# Permanently changing Manager data folder **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [July 18, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983 "2024-07-18T12:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/jon/32/1915_2.png) [@Jon](https://forum.manager.io/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/1 "2024-07-18T12:45:32Z")
Hello again. I’ve recently migrated to a new Windows computer, and I can’t seem to remember how to get Manager to use a particular data directory without having to change every time I launch the program. When I start Manager, the data directory defaults to `C:\Users\[me]\Documents\Manager.io`. I click the `Change Folder` button and change it to directory where my data files are stored, on a different internal drive. Everything works. When I quit Manager and restart it, the data directory goes back to the default `C:\Users\[me]\Documents\Manager.io` and I have to do the `Change Folder` thing again. (Manager also keeps re-creating that directory, which means I have to keep re-deleting it.) How do I get my data directory to stick? It was sticky on my prior computer, but I don’t remember what I did to make that happen. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Mabaega](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/mabaega/32/47471_2.png) [@Mabaega](https://forum.manager.io/u/Mabaega)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/2 "2024-07-18T14:18:59Z")
No problems with the default folder settings in my Desktop Manager. Try checking the Default application data for your Manager application ```auto Windows: C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Manager Windows: C:\Users\\Documents\Manager.io Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\OneDrive\Documents\Manager.io Windows: C:\Program Files\Manager\.local\share\Manager macOS: ~/Documents/Manager.io macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Manager macOS: /Users/[Username]/Documents/Manager.io Linux: ~/.local/share/Manager.io Linux: ~/.local/share/Manager Linux: /home/[Username]/Documents/Manager.io ``` There should be a file named `"data"` there. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/manager1/original/3X/e/2/e2eaa26e894d3ebb2705d42752b618627c4d566f.png) Open the file with a text editor, see whether the contents are the data path you specified. If it is the same, then there is a possibility that the Manager failed to open the folder you specified, so the manager will use the default path. Make sure you use a local drive/folder to save Desktop Manager data. Storing data on a network Drive will require longer access times, and the manager will consider it inaccessible. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/jon/32/1915_2.png) [@Jon](https://forum.manager.io/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/3 "2024-07-18T14:28:47Z")
Thank you, @Mabaega. That was it. There was indeed a `data` file, but it was in the default directory `c:\Users\[me]\Manager.io`. When deleted that directory, I was deleting the `data` file, which caused Manager to revert to the default directory and re-create the `data` file there. Instead, I’ve moved the `data` file to `%AppData%\Local\Manager`, and now everything works as expected again. ---
**Author:** ![VACUUMDOG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/vacuumdog/32/7101_2.png) [@VACUUMDOG](https://forum.manager.io/u/VACUUMDOG)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/4 "2024-07-18T14:37:40Z")
Interesting! I recently updated to 24.7.15.1733 and it created the folder Windows: C:\Users[Username]\OneDrive\Documents\Manager.io and set it as default with business files some 2 months old. (from the old trash folder I believe) Luckily I back up every time I close the program. So I did a complete uninstall, removed both Local and Roaming Manager folders, and removed all registry entries. I then did a new install and it again created a folder in My Documents, which it had made the default. I changed the default to the Local folder then imported my back up and it worked, although the option to reset the default would set it back to My Documents. I thought it may have been a glitch with my computer but I have just installed it on another personal computer and there is indeed a bug with setting the default folder. Maybe @lubos needs to look at this. ---
**Author:** ![Mabaega](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/mabaega/32/47471_2.png) [@Mabaega](https://forum.manager.io/u/Mabaega)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/5 "2024-07-18T14:47:21Z")
As you can see, in Windows I show four folders for the default data path. It looks like @lubos wants to change the default data location while maintaining compatibility with older versions that use different default paths. It is possible that the application incorrectly determines the default folder, especially if we upgrade the Manager from a version that is too old or a version that uses a different default path than the version currently used. ---
**Author:** ![VACUUMDOG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/vacuumdog/32/7101_2.png) [@VACUUMDOG](https://forum.manager.io/u/VACUUMDOG)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/6 "2024-07-18T14:52:56Z")
> [@Mabaega](#): > > It is possible that the application incorrectly determines the default folder, especially if we upgrade the Manager from a version that is too old. I was updating from 24.7.7.1713 which was using the default Local folder C:\Users\ _Username_ \AppData\Local\Manager ---
**Author:** ![Mabaega](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.manager.io/mabaega/32/47471_2.png) [@Mabaega](https://forum.manager.io/u/Mabaega)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/7 "2024-07-18T15:09:24Z")
Not really sure, it seems impossible that the Manager will retrieve or move data from the trash folder. There is a possibility that you have used this folder in the past. ---
**Author:** ![eko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@eko](https://forum.manager.io/u/eko)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://forum.manager.io/t/permanently-changing-manager-data-folder/54983/8 "2024-09-28T20:56:03Z")
Closed on September 28, 2024, 8:56pm UTC