UserFolderMigrator
github.com
What it is
UserFolderMigrator is a free PowerShell script for Windows shell-folder moves, user-profile backup and restore, and folder redirection management. It can relocate Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, and Videos, update their registry locations, and optionally remove the originals. Backups can include AppData, Wi-Fi profiles, printers, scheduled tasks, mapped drives, and WSL distributions. Restore proceeds through eight phases for files, registry, access controls, Wi-Fi, mapped drives, scheduled tasks, printers, and WSL distributions. MD5, SHA1, or SHA256 checksums are available, and checkpointing can resume interrupted operations. Dry-run simulates work without changing files or the registry; report-only mode creates HTML and JSON reports without changes. Notifications can go through SMTP, Microsoft Teams webhooks, or remote syslog. The script requires PowerShell 7 or later, Windows 10 or Server 2016 or later, and administrator privileges. The project says it is Windows-only and the main script has no GUI, though an interactive wrapper is included. It is provided under the MIT License.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- UserFolderMigrator is a PowerShell script for Windows shell folder migration, profile backup and restore, and redirect management.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Intended users
- The README identifies home users, IT administrators, MSPs and consultants, Intune or SCCM engineers, and home-lab users as intended audiences.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Integrations
- It supports SMTP email notifications, Microsoft Teams webhooks, and forwarding events to a remote syslog server.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Security
- The project documents optional Authenticode signature enforcement, plugin manifest hash checks, HMAC-signed manifests, and a BitLocker destination requirement.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Support
- The maker invites bug reports through GitHub Issues and feedback by email, and says replies are sent when time allows.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- License
- The repository states that UserFolderMigrator is provided under the MIT License.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Extensibility
- A plugin system loads PowerShell modules from a plugins folder and provides hooks across migration stages.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Integrity and recovery
- The script supports MD5, SHA1, or SHA256 checksums and checkpoint/resume for interrupted operations.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limits
- The project says it is Windows-only and has no GUI for the main script, though it includes an interactive wrapper.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- 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.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Profile backup
- Full profile backups can include AppData, Wi-Fi profiles, printers, scheduled tasks, mapped drives, and WSL distributions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Requirements
- It requires PowerShell 7 or later, Windows 10 or Server 2016 or later, and administrator privileges.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Restore
- Profile restore uses an eight-phase pipeline covering files, registry, ACLs, Wi-Fi, mapped drives, scheduled tasks, printers, and WSL distributions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Safety
- Dry-run mode simulates operations without filesystem or registry changes, and report-only mode generates HTML and JSON reports without making changes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- 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.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Can back up and restore several profile components.
- Supports checkpointing and resume.
- Dry-run and report-only modes avoid making changes.
- Offers checksum options for integrity checks.
- Supports email, Teams, and remote syslog notifications.
Limits
- Windows only.
- Requires PowerShell 7 or later and administrator privileges.
- Main script has no GUI.
- Several listed migration scenarios are untested or may have issues.
Who it suits
The project identifies home users, IT administrators, MSPs and consultants, Intune or SCCM engineers, and home-lab users as intended audiences. It is suited to Windows profile and shell-folder migration tasks where a PowerShell workflow is acceptable.
Verdict
UserFolderMigrator provides detailed migration and recovery controls for Windows profiles, with a free MIT-licensed distribution. Check its requirements and the listed untested scenarios before using it in a particular environment.
Where Specifiction places it
- Database Schema Comparison Tools#14 of 257.2
- PC Migration Software#17 of 267.3