What app data is and where it lives on your computer
App data is the collection of files, settings, and information that programs create and store while you use them. This includes your preferences, login information, cache files (temporary copies of things the app downloaded), and documents you've worked on. Unlike the program itself, which lives in one standard folder, app data scatters across hidden locations on your hard drive — different places depending on whether you use Windows or Mac, and whether the app is installed normally or came from the Microsoft Store or Apple App Store.
You might need to find app data to recover a lost document, clear out old files taking up space, troubleshoot a program that's misbehaving, or move your settings to a new computer. The challenge is that most of this data is hidden by default, so your operating system doesn't clutter your view with thousands of folders you'll never touch.
Key Takeaways
- App data on Windows lives in hidden folders inside your user account, most commonly in AppData\Local, AppData\Roaming, or AppData\LocalLow.
- On Mac, app data is stored in Library folders inside your home directory, with the most common location being Library/process Support.
- You must enable viewing hidden files in your operating system before you can see these folders — they don't appear in normal file browsing.
- Deleting app data can free up disk space or reset a misbehaving program, but it will also erase your saved settings and login information for that app.
- Some apps store data in multiple locations, so finding everything related to one program may require checking several folders.
Finding app data on Windows
On Windows, app data lives in a folder called AppData inside your user account. To see it, you first need to show hidden files. Open File Explorer, click the View tab at the top, then check the box next to "Hidden items." Now hidden folders will appear alongside your normal ones.
Navigate to your user folder — you'll see it listed on the left side of File Explorer, usually showing your account name. Inside, you'll find the AppData folder. This folder contains three subfolders: Roaming, Local, and LocalLow. Most apps store their main data in AppData\Roaming or AppData\Local. Roaming data syncs across devices if you're signed into a Microsoft account, while Local data stays only on that computer. LocalLow is used by apps with lower security permissions, and you'll rarely need to look there.
Inside each of these folders, you'll find subfolders named after the companies or programs that created them — for example, Microsoft, Google, or the specific app name. Open the folder for the program you're looking for, and you'll see its settings files, cache, and other stored information.
Finding app data on Mac
On Mac, app data lives in Library folders, and there are actually two of them: one in your home directory (the one you use) and one at the system level (shared by all users). You almost always want the one in your home directory. To reach it, open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, then hold down the Option key. A Library option will appear — click it. This takes you to ~/Library, where app data lives.
The most common location is Library/process Support, where most programs store their settings and data. You may also find app data in Library/Preferences (which holds configuration files) or Library/Caches (temporary files the app downloaded). Like Windows, each app creates its own folder inside these locations, usually named after the company or program.
If you can't find what you're looking for in process Support, check Preferences next. Some apps split their data between both folders, so you may need to look in more than one place.
What to do once you've found the folder
Once you've located an app's data folder, you have a few options. If you want to free up disk space, you can safely delete the cache subfolder (often labeled "Cache" or "Temp") — this holds temporary files the app downloaded and can usually be recreated without losing anything important. Deleting cache typically frees up several hundred megabytes to a few gigabytes, depending on how long you've used the app.
If an app is crashing, freezing, or behaving strangely, deleting the entire app data folder and restarting the program can sometimes fix the problem. The app will rebuild its data folder with fresh settings the next time it opens. However, this will erase your saved preferences, login information, and any documents stored in that folder, so only do this if you're willing to set up the app again from scratch.
If you're moving to a new computer and want to bring your settings with you, you can copy the entire app data folder to an external drive, then paste it into the same location on your new machine. This works best for programs that don't rely on system-specific settings, though some apps may need you to reinstall them first.
Understanding the difference between app data and app cache
App data and app cache are related but different. App data includes everything the program needs to remember about how you use it — your preferences, saved documents, login tokens, and configuration. Cache is a subset of that: temporary copies of files the app downloaded from the internet so it doesn't have to read them again next time.
Cache is always safe to delete because the app can read those files again if it needs them. Deleting cache won't change your settings or erase your work. App data, on the other hand, includes things you might not want to lose. If you delete the preferences file, you'll lose your settings. If you delete saved documents, they're gone. The safest approach is to delete only the cache folder if you're trying to free up space, and only delete the entire app data folder if you're trying to reset the program completely.
Why some programs store data in multiple places
Some apps don't keep all their data in one folder. A program might store its main settings in AppData\Roaming but keep its cache in AppData\Local. Others might create folders in both your Documents folder and your app data folder. This happens because different parts of the program have different needs — some data needs to sync across devices, some needs to stay local, and some is temporary.
If you're trying to completely remove an app or move all its data, you may need to search for its name across multiple locations. Use your operating system's search function (Windows Search on Windows, Spotlight on Mac) to find all folders related to the program name, then check each one to see if it contains data you want to keep or delete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete app data?
It depends what you delete. Cache folders are always safe to delete — the app will recreate them. Deleting an entire app data folder will reset the program to its default state, erasing your settings and saved information, but it won't damage your computer or the program itself. Only delete app data if you're prepared to lose your settings or if you're trying to fix a problem.
How much space can I free up by deleting cache?
It varies widely depending on which apps you use and how long you've had them installed. Web browsers and streaming apps tend to have the largest caches, sometimes several gigabytes. Other programs might only have a few hundred megabytes. Deleting cache from all your apps combined could free up anywhere from a few gigabytes to tens of gigabytes, but the only way to know for sure is to check the folder sizes on your computer.
What if I delete app data by mistake?
If you deleted cache, the app will straightforward recreate it the next time you use it — no harm done. If you deleted the entire app data folder, you can reinstall the program and it will create a fresh data folder with default settings. You won't recover your old settings or saved information, but the program will work normally again.
Can I move app data to a different drive to save space?
Most apps expect their data to be in the standard location and won't find it if you move it to another drive. Some programs have built-in options to change where they store data, so check the app's settings first. For most apps, the better approach is to delete cache or uninstall programs you don't use rather than trying to relocate their data folders.
Why is my app data folder so large?
Large app data folders are usually caused by cache files accumulating over time, especially in web browsers, email clients, and media apps. Some programs also store downloaded files or backups in their data folder. If a single app's data folder is taking up several gigabytes, it's safe to delete the cache subfolder to reclaim that space.