a single shared “Documents” folder that:

Replaces each user’s individual C:\Users\username\Documents
Is the same location for all users — past and future
Is centrally stored, e.g. on D:\Documents on our server

Involves configuring Group Policy Folder Redirection, not just an SMB share.

✅ What we’re Trying to Achieve

Requirement	Implementation
All users share the same folder	Redirect all “Documents” folders to `\\waglserver\Documents`
Applies to all current & future users	Group Policy applies at domain level to all
Files not stored locally per user	Folder redirection disables use of local `C:\Users\...\Documents`
Central backup and visibility	You can manage/backup `D:\Documents` centrally
Avoid user confusion	Their Documents folder appears normal, but points to shared location

🛠 Step-by-Step Setup

🔹 1. Create the Shared Folder

New-Item -Path "D:\Documents" -ItemType Directory
New-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -Path "D:\Documents" -FullAccess "Domain Users"

Ensure NTFS permissions on D:\Documents also include Full Control for Domain Users.

🔹 2. Create a Group Policy for Folder Redirection

On the domain controller, open Group Policy Management.
Create a new GPO:

Name: Redirect Documents Folder

Right-click it → Edit

In GPO Editor:

Go to:

User Configuration →
  Policies →
    Windows Settings →
      Folder Redirection →
        Documents

Double-click Documents
Set:

Setting: Basic – Redirect everyone’s folder to the same location
Target folder location: Redirect to the following location
Root Path: \\server\Documents

Apply and close the GPO editor.

🔹 3. Link the GPO to our Users

In Group Policy Management, right-click the OU where our users reside (or use the root domain if all are there).
Choose Link an existing GPO
Select Redirect Documents Folder

🔹 4. Test It

Open File Explorer
Open Documents
We should be redirected to \\server\Documents

Files they save in Documents will go into the shared central folder, not their profile.

⚠ Notes

All users will see and modify the same folder. There’s no access isolation unless we do permission trickery (not recommended here).
No local offline copies unless explicitly enabled.
Backup is centralised — just back up D:\Documents.

✅ Summary

Step	Action
Create SMB share	✔ `D:\Documents` shared to Domain Users
Set GPO	✔ Folder Redirection → Basic → Point to `\\server\Documents`
Link GPO	✔ To OU or domain
Result	All users’ “Documents” folder points to a shared, central location

✅ So to Recap our Final Setup Plan

We’re choosing to:

Keep the UNC path as \\server\Documents
Redirect all users’ “Documents” folders to this shared location via GPO
Avoid extra layers like drive mappings or DNS aliases
Accept that users may see \\server in advanced views (like Properties), but it will “just work” from their perspective

This approach is:

💡 Simple: Only one folder, one policy
🔒 Centralised: Easy to back up, monitor, and secure
🧰 Easily revertible: One GPO controls everything
🧘 Low-maintenance (key!): No aliasing, no syncing, no scripts

🛠 Minimal Setup Summary

Here’s all we truly need:

1. Create the shared folder

New-Item -Path "D:\Documents" -ItemType Directory
New-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -Path "D:\Documents" -FullAccess "Domain Users"

2. Redirect “Documents” via GPO

Create new GPO: Redirect Documents
Path:

User Configuration → Policies → Windows Settings → Folder Redirection → Documents

Settings:
Basic
Redirect to the following location
Root Path: \\server\Documents

3. Link GPO to user OU or entire domain

Done. Simple, effective.