Where your operating system stores the Local Low folder

The Local Low folder is a hidden directory your operating system uses to store temporary files and cache data for programs that need restricted permissions. On Windows, it lives inside your user account folder but is hidden by default. On Mac, the equivalent storage location is the Library folder, which is also hidden. You need to unhide it to see what is there.

This folder matters because some programs — particularly web browsers, games, and older applications — store cookies, temporary internet files, and cache here instead of in the main AppData folder. If a program is misbehaving or you want to clear out old temporary files to free up space, you often need to go directly to Local Low to do it properly.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 and 11, Local Low is at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local Low, but you must show hidden files first.
  • On Mac, the equivalent folder is at /Users/[YourUsername]/Library, which you can reach through Finder by pressing Command+Shift+G.
  • Showing hidden files permanently on Windows requires changing View settings; on Mac you can navigate to Library without unhiding it.
  • Once you find Local Low, you can safely delete old cache folders from specific programs without affecting the programs themselves.

Finding Local Low on Windows 10 and 11

Start by opening File Explorer and navigating to your user folder. The path is C:\Users\[YourUsername], where [YourUsername] is the name of your Windows account. You will see folders like Desktop, Documents, and Downloads, but you will not see AppData or Local Low yet because Windows hides them by default.

To show hidden files, click the View tab at the top of File Explorer. Look for the checkbox labeled "Hidden items" and click it. Windows will when ready reveal all hidden folders and files. Now you can see the AppData folder. Double-click it to open it, then double-click the Local folder inside. The Local Low folder is right there.

If you plan to visit Local Low regularly, you can make this faster by pinning it to Quick Access. Right-click the Local Low folder and select "Pin to Quick Access." Next time you open File Explorer, Local Low will appear in the left sidebar under Favorites, and you can jump to it in one click.

Finding the Library folder on Mac

Mac does not have a Local Low folder by name, but the Library folder serves the same purpose for storing process cache and temporary files. The Library folder is hidden by default, but you do not need to unhide it permanently — you can navigate directly to it using Finder's Go To Folder command.

Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G. A text box will appear asking you to type a folder path. Type /Users/[YourUsername]/Library and press Return, where [YourUsername] is your Mac account name. Finder will take you directly to your Library folder. Inside, you will see folders like Caches, Preferences, and process Support, which store the same kinds of temporary and configuration files that Windows keeps in Local Low.

If you want to access Library more often, you can add it to Finder's sidebar permanently. While you are in the Library folder, drag it to the sidebar on the left. It will appear under Favorites, and you can click it anytime without typing the path again.

What you will find inside Local Low

Once you open Local Low, you will see folders named after programs installed on your computer. Google Chrome, Firefox, Steam, Discord, and many other applications create folders here to store cache files, cookies, and temporary data. Each folder is named after the program or its developer.

Inside each program folder, you will typically find subfolders like Cache, Cookies, or Temp. These files are safe to delete if a program is not running — they are temporary and will be recreated the next time the program needs them. However, do not delete the folder itself, only the files inside it, unless you are certain the program is no longer installed.

The total size of Local Low can grow quite large over time, especially if you use browsers heavily. Clearing out old cache folders can free up several gigabytes of space on your hard drive. Windows and Mac both provide built-in tools to do this automatically, but if you want to manually delete specific program caches, Local Low is where you go.

Clearing cache from a specific program

If a program is acting strangely — crashing, loading slowly, or showing outdated information — clearing its Local Low cache often fixes the problem. First, make sure the program is completely closed. Then navigate to its folder in Local Low, open the Cache subfolder if it exists, and delete all the files inside.

Do not delete the folder itself, only the files. When you restart the program, it will recreate the cache folder and populate it with fresh data. This is safe to do with any program and will not cause data loss because cache is always temporary.

For browsers like Chrome or Firefox, you can also clear cache through the program's own settings menu, which is often faster than going to Local Low manually. However, Local Low gives you more control — you can delete cache for just one program without affecting others, or delete cache from a specific date range.

Making Local Low easier to access

If you work with Local Low regularly, create a shortcut to it on your desktop or in your Quick Access menu. On Windows, right-click the Local Low folder, select "Send to," and choose "Desktop (create shortcut)." A shortcut icon will appear on your desktop that takes you directly to Local Low when you double-click it.

On Mac, you can add Library to your Finder sidebar by dragging it there, as described earlier. You can also create an alias by right-clicking the Library folder and selecting "Make Alias," then moving the alias to your desktop or Documents folder.

Another option is to use the address bar in File Explorer or Finder to jump directly to Local Low. On Windows, click the address bar and type the full path C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local Low, then press Enter. On Mac, use Command+Shift+G and type the path. Both methods are faster than clicking through folders once you memorize the path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete everything in Local Low?

Yes, Local Low contains only temporary files and cache. Deleting everything inside will not harm your programs or your personal files. Programs will recreate what they need the next time they run. However, you may notice slightly slower performance the first time you use each program after clearing Local Low, because the cache needs to rebuild.

Why is Local Low hidden by default?

Windows hides system and temporary folders to prevent accidental deletion. Most users do not need to access Local Low, so hiding it reduces clutter and the chance of someone deleting something important by mistake. The same reason applies to other hidden folders like AppData and ProgramData.

Can I move Local Low to a different drive to save space?

No, Local Low must stay where Windows puts it. However, you can delete cache files regularly to keep it from growing too large. Windows also has a built-in Storage Sense tool that can automatically delete temporary files, including cache, on a schedule you set.

What is the difference between Local and Local Low?

Local and Local Low are both inside the AppData folder, but they have different permission levels. Local Low is for programs that run with restricted permissions, while Local is for programs with full user permissions. In practice, both store similar temporary files, and you can safely clear both.

Do I need to restart my computer after clearing Local Low?

No, you do not need to restart. Just close the program whose cache you deleted, then reopen it. The program will recreate its cache automatically. A restart is only necessary if a program is still running and you want to clear its cache — close it first, clear the cache, then restart the program.