Location is not available, when you try to open User folders. (Solved)
On a Windows 10, 8 or 7 based device the "Location is not available" error may be displayed whenever the user tries to access one or more personal folders (e.g. Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, etc.) from their shortcuts in Windows Explorer.Â
The full error message that is displayed is: "Location is not available. C:\Users\%username%\%Folder Name& is unavailable. If the location is on this PC, make sure the device or drive is connected or the disc is inserted and then try again. If the location is on the network, make sure you 're connected to the network or Internet and then try again. If the location cannot be found, it might have been moved or deleted".
The "Location is not available" issue commonly occurs after the user has deleted (or moved) completely the folder reported on the error message.
In this tutorial you will find detailed instructions on how to resolve the "location is not available" problem or to restore the default location of your personal folders in cases that you have accidentally deleted or moved them to another location.
How to resolve the "Location is not available" problem when you try to access Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, etc. folders. (Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista)
Notice: If you have moved the missing folder to another location or disk, then just return back the missing folder to its original location and restart your computer. Otherwise, if you have deleted the reported folder, follow the instructions below to resolve your problem.
1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to your profile folder:
- C:\Users\%Username%\
2. Right click on an empty space and choose: New > Folder
3. Now give to the new folder the name that is reported on the error message.
e.g. If the error message shows that the missing folder is the "Documents" folder, then give to the new folder the name "Documents".
4. Close Windows Explorer and restart your computer.
That's it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
We're hiring
We're looking for part-time or full-time technical writers to join our team! It's about a remote position that qualified tech writers from anywhere in the world can apply. Click here for more details.
- How to Disable Device Encryption in Windows 11. - April 17, 2024
- How to View Permissions on Shared Folders on Windows 10/11. - April 15, 2024
- FIX 0x80070643 error in KB5034441 update (Solved) - April 10, 2024
June 11, 2020 @ 2:17 pm
Hi, can you help me? after i rename the User's folder in windows 10, resulting in C:\Users\mypreviousname\xx unavailable. How to come to solve this? thank you
June 12, 2020 @ 8:54 am
Can you see the folder xx under 'C:\Users\mypreviousname\' ? If yes, make sure that the name of the folder (xx) is the same as mentioned on the error message. If the folder is there, I suggest you to create a new user account and to transfer all your files to the new user.
April 16, 2020 @ 11:37 am
I was trying to fixing my USB which is not showing and gave a letter to it for a procedure to fix it but when i unplugged, the assigned letter drives are still there and showing same error. When i plug USB (same USB) it is showing with new drive letter. Please help.
April 18, 2020 @ 9:41 am
Use the following command to check and repair the drive for errors (where "X"= the drive letter of the drive): chkdsk X: /F /R
October 7, 2018 @ 12:07 pm
My folder ends with 3 dots " … " in doing the above the problem folder shows up without the 3 dots and ends up being empty. If I change the folder name, remove the 3 dots or add letters I get prompted with, "Are you sure you want to change the extension….?" hence Windows thinking it is a file instead of a folder. So the folder in question, which I know has files in it, can not, in my case, be solved with the above solution.
Thanks nevertheless
October 6, 2018 @ 5:11 pm
Hi, worked for the folder but did not bring my pics back, still lost, not in the recycle bin not on my PC (I presume).
October 8, 2018 @ 8:57 am
@Hans: Probably the pics were deleted.
August 3, 2018 @ 3:00 pm
P Magugu
Aug 03, 2018 @1457hrs
Thank you, it restored all files perfectly. Rating *****(5 star).
November 18, 2017 @ 7:50 am
Thank you so much. It worked for me.
Thanks again for the post.
February 5, 2017 @ 10:50 pm
Thank you!! I've been on various different sites trying to work out how to do this for the past two hours!! You made it so easy!!