- Home
- PC Migration Software
- UserFolderMigrator
UserFolderMigrator
What it is
UserFolderMigrator is a free PowerShell tool for Windows shell folder migration, user profile backup and restore, and redirection management. It can move Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos, update their registry paths, and optionally clean up the source. Backups can include AppData, Wi-Fi profiles, printers, scheduled tasks, mapped drives, and WSL distributions. Profile restoration follows an eight-phase process covering files, registry settings, access controls, Wi-Fi, mapped drives, scheduled tasks, printers, and WSL distributions. The tool supports MD5, SHA1, and SHA256 checksums, along with checkpointing and resume for interrupted work. Dry-run mode simulates operations without changing files or the registry, while report-only mode creates HTML and JSON reports. It also supports notifications through SMTP, Microsoft Teams webhooks, and remote syslog, plus PowerShell plugins. Requirements include PowerShell 7 or later, Windows 10 or Server 2016 or later, and administrator privileges. The main script has no GUI, and the project identifies several scenarios as untested or potentially problematic.
For and against
For
- Backs up and restores a broad set of profile data.
- Supports checksums and resuming interrupted operations.
- Dry-run and report-only modes avoid making changes.
- Includes plugin hooks and several notification options.
Against
- Windows only, with no GUI for the main script.
- Requires PowerShell 7 or later and administrator privileges.
- Several profile and volume scenarios are untested or may have issues.
The verdict
UserFolderMigrator offers detailed migration, backup, and restore controls for Windows profiles, including simulation and reporting modes. Its requirements and lack of a main-script GUI make it a better fit for users comfortable with administrative PowerShell work.
Who it suits
UserFolderMigrator is aimed at home users, IT administrators, MSPs, consultants, Intune or SCCM engineers, and home-lab users handling Windows profiles or folder moves. It requires comfort with PowerShell and administrator access.
Plans and prices
Free
Free tool · MIT License · Windows only
Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Extensibility
- A plugin system loads PowerShell modules from a plugins folder and provides hooks across migration stages.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It supports SMTP email notifications, Microsoft Teams webhooks, and forwarding events to a remote syslog server.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrity and recovery
- The script supports MD5, SHA1, or SHA256 checksums and checkpoint/resume for interrupted operations.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The README identifies home users, IT administrators, MSPs and consultants, Intune or SCCM engineers, and home-lab users as intended audiences.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository states that UserFolderMigrator is provided under the MIT License.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The project says it is Windows-only and has no GUI for the main script, though it includes an interactive wrapper.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Migration
- It can move shell folders such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos, update their registry paths, and optionally clean up the source.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Profile backup
- Full profile backups can include AppData, Wi-Fi profiles, printers, scheduled tasks, mapped drives, and WSL distributions.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- UserFolderMigrator is a PowerShell script for Windows shell folder migration, profile backup and restore, and redirect management.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- It requires PowerShell 7 or later, Windows 10 or Server 2016 or later, and administrator privileges.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Restore
- Profile restore uses an eight-phase pipeline covering files, registry, ACLs, Wi-Fi, mapped drives, scheduled tasks, printers, and WSL distributions.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Safety
- Dry-run mode simulates operations without filesystem or registry changes, and report-only mode generates HTML and JSON reports without making changes.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project documents optional Authenticode signature enforcement, plugin manifest hash checks, HMAC-signed manifests, and a BitLocker destination requirement.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker invites bug reports through GitHub Issues and feedback by email, and says replies are sent when time allows.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Untested cases
- The maker lists domain roaming profiles, Azure AD-only environments, ReFS volumes, and cross-architecture printer restores among scenarios that are untested or may have issues.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026