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  1. C:
  2. Users
  3. <utilisateur>
  4. AppData
FolderRisk: Caution
  • Hidden

AppData C:\Users\<utilisateur>\AppData

Hidden profile folder where applications keep per-user data, in three branches: Local, LocalLow and Roaming.

Updated on By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

AppData is where applications keep each user’s data and settings. It is hidden by default and replaces the old “Application Data” and “Local Settings” folders of Windows XP. It has three branches: Local for data that stays on the machine, LocalLow for low-integrity processes, and Roaming for data that can follow the user in a roaming profile.

What it contains

  • Local (%LOCALAPPDATA%): caches, the Temp folder and machine-specific data.
  • LocalLow: data of applications running with restricted rights, such as sandboxes and legacy web components.
  • Roaming (%APPDATA%): settings and data meant to follow the user from one machine to another.
  • Data shared by all users is not here; it lives in C:\ProgramData.

Risks and best practices

  • Deleting AppData wipes browser profiles, settings and local licenses for most applications. To free space, target Local\Temp and known caches, with applications closed.
  • With a roaming profile or folder redirection the real path may differ, so use environment variables rather than hard-coded paths.
  • To move or back up a profile, use the supported tools (USMT, profile backup) instead of a manual copy, which misses ACLs and locked files.

Useful commands

Fenêtre de terminal
# AppData is hidden: -Force to list it
Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData" -Force


# Resolved paths for the three branches
$env:APPDATA
$env:LOCALAPPDATA
"$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\LocalLow"

Folder contents

Folders 3

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