what to know
- Open the "Run" dialog box, enter appdata , and the AppData directory will open in seconds.
- Alternatively, go directly to C:Users[your username]AppData .
- Do not move or delete files from the AppData folder unless you know what you are doing.
This article explains how to find the AppData folder in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. It also describes the types of applications found in this folder.
The fastest way to open the AppData directory in any version of Windows is through the Run dialog box. Press Win + R to open it, then enter appdata and press Enter .
You can also search for the folder in Windows, although this is not always a reliable way to open the folder. Instead, follow these steps to reveal the hidden folder (which is required to view this folder) and locate the AppData directory:
Every Windows computer contains a hidden folder called AppData . Most users will never need to access this folder, and messing with it can cause problems with your computer if you don't know what you're doing.
Open the control panel. If you prefer to run commands, you can enter the control in the Run box to launch this utility, otherwise the link provides some alternative routes.
Select the File Explorer option .
Don't see this option? Next to "View as" in the upper right corner of the control panel is a menu. Select it and change the view option to Large Icons to make it appear.
Select the View tab of the File Explorer Options window.
Choose to show hidden files, folders and drives . Press Apply to save all changes and select OK .
You can now browse the AppData folder in File Explorer like any directory. It's located here (replace your name with your Windows user account name):
C:UsersyournameAppData
The AppData folder contains all data specific to your Windows user profile. This means your data can be transferred from one device to another as long as you log in using the same profile.
Multiple applications use the AppData folder, so it's easy to keep data in sync between devices. Internet browsers such as Firefox store your profile and bookmarks in the AppData folder. Email programs such as Thunderbird or Outlook also store data in this folder. Many computer game save files end up in the AppData folder.
You'll notice that the AppData directory has some subfolders. The Local and LocalLow folders store application data specific to your computer. Roaming folders are used in domain environments where the data is supposed to follow the user even if they log in to different computers; it is synchronized with the server and often contains things like browser bookmarks.
You never want to move or delete files from the AppData folder; doing so may break any program to which the files are connected. If you want to back up your data or transfer something from one device to another, copy the files to cloud storage or a flash drive so you can keep the folders intact on your current device.
Copying this data elsewhere may be useful if you want to transfer your save files or games to another device, or if you want to keep a backup of your options and data.
Likewise, most people will never need to dig through the AppData folder. That said, it's useful to know how to access the folder and what you can find in it, just in case you need to do so.
