How to Separate Downloads Folder from Drive F in Windows 8.1

Problem: “Downloads” Folder Showing as Local Drive F in Windows 8.1

The issue where the “Downloads” folder displays as local drive F in Windows 8.1 occurs due to incorrect registry settings and conflicts when changing the location of system folders. To resolve this issue, you need to clean the registry of incorrect references and restore the default settings for the “Downloads” folder location.

Table of Contents

• Problem Causes
• Method 1: Fixing through Registry Editor
• Method 2: Recovery through Command Prompt
• Method 3: Using Hidden System Files
• Additional Recommendations
• Result Verification

Problem Causes

Your case is a classic example of a conflict that occurs when changing system folder locations and subsequently rearranging drives. The reason is that Windows stores paths to “Downloads”, “Documents”, “Pictures” and other folders in the registry using special GUID identifiers.

When you moved the Downloads folder from drive C to drive D, and then cloned drive D to drive F, the system retained incorrect references. Now Windows considers drive F to be the Downloads folder, while the Downloads folder itself appears as a separate drive.

Important: The problem is exacerbated by the fact that you used a third-party partition manager to clone drives without properly cleaning system settings.

Method 1: Fixing through Registry Editor

This is the primary and most effective method to solve your problem. You need to clean the registry of incorrect entries regarding the Downloads folder location.

Steps to perform:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor
2. Navigate to the path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
3. Find the parameter named {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} - this is the GUID for the “Downloads” folder
4. Double-click this parameter and change the value to the default: %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
5. Also check and, if necessary, fix the path in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders section with the same GUID
6. Restart your computer

Note: Before making changes to the registry, it’s recommended to create a backup by selecting “File” → “Export”.

If the problem persists after this, a deeper cleanup may be required:

1. Delete the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}
2. Delete the similar key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
3. Restart the system - Windows will automatically create the correct entries

Method 2: Recovery through Command Prompt

If you don’t want to work directly with the registry, you can use the Command Prompt to fix the settings.

Action algorithm:

1. Launch Command Prompt as administrator (Win + X → Command Prompt (Admin))
2. Execute the command to reset the Downloads folder location:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%USERPROFILE%\Downloads" /f

3. Restart your computer

This command will forcibly set the correct path to the Downloads folder in the registry. The /f flag means force execution without confirmation prompts.

Method 3: Using Hidden System Files

Sometimes the problem may be related to system files being hidden, so you don’t see the actual folders in File Explorer.

Checking and configuring display:

1. Open File Explorer and go to the “View” tab
2. In the “Options” section, click “Folder and search options”
3. Go to the “View” tab
4. In the “Hidden files and folders” section, select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”
5. Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files (recommended)”
6. Click “Apply”, then “OK”

Now you should see the system folders that were previously hidden. Check if there is a real “Downloads” folder in your user profile (usually C:\Users\YourName\Downloads).

Additional Recommendations

System File Check

Sometimes corrupted system files can cause similar issues:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator
2. Execute the command:

sfc /scannow

3. Wait for the scan and error repair to complete
4. Restart your computer

Disk Integrity Check

Check drive F for errors:

1. Open File Explorer and right-click on drive F
2. Select “Properties” → “Tools”
3. Click “Check” in the “Error checking” section
4. Select “Automatically fix file system errors” and click “Start”

Removing Incorrect Shortcuts

Sometimes the problem may be related to shortcuts in File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer and go to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
2. Delete all files with names starting with automaticDestinations-ms
3. Restart your computer

Result Verification

After following all recommendations, perform the following checks:

1. Restart your computer and open File Explorer
2. Ensure that the “Downloads” folder appears separately from drives in the “This PC” section
3. Try downloading any file and verify that it saves to the correct folder
4. Open the properties of the “Downloads” folder and confirm that the location is correctly specified

If problems still persist, you may need to create a new user account and check if the problem persists there.

Sources

1. Microsoft Q&A - I changed my downloads location to F:/ and now it changed into the hard drive
2. Super User - Change location “Download” folder from CMD - Windows 8.1
3. Microsoft Q&A - Can’t open “downloads” folder for some reason - Windows 8.1
4. Reddit - Lost my download folder
5. Microsoft Q&A - How to make Downloads folder on drive D

Conclusion

1. The main problem is caused by incorrect entries in the registry after changing the Downloads folder location and subsequently rearranging drives
2. The most effective solution is to fix the registry through the Registry Editor or Command Prompt
3. Always create a backup of the registry before making changes
4. In case of complex issues, checking system files and disk integrity is recommended
5. If standard methods don’t help, creating a new user account may help determine if the problem is system-wide or related to your profile