Windows 2000</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP1">Windows 2000 Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP2">Windows 2000 Service Pack 2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP3">Windows 2000 Service Pack 3</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP4">Windows 2000 Service Pack 4</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7">Windows 7 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7_RTM">Windows 7</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows8">Windows 8 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows8_RTM">Windows 8</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003">Windows Server 2003 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_R2">Windows Server 2003 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_RTM">Windows Server 2003</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP1">Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP2">Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer8">Windows Server 2012 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer8_RTM">Windows Server 2012</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0">Windows Server 2016 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0_RTM">Windows Server 2016</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3">Windows Server 2012 R2 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3_RTM">Windows Server 2012 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsVista">Windows Vista operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsVista_RTM">Windows Vista</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsVista_SP1">Windows Vista Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP">Windows XP operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP_RTM">Windows XP</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP1">Windows XP Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP2">Windows XP Service Pack 2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0">Windows 10 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT">Windows 10 RT operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RTM">Windows 10</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT_RTM">Windows 10 RT</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3">Windows 8.1 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT">Windows RT 8.1 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RTM">Windows 8.1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT_RTM">Windows RT 8.1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_RT">Windows RT operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_RT_RTM">Windows RT</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008">Windows Server 2008 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_R2">Windows Server 2008 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_RTM">Windows Server 2008</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.UserProfiles:category:UserProfiles
<category displayName="$(string.UserProfiles)" name="UserProfiles" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.UserProfiles:UserProfiles">User Profiles</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:System
<category displayName="$(string.System)" explainText="$(string.System_Help)" name="System" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System">System</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System_Help">Allows configuration of various system component settings.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows8
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows8)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows8" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows8">At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT</string></strings>