The AppData folder is hidden by default on Windows 10/11, which can make it difficult to find. In this guide, we'll provide step-by-step instructions on how to unhide the AppData folder and access its contents, helping you locate and manage your AppData folder effectively.
Can't find %appdata% folder (Windows 10)
I can't find that folder even if I search in the Start menu or in File Explorer. It's important because I need to find it to download Minecraft mods.
- Question from Capybara
The AppData folder in Windows is a hidden but crucial system folder that contains application settings, caches, and other important user data. Sometimes, users face difficulty accessing or locating this folder. If you’ve encountered the frustrating issue of "can't find AppData folder", you’re not alone. Many users have complained about encountering the same issue. In fact, this seemingly complex problem can be resolved with simple steps to unhide the hidden AppData folder.
Whether it’s due to hidden system files or accidental deletions, there are several reasons why you might not be able to access or find the AppData folder on your Windows 10 or 11. No matter the reason behind it, you can find methods to regain access to the AppData folder in this article.
The AppData folder is often hidden by default to prevent accidental tampering with critical system files. If you’ve been trying to access the folder and can’t find it, there are a few potential reasons for this:
🔔Hidden Files and Folders: The AppData folder is hidden by default to protect important user data and prevent accidental modification. Users may not see it in File Explorer without altering settings.
📌Folder Corruption: In some cases, system errors or file corruption can prevent access to folders like AppData, making them inaccessible.
✂️Accidental Deletion: Sometimes, the AppData folder may appear to be missing because it was accidentally deleted or corrupted, possibly due to system issues or software errors.
If you want to access the AppData folder directly in File Explorer, you just need to follow a few simple steps to show hidden files, and the AppData folder will appear in Windows.
Step 1. Press "Win" + "E" to open File Explorer and select "View" tab.
Step 2. Tick "Hidden items" and click "Options" > "Change folder and search options".
Step 3. In the opened "File Explorer Options", click "View" tab and select "Show hidden files, folders and drives". This will make hidden folders including AppData visible in File Explorer.
In both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the AppData folder is located in the C:\Users[Your Username] directory. There are several ways to quickly access it. Let’s dive into how you can locate the AppData folder on your Windows 10/11 machine.
As mentioned earlier, AppData is located under the User folder in File Explorer. It's the simplest and most intuitive way to access AppData folder through File Explorer. Navigate to C:\Users[Your Username] and you will see the AppData is displayed in the list.
The Run dialog is a mini command-line interface that allows you to quickly launch programs, open files or folders, and access system management tools. With it, you can open AppData without navigating through layers of folders.
Step 1. Press "Win" + "R" to open Run dialog. Then input "%appdata%" and press "Enter" key to open AppData folder.
Step 2. This will open the Roaming folder inside AppData, but you can navigate to the Local or LocalLow subfolders from there.
Additionally, you can also quickly open the AppData folder via the Start menu, just like opening any other program. Type %AppData% in the Start menu search bar and directly open the folder. However, be aware that AppData might not show up if it's hidden in the system settings.
If you've accidentally deleted files from AppData or even the entire AppData folder, recovering these lost data is an extremely important task. Since AppData holds crucial settings and files for applications, losing it can be problematic. In such case, MyRecover can be a lifesaver. It’s designed to retrieve lost files including critical system files, and can recover data even from inaccessible or formatted drives.
Here are the standout features of MyRecover:
✅Higher Success Rate – Advanced deep scan for NTFS/FAT32/exFAT drives.
✅500+ Devices Support – Recover files from all types of devices like SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, SD card, cameras, game console drives and more.
✅Handle 500+ Data Loss Scenarios – Recover from deleted partition, formatted hard drive, emptied Recycle Bin, system crash, virus attack, etc.
✅Supports over 1,000 file types – Including documents, photos, videos, audio, archives, and Outlook data files.
✅Smart Filtering – Recover files by type, date, or size with precision.
✅OS Compatibility – Work not only on Windows 11 /10, but also on Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7 and all Servers.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecovver on your computer from Microsoft Store, avoid installing it on the C drive (since the AppData is stored on C drive).
Step 2. Launch the program and select the C drive to scan for lost files, then click "Scan".
Step 3. After the scanning is complete, choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".
Step 4. Select a safe location (not the original one) to save the recovered files.
When the process is done, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop up. Then, you can check the recovered files by clicking on the destination folder path or "Browse" button.
In this article, we've discussed how to show hidden AppData folder and four ways to quickly locate AppData on Windows 10/11. You now have multiple solutions at your disposal to fix "can't find appData folder" issue. If you’ve lost data in the AppData folder, the dedicated recovery tool like MyRecover can help you.
For users who need more like unlimited recovery and file contents preview before restoring, and powerful recovery from unbootable systems, MyRecover Professional edition is the ideal choice, offering a complete recovery solution.