Relocating /Users folder in MacOS 10.15 (Catalina)? In the past when we wanted to offload the /Users folder from the internal disk we simply created a symbolic link for /Users that pointed to /Volumes/External_Drive_Name/Users. The Mac in question is a server for two computer labs, hosting 60 Macs with a few terabytes of data spread out across 200~ user accounts. Hosting the Users folder on the internal drive is simply not a good option for us.

Symbolic links are no longer supported (for the root directory folders) in Catalina / 10.15, so this no longer works using the tried and true method. During the upgrade the symbolic link was simply removed and replaced with the standard Users folder.

I've read up on firm links by way of creating a synthetic.conf file via man synthetic.conf, but this method isn't working for the Users folder. I AM able to build a synthetic.conf file that creates a link for foo in the root directory that points to another volume, but attempting to redirect Users in the same manner breaks nearly all functionality.

I'm using the following syntax and placing synthetic.conf in /etc/synthetic.conf:


  Users  (tab character)  /Volumes/External_Drive_Name/Users


With that I'm able to fully boot (albeit slowly) and log in but Finder and Spotlight repeatedly crash, signaling to me that the system is unable to find/create a user folder for the current logged in user.

Has anyone found a way to do this yet?

Anyone know of any other tricks for redirecting MacOS to look for the Users folder on a different volume?
You have missed out on a hidden and not easily discoverable preference for moving your /Users/[USERNAME] folder to another location that has been built into macOS for (at least) a few years.


Open System Preferences
Go to Users &amp; Groups
Click the padlock and authenticate
Right (or control) click on your username and select "Advanced Options.."
Click on the "Choose..." button and point it to where you want your home folder to be.


Once that is done all you need to do is copy your stuff from the old location to the new location and never deal with symlinks ever again.