Fix: Shell Folder Shows with an Incorrect Name

After moving the user shell folders, such as Desktop, Download, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos, incorrectly, one of your shell folders may show up with a different name.

For example, the “Documents” folder may show up as “Downloads”, or “Desktop” may appear as “Downloads”.

However, the folder name may show up correctly in the properties dialog. For example, here’s a case where Desktop has been inadvertently renamed to “Desk.”

Cause

This issue occurs if the caption has been changed in the desktop.ini file. Or, the desktop.ini from another shell folder (e.g., Downloads) has been inadvertently copied to the subject folder – e.g., Desktop.

Also, the User Shell Folders registry settings may be incorrect.

Resolution

To fix the caption for the special folder, edit the Desktop.ini for that folder and fix the LocalizedResourceName value.

Using Notepad, open the hidden desktop.ini file located in the Desktop folder and fix its contents. To open the desktop.ini file for your Desktop folder, do the following:

1. Open the Desktop folder.
2. Type cmd.exe in the address bar and press Enter. This opens Command Prompt in that specific directory.
3. In the Command Prompt window, run the following command:

   notepad.exe desktop.ini

   

   This opens the desktop.ini file in Notepad.

4. In Notepad, completely replace the desktop.ini file contents with the following lines:

   [.ShellClassInfo]
   LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
   IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183
   [LocalizedFileNames]
   computer.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9216
   Hyper-V Manager.lnk=@%ProgramFiles%\Hyper-V\SnapInAbout.dll,-131
   4 - Control Panel.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-4161
   File Explorer.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22067
   

   Note: The above contents apply to the Desktop folder only. If you need to fix the caption for a different shell folder, use the correct desktop.ini contents. See the section “Desktop.ini Contents for Various Shell Folders” for more information.
5. Save the desktop.ini file, and close Notepad.
6. Log off and log back in for the change to take effect.

That should fix the caption for your Desktop folder!

The above procedure can be used for other shell folders, such as Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, or Videos. The contents of the desktop.ini file vary for each special folder, though.

The following section shows the desktop.ini contents for various folders.

Desktop.ini Contents for Various Shell Folders

For Windows 11

3D Objects

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21825
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-198

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21798

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236

Saved Games

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21814
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-186

Searches

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9031
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-18
[LocalizedFileNames]
Indexed [email protected],-32820
[email protected],-32822

Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21791
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-238

---

For Windows 10

3D Objects

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21825
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-198

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183
[LocalizedFileNames]
computer.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9216
4 - Control Panel.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-4161

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21798
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184

Favorites

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-115
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\windows.storage.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236

Public Desktop

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21799

Recent

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21797
InfoTip=@shell32,dll,-12692
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-117
CLSID={0C39A5CF-1A7A-40C8-BA74-8900E6DF5FCD}
[LocalizedFileNames]
Paint.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22054
Desktop.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769

Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21791
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-238

I hope that information helps. Let’s know your comments.