What is AppData Folder? What Are The Best Ways To Clean It Safely

Microsoft introduced something known as the AppData folder back in 2009 when it released Windows 7. To begin with, it is one of the different directories of Windows applications. This is a folder where applications save their important data such as settings, updates, logs, etc. In this post, we’ll have a look at some of the best ways in which you can safely clean the AppData folder.

When Would You Need To Clean AppData Folder?

Under normal circumstances, you would not need to touch the AppData folder. But, if your storage space is getting clogged, or, if there is a plethora of unwanted apps that you have supposedly gotten rid of with not much space freed up, that is when you can clean the AppData folder.

How To Reach The AppData Folder?

You can head to this path to reach the AppData folder – C:\Users\<username>\AppData. Here replace the <username> with your username. So if your username is Admin, then, the path will be C:\Users\Admin\AppData

What Does Each of the Folders in the AppData Folder Imply?

There are three kinds of subfolders in the AppData folder namely –

• Local: The folder contains device-specific settings and temporary files. You can’t move files in this folder.
• LocalLow:  It contains low-integrity applications and buffer data generated by them. Again, you can’t move it to another computer.
• Roaming:  Unlike the previous two folders, you can move this folder to another computer or user account. It consists of critical application files and saved games.

What Happens If You Don’t Clear The AppData Folder Carefully?

If you delete anything and everything in your AppData folder without being careful, you might end up resetting all the information related to apps on your computer. You might lose important data that your apps have saved and which is important for them. Worse! You might cause damage to your computer as well.

Method 1 – Via The Settings App

The first method to clean the AppData folder is to clean the temporary files via Settings. To do that, follow the steps mentioned below –

1. Open Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys.

2. Click on System from the left-hand pane, if not already selected.

3. Scroll down and click on Storage from the right-hand side.

4. Click on Temporary files.

5. Ensure that temporary files are checked. Click on Remove files.

Method 2 – Manual Cleaning

Next, you can head to the folder path mentioned in the steps below. You can safely delete the files in the temp folder as they don’t contain any configuration or setting files related to apps –

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R key combination.

2. In the dialog box, type %LOCALAPPDATA%/Temp and press Enter. Or, head to C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp

3. Select all files by pressing Ctrl + A and delete all of them by pressing the Shift + Delete operation

Method 3 – Use Disk Cleanup

This is yet another way to clean up the AppData folder on your PC and that too in a manner that won’t eventually cause any significant damage. Want to know more about this wonderful tool – its features and benefits, do check out this post. Meanwhile, here is how you can use Disk Cleanup to clean the AppData folder –

1. In the Windows search bar, type Disk Cleanup and click on Open from the right.

2. Click on OK

3. When the scan is over, select Temporary files

4. Click on OK.

Method 4 – Dive Into AppData Folder

This step is with respect to the apps that you have deleted already but in reality, they are not deleted completely. When following the steps mentioned below, exercise complete caution so that you don’t accidentally delete files related to useful apps on your PC.

1. Head to C:\Users\Admin\AppData 

2. Under each of the Local and Roaming folders, locate folders related to all those unwanted apps that you have deleted.

3. Select all of them and delete them using Shift + Delete.

What Are Your Views About AppData Folder?

In our opinion, you should only go about the AppData folder cleanup task on your computer if you are running out of storage space. Also, it is advisable that unless it is a temporary folder, examine the contents before you hit the shift + Delete keys and delete data. Do, let us know your views and if you have used the AppData folder to free up space, do share your experience in the comments section below. For more such content, keep reading WeTheGeek. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Flipboard, and Pinterest.