Powershell $PROFILE variable pointing to wrong location. Where is $PROFILE variable it set?

Question

After doing some changes to my machine, PowerShell fails because the $PROFILE variable points to a different location than before, causing problems like installed modules not found, etc:

• It is set to:

  C:\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1
  

• Instead of:

  $env:UserProfile\Documents\Powershell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1
  

How does PowerShell set the value of $PROFILE, and can it be changed?

Answer 1

I came across this while searching for an answer - the profile will be found under a new directory:

$env:UserProfile\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

---

To change where PowerShell looks for the default profile, you need to change a Registry key:

1. Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   

2. Change value of Personal to the directory of your choice
   
   

Automated way with PowerShell:

1. Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" -Name "Personal" -Value "DRIVEHERE"`
   

2. Test the value:

   Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" -Name "Personal"