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In Windows 11, open File Explorer and select Documents from the left navigation pane or from Home. In Windows 10, open File Explorer, select This PC, then select Documents.
The folder may not physically be stored at the same path on every computer. It can be in your local user profile, inside OneDrive, or in a location you selected yourself. The most reliable way to confirm its location is to right-click Documents, select Properties, and check the Location tab.
Find Documents in Windows 11
Windows 11 versions 22H2 and later normally show the standard folders—Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos—in Home and the left navigation pane. They are not normally listed under This PC as they were in older Windows layouts.
- Press Windows+E to open File Explorer.
- Select Home in the left pane, or select Documents directly if it is visible in the navigation pane.
- Double-click Documents to open the folder.
You can also open it without navigating through the interface. Press Windows+R, type the following command, and press Enter:
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explorer shell:Personalshell:Personal opens the Windows Documents known folder. It is particularly useful if Documents has been moved or redirected to OneDrive or another drive.
If Documents is missing from the Windows 11 navigation pane
The folder may have been unpinned, or the navigation pane may be hidden.
Show the navigation pane
- Open File Explorer.
- Select View on the command bar.
- Select Show → Navigation pane.
Pin Documents again
- Open Start and select File Explorer.
- Select Home.
- Select the Up arrow beside the address bar.
- Right-click, or press and hold, Documents.
- Select Pin to Quick access.
Find Documents in Windows 10
- Press Windows+E to open File Explorer.
- Select This PC in the left navigation pane.
- Double-click Documents under Folders.
You can also open the usual local Documents folder by pressing Windows+R and running:
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C:UsersAlexDocumentsThis command is convenient, but it may not open the folder containing your files if Documents has been redirected to OneDrive or another location. Use explorer shell:Personal when you need the folder Windows currently treats as Documents.
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Check the actual Documents path
The shortcut shown in File Explorer is more useful than guessing from the folder name. To see the location Windows is using:
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click Documents.
- Select Properties.
- Open the Location tab.
The path displayed there is the authoritative location for that user account. A local folder usually looks like this:
C:Usersyour-user-nameDocumentsIf OneDrive folder backup is enabled, it commonly looks like this instead:
C:Usersyour-user-nameOneDriveDocumentsThe OneDrive entry may be named OneDrive – Personal or OneDrive – CompanyName. If the Location tab is not present, make sure you right-clicked the Windows Documents known folder rather than an unrelated folder that happens to be named Documents.
Why Documents may be in OneDrive
OneDrive can back up standard Windows folders, including Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Music, and Videos. When this feature is enabled, Windows redirects the known folder into the signed-in OneDrive account. This means two computers using the same Microsoft account can show similar Documents contents even though the local paths differ.
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To check manually:
- Open File Explorer.
- Expand OneDrive – Personal or the relevant OneDrive – CompanyName entry.
- Open Documents.
Do not assume that a file visible there is stored on the computer. With OneDrive Files On-Demand, a file can appear in File Explorer while remaining online-only. Such a file may download when opened and may show a cloud status icon. Right-click it and choose Always keep on this device if you need a local copy.
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Search for a missing document
If you cannot find Documents or do not know the file name, use Windows Search:
- Select Search on the taskbar.
- Enter the file name or a distinctive word from the document.
- Select the Documents filter or tab.
You can also search from File Explorer. Start from Home or This PC for a broader search, or open a specific folder first to limit the results. Search results can include files stored locally and files in OneDrive.
If a OneDrive file is online-only, search may still display it, but opening it requires an internet connection and may trigger a download.
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Move the Documents folder
Windows lets you move the Documents known folder to another folder or drive. This changes the location Windows uses for Documents; it is not the same as simply creating a new folder called Documents.
- Right-click Documents in File Explorer.
- Select Properties.
- Open the Location tab.
- Select Move.
- Choose or create the destination folder.
- Select Select Folder, then Apply.
- When Windows asks whether to move the existing files, select Yes if you want the current contents transferred.
Back up important files before changing a known-folder location. Also avoid choosing a folder inside another redirected known folder, because nested redirections can cause confusing paths and synchronization problems.
Moving OneDrive is different
Changing the Documents location does not move the entire OneDrive folder. To move the OneDrive root, use OneDrive’s own account settings:
- Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
- Select Help and Settings → Settings.
- Open the Account tab.
- Select Unlink this PC, then confirm Unlink account.
- Move the OneDrive folder to the desired drive or folder.
- Start OneDrive and sign in again.
- When prompted for the folder location, select Change Location.
- Choose the moved folder, then select OK → Use this location.
Use this process only when you intend to relocate the OneDrive root. For an ordinary Documents-folder move, use the Properties → Location method instead.
Common Documents locations
| Situation | Likely location or method |
|---|---|
| Normal local Windows folder | C:Usersyour-user-nameDocuments |
| OneDrive folder backup enabled | C:Usersyour-user-nameOneDriveDocuments |
| Documents moved to another drive | Check Properties → Location |
| Open the current known folder directly | explorer shell:Personal |
| Open the conventional local path | explorer "%USERPROFILE%Documents" |
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. The Documents steps still work, but Microsoft no longer provides regular free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for that operating system.
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FAQ
Where is the Documents folder in Windows 11?
Open File Explorer and select Documents from the left navigation pane or from Home. The physical path is commonly C:Usersyour-user-nameDocuments, but OneDrive may redirect it to C:Usersyour-user-nameOneDriveDocuments.
Why is Documents not under This PC in Windows 11?
Windows 11 version 22H2 and later normally displays Documents as a pinned known folder under Home and in the left navigation pane. This PC is the usual location for the Windows 10 layout.
What is the fastest command to open Documents?
Press Windows+R, type explorer shell:Personal, and press Enter. This opens the current Windows Documents known folder, including a redirected or OneDrive-backed location.
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In File Explorer, open the relevant OneDrive – Personal or OneDrive – CompanyName entry and look for Documents. You can also right-click the Documents known folder, select Properties, and check the Location tab.
Why can I see a OneDrive document but not open it offline?
The file may be online-only because Files On-Demand is enabled. Right-click the file and select Always keep on this device to download and retain a local copy.
Can I move the Documents folder to another drive?
Yes. Right-click Documents, select Properties → Location → Move, choose the destination, select Apply, and confirm whether Windows should move the existing files.
The Bottom Line
For Windows 11, start with File Explorer → Home → Documents; for Windows 10, use File Explorer → This PC → Documents. If the folder is missing or the path is unclear, run explorer shell:Personal or check Documents → Properties → Location. That check also reveals whether OneDrive has redirected the folder.
Sources: Microsoft: File Explorer in Windows; Microsoft: Find your files and apps in Windows; Microsoft: Sync your computer’s files and folders with OneDrive.
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