AppData

Bottom Line: Never delete the entire AppData folder. Doing so will wipe out your browser profiles, game saves, and app settings. However, you can safely clean specific temporary folders inside of it.

What is the AppData folder?

Located at C:\Users\YourName\AppData (hidden by default), this folder is where almost every program installed on your computer stores its personal data.

It contains three subfolders:

• Roaming: Settings that can move with your user profile (e.g., your Google Chrome bookmarks, Discord logins, and Minecraft saves).
• Local: Data specific to your exact PC (e.g., massive caches, downloaded updates, and temporary files).
• LocalLow: Low-security app data (mostly used by older apps and web applets).

Can you delete it?

❌ Danger. Do not delete the main AppData folder or the Roaming and Local folders.

If you delete them, you will be logged out of every app. Your web browser will lose all extensions and history. Many apps will break entirely and require reinstallation, and you will lose countless local game saves.

What you CAN safely delete inside AppData

While the main folder is off-limits, there is one specific folder inside AppData that is 100% safe to delete and often frees up massive amounts of space: the Temp folder.

How to safely clean AppData\Local[Temp](/files/temp-folder):

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type %temp% and press Enter. This will take you directly to C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Temp.
3. Press Ctrl + A to select all files.
4. Press Delete.
5. Note: If Windows says some files are in use, just check “Do this for all current items” and click Skip.

What happens after you clean the Temp folder?

You will free up gigabytes of wasted space left behind by old installers and crashed programs, with zero negative consequences. Your apps and settings will remain perfectly intact.