diff --git a/docs/customization.md b/docs/customization.md
index cd09f9c2..9a8080bc 100644
--- a/docs/customization.md
+++ b/docs/customization.md
@@ -225,6 +225,34 @@ so the noise around it is turned off rather than printed twice:
   are skipped whenever the fastfetch banner rendered. On a light install without
   fastfetch they stay, so an interactive shell still confirms the profile loaded.
 
+## Projects folder and Dev Drive
+
+Interactive shells `cd` into your projects folder at startup (unless the shell
+was launched from VS Code, or you're already somewhere under a path containing
+`projects`).
+
+On Windows the folder is resolved by `Get-ProjectsPath` in the order below, so a
+[Dev Drive](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dev-drive/) — a ReFS
+volume tuned for developer workloads — wins over the user profile:
+
+1. `$env:PROJECTS_PATH`, when set.
+2. `<Dev Drive>\projects`, when a Dev Drive has one (for example `D:\projects`).
+3. `%USERPROFILE%\projects`.
+
+`run_once_before_00-setup.ps1` creates the folder on the Dev Drive when one is
+present, so a fresh machine with a Dev Drive gets `D:\projects` instead of
+`%USERPROFILE%\projects`.
+
+!!! note "How the Dev Drive is detected"
+    `fsutil devdrv query` is the authoritative check, but it needs an elevated
+    shell — unusable from a profile. Fixed, ready ReFS volumes are used as the
+    heuristic instead. If that guesses wrong (a plain ReFS data volume, or
+    several Dev Drives), pin the right one with `$env:DEV_DRIVE`, or skip
+    detection entirely with `$env:PROJECTS_PATH`.
+
+The Linux/macOS shell configs (`fish`, `bash`, `zsh`) always use
+`$HOME/projects`; Dev Drive is a Windows-only feature.
+
 ## Windows PATH
 
 On Windows, the setup adds `%OneDrive%\Portable Programs` to the user-scope
diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md
index 66a758b9..dfaa6723 100644
--- a/docs/installation.md
+++ b/docs/installation.md
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ the dotfiles.
     cd dotfiles
     ```
 
+    !!! tip "Using a Dev Drive"
+        If you have a [Dev Drive](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dev-drive/),
+        clone into `<Dev Drive>\projects` instead (for example `D:\projects`) —
+        that's the folder the PowerShell profile will `cd` into afterwards. See
+        [Projects folder and Dev Drive](customization.md#projects-folder-and-dev-drive).
+
     To use SSH afterwards (e.g. with the 1Password SSH agent), install
     1Password and enable the agent, then switch the remote to SSH:
 
diff --git a/home/.chezmoiscripts/windows/run_once_before_00-setup.ps1 b/home/.chezmoiscripts/windows/run_once_before_00-setup.ps1
index 04623d0b..557ad162 100644
--- a/home/.chezmoiscripts/windows/run_once_before_00-setup.ps1
+++ b/home/.chezmoiscripts/windows/run_once_before_00-setup.ps1
@@ -5,10 +5,34 @@ $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
 
 Write-Host ">> Running initial Windows setup..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
 
+# Prefer a Dev Drive (fixed ReFS volume) over the user profile for source code.
+# "fsutil devdrv query" needs elevation, so fixed ReFS volumes are the heuristic.
+# Set DEV_DRIVE to pin a specific volume.
+$devDriveRoot = $null
+
+if (-not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($env:DEV_DRIVE) -and (Test-Path -LiteralPath $env:DEV_DRIVE.Trim().Trim('"'))) {
+    $devDriveRoot = $env:DEV_DRIVE.Trim().Trim('"')
+}
+else {
+    $devDriveRoot = [System.IO.DriveInfo]::GetDrives() |
+        Where-Object { $_.IsReady -and $_.DriveType -eq [System.IO.DriveType]::Fixed -and $_.DriveFormat -eq 'ReFS' } |
+        Sort-Object Name |
+        Select-Object -First 1 -ExpandProperty RootDirectory |
+        Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName
+}
+
+$projectsPath = if ($devDriveRoot) {
+    Write-Host "Dev Drive detected: $devDriveRoot" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+    Join-Path $devDriveRoot "projects"
+}
+else {
+    Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "projects"
+}
+
 # Create necessary directories
 $directories = @(
     "$env:USERPROFILE\bin",
-    "$env:USERPROFILE\projects"
+    $projectsPath
 )
 
 foreach ($dir in $directories) {
diff --git a/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/DotfilesHelpers.psd1 b/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/DotfilesHelpers.psd1
index 0e9a7d98..19f56136 100644
--- a/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/DotfilesHelpers.psd1
+++ b/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/DotfilesHelpers.psd1
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@
         'Set-LocationUp'
         'Set-LocationUpUp'
 
+        # Dev Drive / projects folder
+        'Test-DevDriveSupported'
+        'Get-DevDrivePath'
+        'Get-ProjectsPath'
+
         # System utilities
         'which'
         'touch'
diff --git a/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/Public/DevDrive.ps1 b/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/Public/DevDrive.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5472a675
--- /dev/null
+++ b/home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/Public/DevDrive.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+# Dev Drive detection and projects folder resolution
+#
+# A Dev Drive is a Windows 11 ReFS volume tuned for developer workloads. It is
+# a much better home for source code than the user profile (which is usually on
+# the NTFS system drive and covered by real-time antivirus scanning).
+#
+# Note: "fsutil devdrv query" is the authoritative check, but it requires an
+# elevated shell, so it can't be used from a profile. Fixed ReFS volumes are
+# used as the heuristic instead - on a normal workstation those are Dev Drives.
+# Set $env:DEV_DRIVE to pin a specific volume, or $env:PROJECTS_PATH to pin the
+# projects folder outright.
+
+function Test-DevDriveSupported {
+    <#
+    .SYNOPSIS
+        Returns $true when running on Windows, where Dev Drives exist.
+    #>
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    [OutputType([bool])]
+    param()
+
+    if ($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -eq 'Desktop') {
+        return $true
+    }
+
+    return [bool](Get-Variable -Name IsWindows -ValueOnly -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
+}
+
+function Get-DevDrivePath {
+    <#
+    .SYNOPSIS
+        Returns the root paths of the Dev Drives on this machine.
+
+    .DESCRIPTION
+        Honours $env:DEV_DRIVE when set (and the path exists). Otherwise returns
+        every fixed, ready ReFS volume, sorted by drive letter. Returns an empty
+        array when no Dev Drive is present or the platform isn't Windows.
+
+    .EXAMPLE
+        Get-DevDrivePath
+        D:\
+    #>
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    [OutputType([string[]])]
+    param()
+
+    if (-not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($env:DEV_DRIVE)) {
+        $override = $env:DEV_DRIVE.Trim().Trim('"')
+        if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $override) {
+            return @($override)
+        }
+
+        Write-Verbose "DEV_DRIVE is set to '$override' but that path does not exist; ignoring it."
+    }
+
+    if (-not (Test-DevDriveSupported)) {
+        return @()
+    }
+
+    $roots = @()
+
+    try {
+        foreach ($drive in [System.IO.DriveInfo]::GetDrives()) {
+            if (-not $drive.IsReady) { continue }
+            if ($drive.DriveType -ne [System.IO.DriveType]::Fixed) { continue }
+            if ($drive.DriveFormat -ne 'ReFS') { continue }
+
+            $roots += $drive.RootDirectory.FullName
+        }
+    }
+    catch {
+        Write-Verbose "Failed to enumerate drives: $_"
+        return @()
+    }
+
+    return @($roots | Sort-Object)
+}
+
+function Get-ProjectsPath {
+    <#
+    .SYNOPSIS
+        Resolves the folder that holds local source code checkouts.
+
+    .DESCRIPTION
+        Resolution order:
+          1. $env:PROJECTS_PATH, when set.
+          2. <Dev Drive>\projects, when a Dev Drive has one.
+          3. $env:USERPROFILE\projects (or $HOME/projects off Windows).
+
+        Without -CreateIfMissing the function never touches the file system, so
+        it is safe to call from the PowerShell profile on every startup.
+
+    .PARAMETER CreateIfMissing
+        Create the resolved folder when it does not exist yet. A Dev Drive is
+        preferred over the user profile when creating.
+
+    .EXAMPLE
+        Get-ProjectsPath
+        D:\projects
+    #>
+    [CmdletBinding(SupportsShouldProcess)]
+    [OutputType([string])]
+    param(
+        [switch]$CreateIfMissing
+    )
+
+    $userHome = if ($env:USERPROFILE) { $env:USERPROFILE } else { $HOME }
+    $fallback = Join-Path $userHome 'projects'
+
+    if (-not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($env:PROJECTS_PATH)) {
+        $explicit = $env:PROJECTS_PATH.Trim().Trim('"')
+
+        if ($CreateIfMissing -and -not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $explicit)) {
+            if ($PSCmdlet.ShouldProcess($explicit, 'Create projects directory')) {
+                New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $explicit -Force | Out-Null
+            }
+        }
+
+        return $explicit
+    }
+
+    $devDrives = @(Get-DevDrivePath)
+
+    foreach ($root in $devDrives) {
+        $candidate = Join-Path $root 'projects'
+        if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $candidate) {
+            return $candidate
+        }
+    }
+
+    if ($CreateIfMissing) {
+        $target = if ($devDrives.Count -gt 0) { Join-Path $devDrives[0] 'projects' } else { $fallback }
+
+        if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $target)) {
+            if ($PSCmdlet.ShouldProcess($target, 'Create projects directory')) {
+                New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $target -Force | Out-Null
+            }
+        }
+
+        return $target
+    }
+
+    return $fallback
+}
diff --git a/home/dot_config/powershell/profile.ps1 b/home/dot_config/powershell/profile.ps1
index 0493b13d..1b58e806 100644
--- a/home/dot_config/powershell/profile.ps1
+++ b/home/dot_config/powershell/profile.ps1
@@ -51,11 +51,23 @@ if ($env:OneDrive) {
     }
 }
 
+# Load DotfilesHelpers module (lazy-loadable via PSModulePath, explicit import for profile)
+$dotfilesModulePath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot "modules\DotfilesHelpers"
+if (Test-Path $dotfilesModulePath) {
+    Import-Module $dotfilesModulePath -DisableNameChecking
+}
+
 # Set working directory to projects folder if not already there
+# Get-ProjectsPath prefers a Dev Drive over $env:USERPROFILE when one exists
 # Skip this if running in VS Code to preserve the opened folder location
 if ($ENV:TERM_PROGRAM -ne "vscode") {
     $currentPath = (Get-Location).Path
-    $projectsPath = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "projects"
+    $projectsPath = if (Get-Command Get-ProjectsPath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {
+        Get-ProjectsPath
+    }
+    else {
+        Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "projects"
+    }
 
     # Check if current path contains 'projects' (case-insensitive)
     if ($currentPath -notlike "*projects*") {
@@ -66,12 +78,6 @@ if ($ENV:TERM_PROGRAM -ne "vscode") {
     }
 }
 
-# Load DotfilesHelpers module (lazy-loadable via PSModulePath, explicit import for profile)
-$dotfilesModulePath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot "modules\DotfilesHelpers"
-if (Test-Path $dotfilesModulePath) {
-    Import-Module $dotfilesModulePath -DisableNameChecking
-}
-
 # Load aliases
 . $PSScriptRoot\aliases.ps1
 
diff --git a/tests/powershell/DevDrive.Tests.ps1 b/tests/powershell/DevDrive.Tests.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7cf0f63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/powershell/DevDrive.Tests.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+#Requires -Version 5.1
+<#
+.SYNOPSIS
+    Pester tests for Dev Drive detection in the DotfilesHelpers module.
+
+.DESCRIPTION
+    Tests Get-DevDrivePath and Get-ProjectsPath - detection of a Dev Drive
+    (fixed ReFS volume) and resolution of the projects folder, including the
+    DEV_DRIVE / PROJECTS_PATH overrides and the user profile fallback.
+#>
+
+BeforeAll {
+    $script:RepoRoot = Split-Path (Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent) -Parent
+    Push-Location $script:RepoRoot
+
+    $modulePath = Join-Path $script:RepoRoot "home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers"
+    Get-Module DotfilesHelpers -All | Remove-Module -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    Import-Module $modulePath -Force -DisableNameChecking
+
+    $script:OriginalDevDrive = $env:DEV_DRIVE
+    $script:OriginalProjectsPath = $env:PROJECTS_PATH
+
+    $tmpRoot = if ($env:TEMP) { $env:TEMP } else { '/tmp' }
+    $script:TestRoot = (New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path (Join-Path $tmpRoot "devdrive-tests-$(Get-Random)") -Force).FullName
+}
+
+AfterAll {
+    $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:OriginalDevDrive
+    $env:PROJECTS_PATH = $script:OriginalProjectsPath
+
+    Pop-Location
+    if (Test-Path $script:TestRoot) {
+        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $script:TestRoot -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    }
+}
+
+Describe "Get-DevDrivePath Function" -Tag "Unit" {
+    BeforeEach {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $null
+        $env:PROJECTS_PATH = $null
+    }
+
+    It "Should be available as a function" {
+        Get-Command Get-DevDrivePath -CommandType Function -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+    }
+
+    It "Should not throw" {
+        { Get-DevDrivePath } | Should -Not -Throw
+    }
+
+    It "Should return existing paths only" {
+        foreach ($path in @(Get-DevDrivePath)) {
+            Test-Path -LiteralPath $path | Should -BeTrue
+        }
+    }
+
+    It "Should honour DEV_DRIVE when the path exists" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:TestRoot
+
+        @(Get-DevDrivePath) | Should -Be @($script:TestRoot)
+    }
+
+    It "Should ignore DEV_DRIVE when the path does not exist" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = Join-Path $script:TestRoot "does-not-exist"
+
+        @(Get-DevDrivePath) | Should -Not -Contain $env:DEV_DRIVE
+    }
+}
+
+Describe "Get-ProjectsPath Function" -Tag "Unit" {
+    BeforeEach {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $null
+        $env:PROJECTS_PATH = $null
+    }
+
+    It "Should be available as a function" {
+        Get-Command Get-ProjectsPath -CommandType Function -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+    }
+
+    It "Should honour PROJECTS_PATH above everything else" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:TestRoot
+        $env:PROJECTS_PATH = Join-Path $script:TestRoot "explicit"
+
+        Get-ProjectsPath | Should -Be $env:PROJECTS_PATH
+    }
+
+    It "Should return the Dev Drive projects folder when it exists" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:TestRoot
+        $expected = Join-Path $script:TestRoot "projects"
+        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $expected -Force | Out-Null
+
+        try {
+            Get-ProjectsPath | Should -Be $expected
+        }
+        finally {
+            Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $expected -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        }
+    }
+
+    It "Should fall back to the user profile when the Dev Drive has no projects folder" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:TestRoot
+        $userHome = if ($env:USERPROFILE) { $env:USERPROFILE } else { $HOME }
+
+        Get-ProjectsPath | Should -Be (Join-Path $userHome "projects")
+    }
+
+    It "Should not create anything without -CreateIfMissing" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:TestRoot
+
+        Get-ProjectsPath | Out-Null
+
+        Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $script:TestRoot "projects") | Should -BeFalse
+    }
+
+    It "Should create the Dev Drive projects folder with -CreateIfMissing" {
+        $env:DEV_DRIVE = $script:TestRoot
+        $expected = Join-Path $script:TestRoot "projects"
+
+        try {
+            Get-ProjectsPath -CreateIfMissing | Should -Be $expected
+            Test-Path -LiteralPath $expected | Should -BeTrue
+        }
+        finally {
+            Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $expected -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+Describe "DevDrive module exports" -Tag "Unit" {
+    BeforeAll {
+        $script:ManifestPath = Join-Path $script:RepoRoot "home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/DotfilesHelpers.psd1"
+        $script:Manifest = Import-PowerShellDataFile -Path $script:ManifestPath
+    }
+
+    It "Should export <_> from the module manifest" -ForEach @('Test-DevDriveSupported', 'Get-DevDrivePath', 'Get-ProjectsPath') {
+        $script:Manifest.FunctionsToExport | Should -Contain $_
+    }
+
+    It "Should not contain non-ASCII characters" {
+        $content = Get-Content (Join-Path $script:RepoRoot "home/dot_config/powershell/modules/DotfilesHelpers/Public/DevDrive.ps1") -Raw
+        $content | Should -Not -Match '[^\x00-\x7F]'
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/powershell/Profile.Tests.ps1 b/tests/powershell/Profile.Tests.ps1
index 857aa85c..a5870b46 100644
--- a/tests/powershell/Profile.Tests.ps1
+++ b/tests/powershell/Profile.Tests.ps1
@@ -216,11 +216,21 @@ Describe "Profile Configuration" {
     }
 
     It "Profile should set location to projects folder" {
-        # Verify the profile constructs projects path and changes to it
+        # Verify the profile resolves the projects path and changes to it
+        $script:ProfileContent | Should -Match 'Get-ProjectsPath'
         $script:ProfileContent | Should -Match 'Join-Path.*USERPROFILE.*projects'
         $script:ProfileContent | Should -Match 'Set-Location.*projectsPath'
     }
 
+    It "Profile should import DotfilesHelpers before resolving the projects path" {
+        # Get-ProjectsPath comes from the module, so the import has to happen first
+        $importIndex = $script:ProfileContent.IndexOf('Import-Module $dotfilesModulePath')
+        $projectsIndex = $script:ProfileContent.IndexOf('Get-ProjectsPath')
+
+        $importIndex | Should -BeGreaterThan -1
+        $projectsIndex | Should -BeGreaterThan $importIndex
+    }
+
     It "Profile should verify projects folder exists before changing" {
         # Verify the profile tests for directory existence
         $script:ProfileContent | Should -Match 'Test-Path.*projectsPath'