%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local is the per-user folder where Windows apps keep data that stays on this PC, such as caches, large app files and the Temp folder. Roaming holds settings designed to follow your account to other PCs, and LocalLow is for apps that run with low integrity, such as sandboxed browser components. To open Local, press Windows logo key + R, type %localappdata% and press Enter.
This guide explains what goes where, why AppData grows, what you can safely delete, and what to do if you find old Outlook .pst files along the way, which is where PstVault can help.
What is the AppData folder?
Every Windows user profile has an AppData folder at C:\Users\<username>\AppData. Apps use it to store per-user settings, caches, databases and logs, so that each person on the PC gets their own copy. It is hidden by default because most of it is not meant to be edited by hand.
Inside are three folders: Local, LocalLow and Roaming.
AppData Local vs Roaming vs LocalLow: what is the difference?
Microsoft defines each folder in its KNOWNFOLDERID reference:
| Folder | Environment variable | Path | Typical contents | Roams? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | %LOCALAPPDATA% | %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local | Caches, large or machine-specific data, Temp | No |
| LocalLow | none | %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow | Data from apps running with low integrity | No |
| Roaming | %APPDATA% | %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming | Settings, signatures, small config files | With roaming profiles |
Microsoft’s roaming profile guidance puts the split simply: Windows uses Local and LocalLow “for application data that does not roam with the user. Usually this data is either machine specific or too large to roam.” Roaming is for data that is not tied to one machine and can follow the user when an organization uses roaming user profiles.
Two practical notes:
- On a home PC without roaming profiles, Roaming does not sync anywhere by itself. It is simply another local folder.
- For Microsoft Store (packaged) apps, Microsoft’s app data guidance states that roaming data and settings are no longer supported as of Windows 11.
LocalLow exists because of integrity levels. Processes marked low integrity, such as sandboxed browser components, cannot write to normal user folders, so Windows gives them a separate low-trust location.
How do I open %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local?
- Press Windows logo key + R to open Run.
- Type
%localappdata%for Local, or%appdata%for Roaming. - Press Enter.
You can type the same variables into the File Explorer address bar. For LocalLow, which has no variable of its own, type %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow.
To see AppData while browsing normally, show hidden files. The route Microsoft documents for Windows 10 and 11 is Control Panel > File Explorer Options > View, then under Hidden files and folders select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and select OK.
What is usually inside AppData\Local?
- Temp. Your user temp folder, which
%temp%opens. It is safe to empty; see how to open and clear the Temp folder. - Packages. This commonly holds data for Microsoft Store apps, one folder per app, and it can get very large if one app caches a lot.
- Microsoft. Data for many Microsoft apps. Older versions of classic Outlook kept files here, including
archive.pstunderMicrosoft\Outlook. - Browser profiles and caches. Many browsers keep their cache and profile data here.
- App installs. Some apps install per user under Local rather than in Program Files.
Roaming usually holds smaller things. Microsoft’s Outlook documentation, for example, places Outlook signatures in AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures.
If you are looking for iPhone backups, they live elsewhere in your profile; see iPhone backup location on Windows.
Why is my AppData folder so big?
The usual culprits are app caches, Store app data in Packages, browser profiles, old offline mailbox files and device backups. In one Microsoft Q&A thread a user found 179 GB in AppData\Local\Packages; the cause turned out to be a single game.
To find the real cause:
- Check Settings > System > Storage to see which categories are large.
- Use a disk usage viewer to see which subfolder of AppData is the biggest.
- Deal with the app, not the folder. Clear its cache from its own settings, repair or reset it, or uninstall it.
For Store apps, Microsoft’s repair apps page gives the route: Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More next to the app, then Advanced options, and select Repair, or Reset if repair does not help. If old iPhone backups are the problem, see how to delete old iPhone backups and keep messages.
Can I delete files in AppData?
- Temp contents: yes, once apps are closed.
- Folders of apps you have uninstalled: usually yes, after checking you do not need their data. Back up first if unsure.
- Folders of apps you still use: no. Use the app’s own clear cache option, or repair or reset it.
- The whole AppData folder: never. You would lose settings, saved data and sometimes app installs for every app.
For Store apps, Microsoft states that the system removes an app’s data stores “completely and cleanly” when the app is uninstalled, so uninstalling is the clean way to reclaim that space.
Found old Outlook .pst files in AppData?
Outlook uses two kinds of data file. A .pst file is a portable archive you can open again later. An .ost file is an offline copy of a mailbox from Exchange, Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com; Microsoft notes it is recreated automatically and cannot be moved to another PC. Our explainer on what a PST file is covers the difference in detail.
Microsoft’s guide to finding Outlook data files says current versions normally keep .pst files in Documents\Outlook Files, while earlier versions used AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook. Old archives often turn up there after an upgrade or on an old drive; see find old Outlook PST files on an old hard drive.
If you still have classic Outlook, opening one is free: select File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File, choose the .pst and select Open. New Outlook can add a .pst under Settings > Files > Outlook Data Files, but Microsoft notes this requires classic Outlook to be installed too; see open a PST in the new Outlook.
Open an old .pst without Outlook, search it and export only the messages you need.
Get it from Microsoft
How does PstVault fit in?
According to its Microsoft Store listing, PstVault opens Outlook data files (.pst) without installing Outlook, connecting to a mailbox or uploading your email:
- Find: browse folders and filter by sender, recipient, subject, body text or date.
- Export: PDF, EML, HTML, contacts as CSV or vCard, and calendar events as ICS.
- Keep attachments: save original attachments as separate files.
- Read-only: your original archive stays unchanged.
The listing is clear about limits: PstVault is designed for readable Unicode PST files, one at a time, and it does not open OST files, repair damaged archives or decrypt encrypted messages.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete the subfolders of Local under AppData?
Only for apps you have uninstalled, plus the contents of Temp. Folders for apps you still use hold their settings and data. Back up anything you are unsure about.
What can I delete from the AppData folder?
Temp contents and leftovers from apps you have removed. For apps you still use, clear caches from inside the app or use Repair or Reset in Settings.
Why is AppData\Local\Packages so large?
It commonly holds Microsoft Store app data and caches. Find which app’s folder is large, then reset or uninstall that app in Settings rather than deleting folders by hand.
What is the difference between %appdata% and %localappdata%?
%appdata% opens AppData\Roaming, for settings that can roam with a profile. %localappdata% opens AppData\Local, for data that stays on this PC.
Is LocalLow safe to delete?
Treat it like Local: leave folders for apps you use, and only remove folders left behind by apps you have uninstalled.
Try PstVault
PstVault is in the Microsoft Store, where the listing offers a free trial. More detail is on the PstVault product page.
Turn an old Outlook archive into files you can search and share.
Get it from Microsoft
Windows and Outlook are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. PstVault is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
Last updated 23 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.