Fix the Location Is Not Available Error on Windows

The “Location is not available” message appears when Windows cannot open a folder, drive, shortcut, or user-profile location. The cause may be a disconnected device, a changed drive letter, missing permissions, or a damaged path; work through the checks below in order, starting with the simplest.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Windows account that normally opens the affected location. Some repairs require an administrator account.
The exact path shown in the error, if available. Take a screenshot or write it down before changing settings.
If the location is on an external drive, network, or cloud service, access to that device or service.
A current backup before attempting file-system repairs or changes to permissions.

Step-by-Step

Read the full error and identify the location. Note whether it refers to a drive letter such as E:\, a folder such as Documents, a network path beginning with \\, or a user-profile path. If only one shortcut fails, the shortcut may point to a folder that was moved or deleted; if several folders fail, investigate the drive or profile.
Restart Windows and reconnect the device. Save your work, restart the computer, and try again. For an external drive, reconnect it securely, try another USB port, and make sure it receives power. Avoid unplugging a drive while files are being copied. For a network folder, confirm that the computer is connected to the appropriate network and that the shared computer or server is available.
Check whether the drive appears in File Explorer. Open File Explorer and choose This PC. If the drive appears, open it directly rather than using the old shortcut. If it is missing, right-click Start and select Disk Management. Check whether the disk is listed and whether its volume has a drive letter. Do not initialize, format, or delete a volume if it may contain files you need; those actions can make data inaccessible.
Restore a missing drive letter, if appropriate. In Disk Management, if the correct volume is healthy but has no letter, right-click that volume and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths, then Add. Pick an unused letter and confirm. Do not change the letter of a Windows system or recovery partition, and do not assign a letter blindly if you are unsure which volume is the right one. Try the location again.
Check the path and repair the shortcut. If the drive opens but the folder does not, browse to the folder’s current location. A shortcut may still refer to its former path: right-click it, choose Properties, and inspect the Target field when present. Replace or recreate the shortcut only after confirming where the folder is now. If the path points to a removable drive that is not connected, reconnect it or update the shortcut.
Check access permissions without weakening security. Right-click the affected folder or drive, select Properties, then open Security. Select your account and check whether it has the access needed for the task. If the account is missing or access is denied, ask the device owner or administrator to grant the appropriate permission. Avoid changing ownership or granting “Everyone” full control as a quick fix; broad changes can expose files or disrupt Windows.
Check for a changed Documents, Desktop, or other known-folder location. In File Explorer, right-click the affected folder under This PC, select Properties, and inspect the Location tab if it is available. If its path refers to a disconnected drive or a folder that no longer exists, use Restore Default when offered, or select a confirmed existing folder. Apply the change carefully and keep any files already stored in the old location; do not delete them until you have verified the new location works.
Repair Windows files if several locations remain unavailable. Open Start, search for Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, and approve the prompt. Run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and let it finish. Then run sfc /scannow. These tools can take time; keep the computer on and wait for each command to report completion. Restart Windows and check the affected folder again.
Check a drive for file-system errors only after backing up important data. If Windows can access the drive intermittently, copy important files elsewhere first. For a drive with a letter, open an administrator Command Prompt and run chkdsk E: /scan, replacing E: with the correct letter. If it reports errors that need repair, follow Windows’ instructions and ensure you have a backup before running a repair that changes the disk. A drive that clicks, disconnects repeatedly, or is not detected should not be subjected to repeated repair attempts; seek data-recovery help if the files matter.

Common Mistakes

Formatting or initializing a disk to make it appear. This can erase access to existing data. First establish which disk and volume you are looking at.
Changing permissions on the whole drive. Broad permission changes may expose private files or interfere with system folders. Change only what is necessary, with help from the owner or administrator.
Assuming every error is a permissions issue. A disconnected device, wrong drive letter, broken shortcut, or nonexistent folder can produce a similar message.
Deleting the old folder immediately. Verify that files are present and open correctly at the new location before removing anything.

Tips

Copy the full path from the error, including the drive letter or network name. It can reveal whether the problem is local, removable, or network-based.
Try opening the location from File Explorer rather than from an old shortcut, pinned item, or application.
After reconnecting a removable drive, check that it gets the letter expected by any shortcuts or applications that rely on it.
Back up important files before changing disk settings, running repairs, or resetting folder locations.

Troubleshooting

The drive is not listed in Disk Management: Reconnect it, test a different port or cable, and check power. If it remains absent, try it on another computer if available. A failing drive or hardware connection may need repair; do not format it simply because Windows cannot see it.

The volume is listed as RAW or unallocated: Do not create a new volume or format it if you need its files. These labels can indicate file-system damage. Back away from write operations and consult a data-recovery specialist if the data is important.

Only a network location fails: Confirm the network connection, server name, and share path. If prompted, use the authorized account for that share. Contact the network administrator if the server is unavailable or your access was changed.

The location is a cloud-synced folder: Check that the sync application is running and signed in, and that the folder is available locally or online. Avoid moving or deleting the sync folder while synchronization is in progress. If the account or service is unavailable, use its normal recovery or support process.

The error affects a Windows profile or continues after repairs: Do not delete profile folders or edit the registry based on a guess. Back up accessible files and contact an administrator or Windows support. A new account can help determine whether the issue is profile-specific, but moving profile data requires care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Location is not available” mean?
Windows cannot reach the path it was asked to open. The path may be missing, disconnected, unavailable on a network, or inaccessible to your account.

Can I fix it without losing files?
Often, yes: reconnecting a drive, correcting a shortcut, or restoring a folder path does not require deleting files. Back up important data before disk repairs or any action that changes a volume.

Why does the error appear when I click Documents or Desktop?
The known-folder path may point to a drive or folder that has moved, been disconnected, or is no longer available. Check the folder’s Location settings and choose a valid destination.

Should I run CHKDSK?
Only after identifying the correct drive and backing up important files if possible. Start with chkdsk drive-letter: /scan; do not use a repair option on a disk containing unbacked-up data without understanding the risk.

What if the folder opens for an administrator but not for me?
Your account may lack permission, or the issue may be specific to your Windows profile. Ask the device administrator to check access rather than granting broad permissions yourself.

When should I stop troubleshooting?
Stop if the drive makes unusual noises, repeatedly disconnects, contains important files with no backup, or appears RAW or unallocated. Further writes or repairs may reduce the chance of recovering data.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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