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How to Set a User's Profile Path in a Batch Script

A user's profile path is the directory where all their personal data is stored, including their Desktop, Documents, and AppData folders. By default, this is located at C:\Users\<UserName>. In some environments, especially those using roaming profiles or folder redirection, administrators need to programmatically change this path to point to a network share or a different local drive.

This guide will teach you how to modify the profile path for a local user account using the powerful, built-in NET USER command. You will learn the correct syntax for the /PROFILEPATH switch and the critical importance of running the script with full administrator privileges.

danger

CRITICAL WARNING: Changing a user's profile path is a significant administrative action that fundamentally alters where a user's data is stored. An incorrect path can prevent a user from logging in or cause them to lose access to their data. This should only be done when setting up new accounts or in a managed environment. This script must be run with full administrator privileges.

The Core Command: NET USER and the /PROFILEPATH Switch​

The NET USER command is the primary command-line tool for managing local user accounts. It can create, modify, and delete users. To change the location where a user's profile is stored, we use the /PROFILEPATH switch.

Syntax:NET USER "UserName" /PROFILEPATH:"C:\Path\To\New\Profile"

  • "UserName": (Required) The name of the local user account you want to modify.
  • /PROFILEPATH:"...": The switch followed by the new, full path to the user's profile directory.

Basic Example: Setting a New Profile Path​

Let's change the profile path for a user named TempUser to a folder on the D: drive.

@ECHO OFF
REM This script MUST be run as an Administrator.

SET "TargetUser=TempUser"
SET "NewPath=D:\Profiles\%TargetUser%"

ECHO --- Setting Profile Path for %TargetUser% ---
ECHO WARNING: This will change where the user's profile is stored.
ECHO New Path: "%NewPath%"
ECHO.
PAUSE
ECHO.

REM Ensure the parent directory exists.
MKDIR "D:\Profiles" 2>NUL

ECHO Setting the new profile path...
NET USER "%TargetUser%" /PROFILEPATH:"%NewPath%"

IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 (
    ECHO [SUCCESS] The profile path has been updated.
) ELSE (
    ECHO [FAILURE] An error occurred. Check if the user exists and if you are running as Admin.
)
note

Important: This command only updates the configuration in the security database. It does not move any existing data from the old profile to the new one. This must be done manually with a tool like Robocopy.

The Essential Prerequisite: Checking the User Account​

Before you change a user's profile path, you should always check its current configuration. You can do this by running NET USER with just the username.

Command: NET USER TempUser

The output is a detailed list of properties for the user. The line we care about is "User profile".

User name                    TempUser
...
User profile
Home directory
...

If the profile path has not been set, the "User profile" value will be blank.

Key NET USER Parameters for Profile Management​

  • /PROFILEPATH:<path>: Sets the path for the user's logon profile. This is the main command for this task.
  • /HOMEDIR:<path>: Sets the path for a user's home directory. This is an older concept often used for mapping a "home drive" (like H:) upon logon. It is different from the profile path.
  • /ADD: Used to create a new user account.
  • /DELETE: Deletes a user account.

Common Pitfalls and How to Solve Them​

  • "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied.": This is the number one cause of failure. It means your script does not have the necessary permissions. Solution: You must run the script from an elevated command prompt ("Run as administrator").

  • "The user name could not be found.": This means there is a typo in the username or the account does not exist. Solution: Double-check the spelling. You can get a list of all local users by running NET USER with no arguments.

  • Existing Data is Not Moved: A critical point to remember is that NET USER ... /PROFILEPATH only changes the pointer in the user database. It does not move the contents of C:\Users\UserName to the new location. This command is best used when creating a new user, before their first login.

    • Solution: If you are changing the path for an existing user, you must manually copy their profile data (using a tool like Robocopy with the /COPYALL and /E switches) to the new location.

Practical Example: A New User Creation Script with a Custom Path​

This script automates the full process of creating a new user and assigning them a profile path on a different drive. This is a common task when the primary C: drive is a small SSD.

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
REM This script must be run as an Administrator.

SET "NewUser=TempWorker"
SET "TempPass=Welcome123!"
SET "ProfileRoot=D:\UserProfiles"
SET "NewProfilePath=%ProfileRoot%\%NewUser%"

ECHO --- New User Creation with Custom Profile Path ---
ECHO.
ECHO User:           %NewUser%
ECHO Profile Path:   %NewProfilePath%
ECHO.
PAUSE
ECHO.

REM --- Step 1: Create the user with a temporary password ---
ECHO Creating user account...
NET USER "%NewUser%" "%TempPass%" /ADD /COMMENT:"Temporary Worker Account"

REM --- Step 2: Set the custom profile path ---
ECHO Setting the profile path...
NET USER "%NewUser%" /PROFILEPATH:"%NewProfilePath%"

REM --- Step 3: Force password change on next logon ---
ECHO Forcing password change...
NET USER "%NewUser%" /LOGONPASSWORDCHG:YES

ECHO.
ECHO [SUCCESS] User '%NewUser%' has been created.
ECHO Their profile will be created at '%NewProfilePath%' upon first login.

ENDLOCAL

Conclusion​

The NET USER command is the standard, built-in tool for managing local user accounts, including setting their profile path.

For reliable scripting:

  1. Always run your script as an Administrator.
  2. Use the syntax NET USER "UserName" /PROFILEPATH:"FullPath".
  3. Always enclose the username and path in double quotes to handle spaces.
  4. Remember that this command only sets the path; it does not move existing data. It is best used for new user creation.

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