Symbolic link to documents and desktop folder gets reset after reboot on macOS 10.15 Catalina

I think I have a fix. After creating the symbolic link you can make the symbolic link Locked (Get Info in Finder and click Locked - I use Pathfinder to do this but assume it also works in Finder). The link has remained after several reboots and so far there are no problems. Works for both Desktop and Documents.

I figured out the cause- but not the solution. Selecting iCloud Drive (even without "Desktop & Documents" folders selected) causes the symlink to not persist after logoff/login or rebooting.

Disabling iCloud Drive will prevent the system from reseting symbolic links to "Desktop" or "Documents" folders. It's not perfect, but could do the job temporarily.

I have found that in Privacy you can add applications to files and folders, however it appears some applications just can't be added Eclipse IDE for one in the end I had to give the application full drive access to get it to work.

I remember back when Windows Server 2003 came out there were similar problems on corporate networks where Office would not install correctly on users desktops without them being given admin rights on their local desktop. Ill thought out changes to security that look good in design tend to break the overall security of systems by making things so complicated security holes appear elsewhere in the system because users still need or want to perform those functions.

Try again and make sure you have locked it. I can confirm both of mine have persisted after multiple reboots.

You created the symlink and am trying to lock it with the root admin account, right? If not I think that is your problem.

I was able to get a symlink Desktop folder to persist after reboot(s) on a test admin account however for some very strange reason I can not get it to stick on the admin account that I use. Same exact process used in creating the Desktop symlink.

I think that SIP may be blocking this, I have a script I wrote to do this, and I'm having some issues with Catalina. If I get anywhere, I will let you know.

This started in the betas. Very anti-competitive Apple, great way to push iCloud. Can't wait to see a class action.

What is happening I can get to the linked files via Finder but I can't via Eclipse IDE. Am I going mad!!!

This worked for me too! Can't believe I didn't think of it.

[Edited by Moderator]

Yes - I would add you should really create the symlinks in the root account to begin with. Not good to be playing with that directory while logged in. Glad it worked!