xdg-user-dirs-update

Change XDG's DESKTOP directory to a specified directory

$ xdg-user-dirs-update --set DESKTOP "/[path/to/directory]"

$ xdg-user-dirs-update --dummy-output "[path/to/dry_run_file]" --set [xdg_user_directory] "/[path/to/directory]"

xdg-user-dirs-update [options]

xdg-user-dirs-update updates the XDG user directories configuration. XDG user directories are special folders like Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos.
The configuration is stored in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs and defines where applications should look for user content directories.
Valid directory names include: DESKTOP, DOWNLOAD, TEMPLATES, PUBLICSHARE, DOCUMENTS, MUSIC, PICTURES, VIDEOS.

--set _name_ _path_

Set a specific user directory

Write to specified file instead of user-dirs.dirs

Force update even if directories exist

Changing directories doesn't move existing content. Applications may need to be restarted to recognize changes. The specified paths must be absolute. Part of the xdg-user-dirs package.

xdg-user-dir(1), user-dirs.dirs(5)