Discover the Windows Appdata Folder with Ease
The AppData folder has been a part of Windows for years, but where is it and what is it even for? Below is an explanation of this folder and directions for how to see the AppData folder.
What is the Windows AppData Folder?
The AppData folder is a hidden, protected folder in Windows operating systems. The AppData folder stores app-specific data like configuration settings and temporary files that don’t necessarily need to be in plain view or quickly accessible since most people don’t need to be in there.
There are three subfolders within AppData:
- Local contains data that can be used across different versions of the same app by the same user. This includes settings and temporary files.
- LocalLow is similar to the Local subfolder, but intended for data that should be available to all users of the computer.
- Roaming contains data that can roam/move with the user profile from computer to computer. It’s useful in server environments where the user might log into their account on more than one computer. This includes settings that should be synchronized across multiple devices.
Where is the Appdata folder in Windows 11 & Windows 10?
It’s easy to see the AppData folder in Windows 11 and Windows 10, but not as easy as viewing a regular folder. This is because the AppData folder is hidden by design. Fortunately, getting to the AppData folder is still extremely easy. Here’s how to do it:
Method #1: File Explorer
Browsing through your computer’s folders is one way to find the AppData folder, but first you’ll have to make a small change to how your folders are displayed:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E.
2. Show hidden files and folders. One way to do this is via the View menu at the top of any folder.
3. Now, open the root of the C drive.
4. Open the Users folder.
5. Open your personal folder. It’s named after your user account name.
6. Finally, open AppData.
Method #2: Run Dialog Box
This is my preferred way of opening the AppData folder in Windows 11 and Windows 10 because it’s just so darn fast:
1. Open the Run dialog box. A quick way is to press Windows key + r, but you can also find the Run option when you right-click the Start button.
2. Type appdata.
3. Press Enter to launch the AppData folder immediately.
How to Find Appdata folder in Older Versions of Windows
It’s equally as easy to see the AppData folder in Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. In fact, the steps are identical to locating AppData in newer versions of Windows. We recommend going the Run command route:
1. Press Windows key + R to open Run.
2. Type appdata.
3. Press Enter on your keyboard to see the AppData folder without making any other changes to your computer.
How to Move AppData Folder
Users cannot move this folder the way they can move an app installation because apps are hardwired to look for it in its default location. If you need to move AppData, you will have to use a junction or a symbolic link.
- Decide where you want to move AppData to, and move the folder to the new location.
- You must now create a junction link to the AppData folder at the following location;
C:\Users\YourUserName - Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
- Run the following command but update the file paths.
- ‘path to junction link’ should be replaced with this path C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData
- ‘Path to target folder’ should be replaced with the path to the AppData folder at its new location.
mklink /J "path to junction link" "path to target folder"
Example
mklink /J "C:\Users\fatiw\AppData" "D:\AppData"
Undo AppData Move
If you later decide you’d like to put the AppData folder back where it originally was, you can do so easily.
- Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
- Run the following command to remove the junction link that you created but update the path in the command before you run it.
rmdir "path to junction link" - Move the AppData folder back to the following location.
mklink /J "C:\Users\YourUserName
Deleting folders in AppData
The three main sub-folders in AppData, i.e., Local, LocalLow, and Roaming should never be deleted. The folders under these folders can be deleted however, make sure you do not plan on using the app that a certain folder is for. If you’ve uninstalled an app, deleting its folder from AppData is safe.
The Secret World of Your App Folder: Revealed
You may not need to use this folder often, but it house your crucial files. If you want to see where your bookmarks, saved sessions, and more are stored, it’s all here. By using the simple steps above you’ll be able to quickly find and access this folder.
