LocalAppData folder (%LocalAppData%)
Also known as: %localappdata%, AppData Local, LocalAppData, Local folder Windows
LocalAppData is the machine-specific branch of the hidden AppData folder, located at C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local. Typing %localappdata% in File Explorer or the Run dialog opens it directly. It holds app caches, temp files, and Store-app data, and is usually the largest part of AppData.
- Opens with %localappdata% in Run or the address bar
- Real path: C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local
- Safe wins: Temp and thumbnail cache, not live app data
How to open %localappdata%
The fastest route is the environment variable: press Win+R, type %localappdata%, and press Enter, or paste the same into the File Explorer address bar. Both jump straight to C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local without you having to unhide the AppData folder first.
The variable resolves per user, so each Windows account lands in its own Local folder. If a guide tells you to open %localappdata%\SomeApp, it means the SomeApp folder inside this location.
What lives in Local
Local holds data that belongs to this one PC and does not follow you to other machines: Temp (scratch files apps create while working), Packages (Microsoft Store app data), Microsoft\Windows\Explorer (the thumbnail cache), and per-app caches for browsers, chat apps, launchers, and games. On a well-used PC these caches routinely add up to tens of gigabytes.
What is safe to delete in LocalAppData?
The contents of Local\Temp are safe to clear; any file an app still needs is locked and simply skips deletion. The thumbnail cache is also safe, since Explorer rebuilds previews on demand. Prefer Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files or Disk Cleanup, which clear both without touching live data.
Do not delete Packages or an active app’s folder by hand: that can wipe the app’s settings or sign you out. Folders left behind by apps you have already uninstalled are fair game once you have confirmed the app is gone.