How to Open and Use the %LocalAppData% Folder in Windows 11 and 10

Someone told you to “go to %localappdata% and clear the cache,” and now you’re staring at a File Explorer window with no AppData folder in sight. AppData is hidden by default, but one Run-box command takes you straight to it, and a few simple rules keep you from deleting the wrong thing.

%localappdata%

%localappdata% is a built-in Windows environment variable that points to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local for whoever is signed in. To open it, press Windows + R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter. It works the same way in Windows 10 and Windows 11, and you don’t need to download anything or have admin rights.

Folder	Shortcut to type	Resolves to	What usually lives there
Local	%localappdata%	C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local	Machine-specific caches, logs, temp files
LocalLow	%userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow	C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow	Data from low-integrity or sandboxed apps
Roaming	%appdata%	C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming	Settings that can follow a domain roaming profile
Temp	%localappdata%\Temp	C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp	Temporary files from Windows and apps

These Local, LocalLow, and Roaming roles are long-standing Windows conventions. Microsoft doesn’t publish one definitions page for them, and individual apps don’t always follow the rules perfectly.

Quick reference: what to do for each scenario

Scenario	What to do
You just need to get into the folder	Fix #1 (Win+R) or Fix #2 (address bar)
You can’t see AppData under your user folder	Fix #3 (show hidden items)
An app is glitchy or won’t launch properly	Fix #4 and Fix #5 (clear only its cache subfolder)
You’re low on disk space	Fix #6 (empty the Temp folder)

What Is %LocalAppData% Actually For?

Windows gives every user profile its own AppData tree. The Local branch holds data tied to this specific PC, so it’s where you’ll find the files behind local-only glitches. A corrupted cache, a bloated Temp folder, or a broken GPU shader cache all point here.

Local is also where some big data files live. Outlook’s offline OST files typically live under AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook.

In Outlook 2016 and newer, new PST data files are saved under Documents\Outlook Files by default. Only earlier Outlook versions saved the archive PST under AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook, as Microsoft’s Outlook data file guide explains. Don’t move or delete a PST you find there unless you know which Outlook profile uses it.

Before You Begin

• A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11
• A standard local or Microsoft account (no admin rights needed to open the folder)
• Signed in to the account that actually uses the misbehaving app
• The app you’re troubleshooting fully closed
• A few minutes to move folders to the Desktop as a backup before deleting anything

Requirement	Details
OS	Windows 10 or Windows 11
Account	The affected user’s own account
Cost	Free, built into Windows
Tools	Run dialog, File Explorer, Task Manager

Fix #1: Open %LocalAppData% with the Run Dialog

This is the fastest route. It also skips the hidden-folder problem entirely.

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
• Type %localappdata% in the Open field. Include both percent signs.

• Press Enter or click OK.
• Check the File Explorer address bar. It should show C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local, with your account name in place of <username>.

Expected result: File Explorer opens directly inside the Local folder. If you see a “Windows cannot find” error instead, you almost certainly have a typo. Retype the variable with both % signs.

To confirm what the variable resolves to on your machine, open Command Prompt and run:

echo %localappdata%

It prints the full path. That’s handy when your profile folder name doesn’t match your account display name.

Fix #2: Type It in the File Explorer Address Bar or Search

Use this when File Explorer is already open.

• Open File Explorer with Windows + E.
• Click once in the address bar at the top of the window.
• Type %localappdata% and press Enter.

Expected result: You land in the same AppData\Local folder as Fix #1. You can also try typing %localappdata% into the Windows Search box on the taskbar, though results depend on your search settings, so the Run dialog is the more reliable route.

The same trick works for the sibling folders. Type %appdata% for Roaming, or %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow for LocalLow. LocalLow has no short variable of its own, so you have to type the longer path.

Fix #3: Unhide the AppData Folder in File Explorer

You only need this if you want to browse to AppData by clicking through C:\Users\<username>. The variables in Fix #1 and Fix #2 work even while AppData stays hidden.

On Windows 11

• Open File Explorer.
• Click View on the command bar.
• Hover over Show.
• Click Hidden items so a check mark appears next to it.

On Windows 10 (or the classic route on Windows 11)

• Open File Explorer.
• Select View > Options > Change folder and search options.
• Open the View tab.
• Under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
• Click OK.

Expected result: A slightly faded AppData folder now shows up inside C:\Users\<username>. The faded icon is normal for hidden items. Microsoft documents both routes in Show hidden files and View hidden files and folders in Windows.

Fix #4: Find the Right App Folder Inside Local

Apps file their data in different ways. Some use their own name, and others sit under a publisher folder.

• Open %localappdata% using Fix #1.
• Look for a folder named after the app, such as Discord, or after its publisher, such as Microsoft or Google.
• If you find a publisher folder, open it and look for the app’s subfolder inside.
• Note the subfolder names you see. Folders named Cache or GPUCache are common cleanup targets, though safety varies by app, so check the app’s own settings or support docs before deleting anything you’re unsure about.

Diagnostic check: If the app’s folder looks empty or missing, confirm hidden items are showing (Fix #3). Then make sure you’re signed in to the account that actually runs the app. Each account gets its own %localappdata%.

Fix #5: Clear a Corrupted App Cache Without Losing Settings

This is the fix for an app that crashes, shows stale content, or won’t load properly. Clear the cache contents and leave the rest of the app’s folder alone. Deleting the whole app folder can wipe settings, saved sessions, and local sign-in data.

The list below reflects common troubleshooting convention, not a Microsoft-published rule. If the app has its own Reset, Repair, or Clear cache option, use that first.

Folder names and their contents vary by application, so something called Temp or Cache can occasionally hold files an installer or running process still needs. Check the app’s own documentation or support pages before deleting anything you’re unsure about, especially for an app you rely on daily.

Often disposable, but verify with the app’s documentation	Leave alone (default caution)
Cache	User Data
Caches	Profiles
Code Cache	Settings
GPUCache	Login Data
Temp	Credentials
	The app’s entire top-level folder

• Close the app completely, including any icon in the system tray.
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Find any leftover process for the app, select it, and click End task.

• Open %localappdata% and go into the app’s folder.
• Right-click the Cache (or similarly named) folder and choose Cut.
• Paste it on your Desktop. This is your backup.
• Relaunch the app.

Expected result: The app starts and quietly creates a fresh, empty cache folder. That new folder only shows the app rebuilt its cache, not that the cache caused the problem. If the app now works and you’re still signed in, delete the Desktop copy.

If the problem is still there, the cache wasn’t the cause. Move the backup folder back where it came from. Then use the app’s repair or reset option, or reinstall it. Don’t keep deleting more of AppData.

Fix #6: Empty the Temp Folder to Reclaim Space

%localappdata%\Temp collects temporary files from Windows and apps, and it can get large.

• Close as many open apps as you can, and don’t do this while an installer or update is running.
• Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Temp, and press Enter.
• Press Ctrl + A to select everything.
• Press Delete.
• If you see a “file in use” prompt, check Do this for all current items and click Skip.

Expected result: Most files disappear. A few that Windows or a running app still has open will stay, and that’s fine. Skip anything Windows refuses to delete rather than forcing it. If you’d rather have Windows handle this automatically, Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense clear some temp locations without the manual work.

Tips and Troubleshooting

%localappdata% opens nothing or shows an error

Why it happens: A missing percent sign or a misspelling.

Fix: Retype %localappdata% exactly. If it still fails, type C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local into File Explorer’s address bar with your real profile folder name. Run echo %userprofile% in Command Prompt if you’re not sure what that name is.

“The action can’t be completed because the file is open”

Why it happens: The app or one of its background processes still has the file locked.

Fix: End the process in Task Manager (Fix #5, steps 2 and 3), then retry. A restart works too if you can’t find the process.

Deleting a folder reset an app or signed you out

Why it happens: You removed more than a cache folder, likely the app’s whole data folder or something like User Data.

Fix: Restore it from the Recycle Bin or your Desktop backup. That’s exactly why the cut-and-paste step in Fix #5 matters.

A cleared cache folder came right back

Why it happens: Apps rebuild their cache on launch.

Fix: None needed. It means the clear worked.

Your drive keeps filling up anyway

If Local balloons again within days, check which subfolders are growing. Big offline mail files, chat app caches, and browser caches are common offenders, but logs, sync clients, and app databases can grow too. On a PC that’s always tight on space, an SSD upgrade or an external SSD for large files is often a better long-term answer than clearing caches every week.

Wrapping Up

Fix #1 is the one to remember. Windows + R and %localappdata% gets you there in seconds on Windows 10 or 11, hidden folder or not. For cleanup, Fix #5 is the winner, but only if you stick to cache-named subfolders and keep a Desktop backup.

I’d skip deleting anything outside the “often disposable” column, and even then, check the app’s own documentation first. If the app’s built-in reset or repair option hasn’t already failed, try that before touching AppData at all.

Step	Action	Applies To
Fix #1	Windows + R > %localappdata%	Windows 10 and 11
Fix #3	View > Show > Hidden items	Windows 11
Fix #3	Folder Options > View > Show hidden files, folders, and drives	Windows 10 and 11
Fix #5	Close app, cut Cache folder to Desktop, relaunch	Windows 10 and 11
Fix #6	Empty %localappdata%\Temp	Windows 10 and 11

If an app breaks again right after a clean cache, look past AppData. Repeated problems across several apps are worth a closer look, so a full Microsoft Defender scan and a drive health check are reasonable next steps. To confirm the fix held, restart the PC, open the app, and check that you’re still signed in with your settings intact.

Resources

• Show hidden files in Windows (Microsoft Support)
• View hidden files and folders in Windows (Microsoft Support)
• File Explorer in Windows (Microsoft Support)
• Find and transfer Outlook data files (Microsoft Support)