What is the AppData folder in Windows? When should I use it?

Here's everything you need to know about the AppData folder in Windows.

What is the AppData folder?

By default, you will find a program's installation data in C:ProgramFiles or C:ProgramFiles (x86) unless a custom path is set during installation.

The AppData folder, short for Application Data, is where programs store data created for users. This includes temporary files, caches, browser sessions, mail stores, user history, etc. Additionally, each user on the PC has its own AppData folder.

This way, multiple users can save their preferences without affecting each other. If you've ever wondered where Windows stores program files and folders for different users on the same PC, now you know.

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The AppData folder has 3 subfolders: Local, LocalLow and Roaming. All 3 folders contain the same files but serve different purposes:

1. Local folder : This folder contains data stored on the local computer for the specific user and is not synchronized with other devices. This includes temporary files, caches, and other data that the application will recreate as needed.
2. LocalLow folder : Similar to the Local folder but stores data from low integrity applications. These apps have limited access to system resources for security reasons, like private web browsers, email clients, virtual machines, or programs running in sandbox mode. If a low integrity application is compromised by malware, the damage to data will be limited to the LocalLow directory.
3. Roaming folder : Unlike the Local folder, this folder stores user-specific data such as preferences, configurations, and customizations that can be synchronized across multiple Windows systems in the domain. When you log in to another computer in the same domain with the same account, Roaming folder data will be synchronized for seamless access.

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While this is the intended purpose of these folders, ultimately it is the application developer who decides what data goes where. Therefore, you may find some program data in the Local folder and some data in the Roaming folder, depending on the developer's choice. However, these inconsistencies usually do not affect the functionality of the application.

How to find the AppData folder in Windows

The AppData folder is located in each user's profile folder in Windows. It's a hidden folder so you need to be able to see hidden files to access it. Here's how to display these hidden files in Windows:

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. In Windows 11, click View > Show > Show Hidden Items from the toolbar. In Windows 10, open the View tab at the top and select the Hidden Items checkbox .

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To view the AppData folder, open File Explorer and go to C:UsersUsernameAppData. Here, "Username" is your profile folder. For example, on this computer, the AppData folder is located at C:usersTashreefAppData.

Additionally, you can use the Run dialog box to access the AppData folder. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box, enter appdata and click OK.

Should I access the AppData folder?

The AppData folder is hidden by default for a good reason. Modifying files in this folder may cause your programs to malfunction, lose saved data, and partially corrupt system and personalization settings. In more serious cases that involve modifying the Users folder, you may need to reinstall Windows to get your computer working again.

That means, in some cases, modifying files in the AppData folder may be necessary. This could be adding or removing game mods or deleting temporary files when the application is inactive. If you decide to make any modifications, make a backup of the entire folder. That way, if something goes wrong, you can quickly restore the folder to undo any changes.

Jessica Tanner

Update 17 July 2024