diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/default-path.yml b/changelogs/fragments/default-path.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be47067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/default-path.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+minor_changes:
+- >-
+  AD objects will no longer be moved to the default AD path for their type if no ``path`` was specified. Use the value
+  ``microsoft.ad.default_path`` to explicitly set the path to the default path if that behaviour is desired.
diff --git a/plugins/doc_fragments/ad_object.py b/plugins/doc_fragments/ad_object.py
index 31ed8ea..e70cf63 100644
--- a/plugins/doc_fragments/ad_object.py
+++ b/plugins/doc_fragments/ad_object.py
@@ -119,11 +119,17 @@ class ModuleDocFragment:
   path:
     description:
     - The path of the OU or the container where the new object should exist in.
-    - If no path is specified, the default is the C(defaultNamingContext) of
-      domain for most objects.
+    - If creating a new object, the new object will be created at the path
+      specified. If no path is specified then the C(defaultNamingContext) of
+      the domain will be used as the path for most object types.
+    - If managing an existing object found by I(identity), the path of the
+      found object will be moved to the one specified by this option. If no
+      path is specified, the object will not be moved.
     - The modules M(microsoft.ad.computer), M(microsoft.ad.user), and
       M(microsoft.ad.group) have their own default path that is
       configured on the Active Directory domain controller.
+    - This can be set to C(microsoft.ad.default_path) which will equal the
+      default value used when creating a new object.
     type: str
   protect_from_deletion:
     description:
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/_ADObject.psm1 b/plugins/module_utils/_ADObject.psm1
index e9dd94b..49d87ef 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/_ADObject.psm1
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/_ADObject.psm1
@@ -685,6 +685,8 @@ Function Invoke-AnsibleADObject {
         $PostAction
     )
 
+    $defaultPathSentinel = 'microsoft.ad.default_path'
+
     $spec = @{
         options = @{
             attributes = @{
@@ -828,7 +830,7 @@ Function Invoke-AnsibleADObject {
     }
     else {
         $ouPath = $defaultObjectPath
-        if ($module.Params.path) {
+        if ($module.Params.path -and $module.Params.path -ne $defaultPathSentinel) {
             $ouPath = $module.Params.path
         }
         "$namePrefix=$($Module.Params.name -replace ',', '\,'),$ouPath"
@@ -911,7 +913,7 @@ Function Invoke-AnsibleADObject {
             }
 
             $objectPath = $null
-            if ($module.Params.path) {
+            if ($module.Params.path -and $module.Params.path -ne $defaultPathSentinel) {
                 $objectPath = $path
                 $newParams.Path = $module.Params.path
             }
@@ -1081,8 +1083,12 @@ Function Invoke-AnsibleADObject {
                 $module.Result.changed = $true
             }
 
-            if ($module.Params.path -and $module.Params.path -ne $objectPath) {
-                $objectPath = $module.Params.path
+            $desiredPath = $module.Params.path
+            if ($desiredPath -eq $defaultPathSentinel) {
+                $desiredPath = $defaultObjectPath
+            }
+            if ($desiredPath -and $desiredPath -ne $objectPath) {
+                $objectPath = $desiredPath
                 $module.Diff.after.path = $objectPath
 
                 $addProtection = $false
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/object/tasks/tests.yml b/tests/integration/targets/object/tasks/tests.yml
index b642ce6..b181609 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/object/tasks/tests.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/object/tasks/tests.yml
@@ -441,6 +441,59 @@
     - move_ou_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'OU=TestOU 2,' ~ sub_ous.results[0].distinguished_name
     - move_ou_actual.objects[0].ProtectedFromAccidentalDeletion == true
 
+- name: do not move object in non default path without path - check
+  object:
+    name: TestOU 2
+    identity: '{{ sub_ous.results[1].object_guid }}'
+    type: organizationalUnit
+    attributes:
+      set:
+        description: Test comment
+  register: dont_move_no_path_check
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: get result of do not move object in non default path without path - check
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ sub_ous.results[1].object_guid }}'
+    properties:
+    - description
+  register: dont_move_no_path_check_actual
+
+- name: assert do not move object in non default path without path - check
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - dont_move_no_path_check is changed
+    - dont_move_no_path_check.distinguished_name == 'OU=TestOU 2,' ~ sub_ous.results[0].distinguished_name
+    - dont_move_no_path_check_actual.objects[0].Name == 'TestOU 2'
+    - dont_move_no_path_check_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'OU=TestOU 2,' ~ sub_ous.results[0].distinguished_name
+    - dont_move_no_path_check_actual.objects[0].Description == None
+
+- name: do not move object in non default path without path
+  object:
+    name: TestOU 2
+    identity: '{{ sub_ous.results[1].object_guid }}'
+    type: organizationalUnit
+    attributes:
+      set:
+        description: Test comment
+  register: dont_move_no_path
+
+- name: get result of do not move object in non default path without path
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ sub_ous.results[1].object_guid }}'
+    properties:
+    - description
+  register: dont_move_no_path_actual
+
+- name: assert do not move object in non default path without path - check
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - dont_move_no_path is changed
+    - dont_move_no_path.distinguished_name == 'OU=TestOU 2,' ~ sub_ous.results[0].distinguished_name
+    - dont_move_no_path_actual.objects[0].Name == 'TestOU 2'
+    - dont_move_no_path_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'OU=TestOU 2,' ~ sub_ous.results[0].distinguished_name
+    - dont_move_no_path_actual.objects[0].Description == 'Test comment'
+
 - name: remove object that is protected from deletion - check
   object:
     name: My, Container
@@ -1444,3 +1497,57 @@
   assert:
     that:
     - not unset_normal_again is changed
+
+- name: move object back into the default path - check
+  object:
+    name: My, Container
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    type: container
+    path: microsoft.ad.default_path
+  register: move_into_default_check
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: get result of move object back into the default path - check
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+  register: move_into_default_check_actual
+
+- name: assert move object back into the default path - check
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - move_into_default_check is changed
+    - move_into_default_check.distinguished_name == 'CN=My\, Container,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - move_into_default_check_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'CN=My\, Container,CN=Users,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+
+- name: move object back into the default path
+  object:
+    name: My, Container
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    type: container
+    path: microsoft.ad.default_path
+  register: move_into_default
+
+- name: get result of move object back into the default path
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+  register: move_into_default_actual
+
+- name: assert move object back into the default path
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - move_into_default is changed
+    - move_into_default.distinguished_name == 'CN=My\, Container,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - move_into_default_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'CN=My\, Container,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+
+- name: move object back into the default path - idempotent
+  object:
+    name: My, Container
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    type: container
+    path: microsoft.ad.default_path
+  register: move_into_default_again
+
+- name: assert move object back into the default path - idempotent
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - not move_into_default_again is changed
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/user/tasks/tests.yml b/tests/integration/targets/user/tasks/tests.yml
index 928dd3b..d64d0e7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/user/tasks/tests.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/user/tasks/tests.yml
@@ -177,11 +177,115 @@
     that:
     - not move_user_again is changed
 
+- name: update user not in default path by identity - check
+  user:
+    name: MyUser2
+    identity: '{{ object_sid }}'
+    firstname: first name
+  register: dont_move_no_path_check
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: get result of update user not in default path by identity - check
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    properties:
+    - givenName
+  register: dont_move_no_path_check_actual
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: assert update user not in default path by identity - check
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - dont_move_no_path_check is changed
+    - dont_move_no_path_check.distinguished_name == 'CN=MyUser2,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - dont_move_no_path_check_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'CN=MyUser2,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - dont_move_no_path_check_actual.objects[0].Name == 'MyUser2'
+    - dont_move_no_path_check_actual.objects[0].givenName == None
+
+- name: update user not in default path by identity
+  user:
+    name: MyUser2
+    identity: '{{ object_sid }}'
+    firstname: first name
+  register: dont_move_no_path
+
+- name: get result of update user not in default path by identity
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    properties:
+    - givenName
+  register: dont_move_no_path_actual
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: assert update user not in default path by identity - check
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - dont_move_no_path is changed
+    - dont_move_no_path.distinguished_name == 'CN=MyUser2,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - dont_move_no_path_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'CN=MyUser2,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - dont_move_no_path_actual.objects[0].Name == 'MyUser2'
+    - dont_move_no_path_actual.objects[0].givenName == 'first name'
+
+- name: move user back - check
+  user:
+    name: MyUser
+    identity: MyUser
+    path: microsoft.ad.default_path
+  register: move_with_path_sentinel_check
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: get result of move user back - check
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    properties:
+    - sAMAccountName
+  register: move_with_path_sentinel_check_actual
+
+- name: assert move user back - check
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_check is changed
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_check.distinguished_name == 'CN=MyUser,CN=Users,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_check_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'CN=MyUser2,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_check_actual.objects[0].Name == 'MyUser2'
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_check_actual.objects[0].sAMAccountName == 'MyUser'
+
 - name: move user back
   user:
     name: MyUser
-    identity: MyUser  # By sAMAccountName
-    path: CN=Users,{{ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext }}
+    identity: MyUser
+    path: microsoft.ad.default_path
+  register: move_with_path_sentinel
+
+- name: get result of move user back
+  object_info:
+    identity: '{{ object_identity }}'
+    properties:
+    - sAMAccountName
+  register: move_with_path_sentinel_actual
+
+- name: assert move user back
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - move_with_path_sentinel is changed
+    - move_with_path_sentinel.distinguished_name == 'CN=MyUser,CN=Users,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_actual.objects[0].DistinguishedName == 'CN=MyUser,CN=Users,' ~ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_actual.objects[0].Name == 'MyUser'
+    - move_with_path_sentinel_actual.objects[0].sAMAccountName == 'MyUser'
+
+- name: move user back - idempotent
+  user:
+    name: MyUser
+    identity: MyUser
+    path: microsoft.ad.default_path
+  register: move_with_path_sentinel_again
+
+- name: assert move user back - idempotent
+  assert:
+    that:
+    - not move_with_path_sentinel_again is changed
+
+# CN=Users,{{ setup_domain_info.output[0].defaultNamingContext }}
 
 - name: update password from blank - skip for on_create
   user: