Can't find the AppData folder on Windows? Causes and Solutions

To locate and open the AppData folder, do the following:

Step 1: Open File Explorer

Step 2: Click on "View" > "Show" > "Hidden Items."

Step 3: Navigate to C:\Users\admin and look for the AppData folder.

The AppData folder in Windows stores all the files associated with your Windows user profile. This means that, as long as you log into the same profile, these files can make it easy to transfer data between devices. If you can't find the AppData folder and don't know where to look, you could run into problems with your Windows system if you try to mess with it.

This article will guide you on how to locate the AppData folder in Windows 10/11 and the types of data that can be recovered from it.

Recover Lost AppData with Data Recovery Software^[Hot]

As mentioned earlier in this article, the AppData folder is hidden. This is the reason why you don't see AppData on Windows.

However, you might find it difficult to locate specific system files or program data in the AppData folder that contains endless paths. Hence, it's better to use professional data recovery software to retrieve your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, image, or video files instead of searching for them in the AppData folder. Then, the data recovery tool can access your lost data no matter where the folder is hidden.

- It can help you retrieve your files when your AppData folder is missing. - It also supports recovering deleted or lost AppData files on both Windows and macOS. - Apart from file and folder recovery, this data recovery tool can also restore data from RAW drives, lost partitions, and malware attacks.

How to Recover the AppData Folder and Lost Data in 3 Steps

Step 1: Select the folder from where you need to scan for lost files

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard. Under "Select Location," click "Select Folder." Click "Browse" to choose where your missing folder was located, then click "OK" to scan for lost folders.

Select the folder to scan

Step 2: Look for and preview the found files in the lost folder

If you can remember the folder name, type it in the search box to quickly locate the missing files. Then, open the found folder and double-click to preview the scanned files. Alternatively, you can use the filter feature to look for a specific type of file.

Step 3. Recover and save the lost folder

Finally, select the folders and files you need and click “Recover” to save the recovered data to a new secure location on your computer.

Many Windows 10/11 users have already confirmed the tool's effectiveness. If you're interested in solving file recovery issues, share it on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on!

Locate the AppData Folder on Windows 11/10 via Search

Type %AppData% into the search bar in the Windows Taskbar. This will open the File Explorer and navigate to the AppData folder.

Click "Open," to launch the AppData folder.

2. How to Show the AppData Folder in Windows 11/10

The AppData folder is hidden, so you need to show it by opening File Explorer and navigating to C:\Users\admin.

Step 1: From the displayed menu, choose View > Show > Hidden Items.

Step 2: You should now be able to see hidden items in File Explorer.

Step 3. Open the “AppData” folder to view hidden items in File Explorer.

First, open a File Explorer window and navigate to the "C: Users" directory. Then, double-click the folder with your account name.

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Your “AppData” folder will be located here. This folder's icon will be semi-transparent, indicating that it is a hidden folder.

3. Use the Run Feature to Open the AppData Folder

You can use "Run" to open the AppData folder directly, regardless of whether or not it's hidden.

Step 1: Press Win + R simultaneously to open the Run window.

Step 2. Type in %AppData%.

This will open the “AppData\Roaming” subfolder. Then, select “AppData” in the address bar to open the “AppData” folder.

You can also recover hidden files and folders. This requires some computer settings adjustments on your part.

Conclusions

You should never move or delete files from the AppData folder, as this will break the software associated with those files. If you want to back up data or transfer information from one device to another, copy the contents to cloud storage or a flash drive to keep the folder intact on your current device.

In the Windows system, the AppData folder is hidden by default. To show it, you can check the option "Show hidden files and folders" in the settings. However, if the AppData folder is missing or has disappeared, you can use data recovery software to recover the deleted folder.

Frequently Asked Questions About the AppData Folder Not Being Found

If you're still having issues finding the AppData folder, check the Quick Answer below for some self-help options.

1. Why can't I find my AppData folder?

In Windows 10, the AppData folder is hidden by default. That's why you might not be able to see or access it on your C drive. If you can't view the AppData folder in Windows 10, you'll first need to enable the “Show hidden files and folders” option in File Explorer.

2. How can I get my AppData folder back?

Select a folder to search for lost files. The Data Recovery Wizard will launch. Find and preview the files discovered in the lost folder. If you remember the name of the folder, type it into the search bar to easily locate your lost files. Recover and save the lost folder.

Why is the AppData folder hidden?

The AppData folder is often hidden to prevent modification. You can find this folder within the Users folder on your system drive. Don't panic if you can't locate it, as there are several ways to access the AppData folder.

Can I get rid of AppData?

You can delete the contents of the Temp folder and files from programs that you no longer use, but never delete the entire Local, Roaming, or LocalLow folders.