每台Windows PC 都包含AppData文件夹。虽然大多数用户可能永远不需要访问此文件夹，但如果您想要重置设置或想要清除程序的用户特定设置，它会很有用。
因为有很多应用程序使用它，所以了解AppData文件夹是什么、如何访问它以及它包含的数据非常重要。本指南介绍了您需要了解的有关Windows 10中(Windows 10)AppData文件夹的所有信息。
什么是 AppData 文件夹？(What Is the AppData Folder?)
AppData（应用程序数据(Application Data)）文件夹是Windows 10 中的一个隐藏文件夹(hidden folder in Windows 10)，其中包含特定于您的 PC 上安装的程序的用户配置文件的所有数据。包括Internet 浏览器(internet browsers)、电子邮件程序和游戏在内的多个应用程序将数据（例如您的个人资料、书签、签名、简短说明、加载项和保存的文件）存储在AppData文件夹中。
该文件夹包含三个子文件夹，其中包含以下数据和设置：
- 漫游子文件夹(Roaming subfolder)：此文件夹存储重要设置，如用户配置文件、书签和其他数据，当您登录公司网络上的其他 PC 时，这些数据会被转移（漫游）。
- 本地子文件夹(Local subfolder)：此文件夹存储特定于单个 PC 的数据，即使您登录公司网络，也不会在计算机之间同步或转移。您将在本地(Local)子文件夹中找到临时数据、下载的缓存文件和其他大文件，该子文件夹特定于 PC。您可以删除本地子文件夹中的临时数据(delete the temporary data)以释放硬盘驱动器上的存储空间而不会造成问题。
- LocalLow 子文件夹(LocalLow subfolder)：在此文件夹中，您将找到 Windows 或程序文件夹，例如用于以高度受限的安全设置运行的应用程序的浏览器加载项。例如，当您在保护模式下运行(Protected Mode)Internet Explorer时，它只能访问LocalLow文件夹，因为它无法访问主本地(Local)文件夹来写入数据。
只要您使用相同的配置文件登录，您的数据就可以从一台设备传输到另一台设备，因为此文件夹包含您的许多程序的应用程序数据。
AppData 对比 程序数据(AppData Vs. ProgramData)
AppData文件夹和ProgramData文件夹之间存在差异。ProgramData文件夹保存程序的一组文件或设置，并且数据由多个用户使用。例如，您的防病毒程序(antivirus program)可能会将其设置和扫描日志保存在ProgramData文件夹中，并与计算机上的所有用户共享。
注意(Note)：在以前的 Windows 版本中(versions of Windows)，ProgramData文件夹称为All Users AppData文件夹。
这些准则并不总是被遵循，因为有时浏览器可能会将设置和用户数据存储在Local Folder中，但您希望它将它们存储在Roaming文件夹中。
此外，某些应用程序可能会将其设置存储在您的文档文件夹或您的主用户帐户文件夹中，而其他应用程序可能会将数据存储在注册表或其他系统文件夹中。Windows应用程序开发人员还可以将数据存储在他们想要的任何其他位置。
在哪里可以找到 AppData(Where to Find AppData)
如果您的 PC 上有多个用户帐户，则每个帐户都有一个AppData文件夹，其中包含自己的内容。这样，Windows程序可以为许多用户存储多组设置。
每个用户帐户的AppData文件夹都可以在用户目录中找到。例如，如果您的用户名为Joe ，则默认情况下您会在(Joe)C:\Users\Joe\AppData找到您的AppData文件夹。
要查看文件夹，您可以将地址插入文件资源管理器(File Explorer)的地址栏中，显示隐藏文件夹并在 C:UsersJoe 浏览到您的用户帐户目录。或者，您可以在地址栏中键入%APPDATA%并直接转到当前登录到计算机的用户的AppData\Roaming
您可以使用 AppData 文件做什么(What You Can Do with AppData Files)
大多数 Windows 用户不需要知道AppData文件夹存在，这就是它默认隐藏的原因。
您很少需要从文件夹中移动或删除文件，因为这可能会破坏使用这些文件的任何程序。但是，您可以备份数据(back up the data)或将其中的一些数据从一台计算机传输到另一台计算机(transfer some of it from one computer to another)，或者您可以将文件复制到闪存驱动器或云存储以保持 PC 上的原始文件夹完好无损。
您还可以备份 PC 游戏的保存文件或特定程序的设置。或者，深入AppData文件夹，找到程序的目录并将其复制到其他位置。这样，您可以将文件夹复制到新 PC 上的相同位置，并且游戏或程序将使用相同的设置。
但是，复制AppData文件夹设置可能不适用于所有程序，因为某些程序将其设置存储在Windows 注册表(Windows Registry)或系统的其他位置。许多开发人员将文件存储在AppData文件夹中，以便您可以轻松导出应用程序的数据或在设备之间进行同步。
如何在 Windows 10 中访问 AppData 文件夹(How to Access the AppData Folder in Windows 10)
虽然您通常不需要对AppData文件夹执行任何操作，但了解如何访问它以及在其中可以找到什么是很有用的。
该文件夹默认是隐藏的，因此只有在Windows 资源管理器中(Windows Explorer)显示隐藏文件(show hidden files)时才能看到它。取消隐藏AppData文件夹后，您可以访问它并删除或复制任何文件。
您可以使用多种方法来取消隐藏AppData文件夹，例如通过文件资源管理器(File Explorer)或通过控制面板(Control Panel)使隐藏文件夹可见。
通过文件资源管理器取消隐藏 AppData 文件夹(Unhide AppData Folder Through File Explorer)
您可以通过Windows 10中的搜索栏找到(Search Bar)AppData文件夹。
- 打开文件资源管理器(File Explorer)。
- 选择查看(View)>选项(Options)，然后选择更改文件夹搜索选项(Change Folder Search Options)。
- 接下来，选择查看(View)选项卡，然后在高级设置(Advanced Settings)部分中选择显示隐藏的文件文件夹和驱动器。(Show Hidden Files Folders and Drives)选择应用(Apply )>确定(OK)。
通过使隐藏文件夹可见来取消隐藏 AppData 文件夹(Unhide AppData Folder by Making Hidden Folders Visible)
如果您无法使用搜索找到AppData文件夹，您可以通过控制面板(Control Panel)。
- 打开控制面板(Control Panel)，在控制面板(Control Panel)搜索框中搜索文件资源管理器选项，然后选择(File Explorer Options)文件资源管理器选项(File Explorer Options)。
- 在文件资源管理器选项(File Explorer Options)窗口中选择查看(View)选项卡，然后选择显示隐藏文件、文件夹和驱动器(Show hidden files, folders and drives)。
- 接下来，选择应用(Apply)>确定(OK)以保存您的更改。
- 您将在C:\Users\YourUsername找到 AppData 文件夹，其中用户名是您的Windows 配置文件 ID(Windows Profile ID)。打开文件资源管理器( File Explorer)>这台电脑(This PC)>本地磁盘 C:(Local Disk C:) >用户(Users )>你的用户名(YourUsername)。
发现隐藏的 AppData 文件夹中的内容(Discover What’s In The Hidden AppData Folder)
AppData文件夹可能是隐藏的，但它包含一系列有用的信息，这些信息是 Windows PC 上的应用程序独有的。该文件夹在解决应用程序或程序问题时非常方便，例如当Discord 未打开(Discord is not opening)或Windows 10 上缺少系统托盘或图标(system tray or icons are missing on Windows 10)等问题时。
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What Is the AppData Folder in Windows 10
Every Windows PC contains the AppData folder. While most users may never need to access this folder, it can be useful if you want to reset the settings or want to clear out user-specific settings fоr а program.
Because so many applications use it, it’s important to know what the AppData folder is, how to access it, and the data it contains. This guide explains everything you need to know about the AppData folder in Windows 10.
What Is the AppData Folder?
The AppData (Application Data) folder is a hidden folder in Windows 10 that contains all the data specific to your user profile for the programs installed on your PC. Several apps including internet browsers, email programs, and games store data such as your profiles, bookmarks, signatures, short notes, add-ons, and saved files in the AppData folder.
The folder has three subfolders which contain the following data and settings:
- Roaming subfolder: This folder stores important settings like user profiles, bookmarks, and other data that are carried over (roam) when you sign into other PCs on company networks.
- Local subfolder: This folder stores data that’s specific to a single PC and isn’t synced or carried over from computer to computer even if you sign into a company network. You’ll find temporary data, downloaded cache files, and other large files in the Local subfolder, which is specific to a PC. You can delete the temporary data in the Local subfolder to free up storage space on your hard drive without causing problems.
- LocalLow subfolder: In this folder, you’ll find Windows or program folders like browser add-ons for applications that run with highly restricted security settings. For instance, when you run Internet Explorer in Protected Mode, it can only access the LocalLow folder because it won’t have access to the main Local folder to write data to.
As long as you’re signed in with the same profile, your data can be transferred from one device to another because this folder contains application data for many of your programs.
AppData Vs. ProgramData
There’s a difference between the AppData folder and the ProgramData folder. The ProgramData folder saves a single set of files or settings for a program, and the data is used by multiple users. For example, your antivirus program may keep its settings and scan logs in the ProgramData folder and share these with all users on the computer.
Note: In previous versions of Windows, the ProgramData folder was known as the All Users AppData folder.
These guidelines aren’t always followed as sometimes a browser may store settings and user data in the Local Folder, yet you’d expect it to store them in the Roaming folder.
Plus, some apps may store their settings in your documents folder or your main user account folder, while others may store data in the registry or another system folder. Windows app developers can also store data anywhere else they want.
Where to Find AppData
If there are multiple user accounts on your PC, each one has an AppData folder with its own content. This way, Windows programs can store multiple sets of settings for many users.
The AppData folder for each user account can be found in the user’s directory. For example, if your user name is Joe, you’ll find your AppData folder at C:\Users\Joe\AppData by default.
To view the folder, you can plug the address into the address bar in File Explorer, show hidden folders and browse to your user account directory at C:\Users\Joe. Alternatively, you can type %APPDATA% in the address bar and go straight to the AppData\Roaming folder of the user who’s currently logged into the computer.
What You Can Do with AppData Files
Most Windows users don’t need to know that the AppData folder exists, which is why it’s hidden by default.
You rarely have a need to move or delete files from the folder as this may break any program using those files. However, you can back up the data or transfer some of it from one computer to another, or you can copy the files to a flash drive or cloud storage to keep the original folder intact on your PC.
You can also back up a PC game’s save files or a specific program’s settings. Alternatively, dig into the AppData folder, find the program’s directory and copy it to a different location. This way, you can copy the folder to the same place on a new PC and the game or program will use the same settings.
However, copying the AppData folder settings may not work for all programs because some programs store their settings in the Windows Registry or elsewhere in the system. Many developers store files in the AppData folder so you can easily export the app’s data or synchronize it between devices.
How to Access the AppData Folder in Windows 10
While you may not normally need to do anything with the AppData folder, it’s useful to know how to access it and what you can find in there.
The folder is hidden by default so you can only see it if you show hidden files in Windows Explorer. Once you unhide the AppData folder, you can access it and delete or copy any of the files.
There are a couple of approaches you can use to unhide the AppData folder, such as making hidden folders visible through File Explorer or via the Control Panel.
Unhide AppData Folder Through File Explorer
You can find the AppData folder through the Search Bar in Windows 10.
- Open File Explorer.
- Select View > Options and then select Change Folder Search Options.
- Next, select the View tab and then select Show Hidden Files Folders and Drives in the Advanced Settings section. Select Apply > OK.
Unhide AppData Folder by Making Hidden Folders Visible
If you can’t use search to find the AppData folder, you can go through the Control Panel.
- Open Control Panel, search for File Explorer Options in the Control Panel search box, and select File Explorer Options.
- Select View tab in the File Explorer Options window and then select Show hidden files, folders and drives.
- Next, select Apply > OK to save your changes.
- You’ll find the AppData folder at C:\Users\YourUsername, where the username is your Windows Profile ID. Open File Explorer > This PC > Local Disk C: > Users > YourUsername.
Discover What’s In The Hidden AppData Folder
The AppData folder may be hidden but it contains a bevy of useful information that’s unique to the apps on your Windows PC. The folder comes handy when troubleshooting issues with apps or programs, like when Discord is not opening or system tray or icons are missing on Windows 10 among other issues.
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