This article covers changing the Application Data location on Windows 7. These instructions are not guidance for Windows 11 or Windows 10.
The Application Data folder is located in the user directory by default. On Windows 7, it is a compatibility link at C:\Users\Loginid\Application Data. The application data folders are described below.
Windows 7
In Windows 7, application data is organized into two folders namely local and roaming. The default appdata registry key points to the roaming folder location where as a new registry value ‘Local Appdata‘ is introduced to point to the local appdata folder.
In Windows 7, we can change application data folders location using GUI also. You can open application data folder by running appdata from Run window. right click on the folder for which you want to change the location, click on location tab and specify the new path of the folder.
We can change the location by editing the registry key too.
To change local application data folder we need to run the below command.
reg.exe add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v "Local Appdata" /t REG_SZ /d/f
To change roaming application data folder the command is:
reg.exe add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" /v Appdata /t REG_SZ /d/f
If you see any issues in changing application data folder location please write it in the comments section below.
Relevant Posts:
Opening application data folder from Run window
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Thank you for this great information. I have been looking for a way to move the appdata directory! I have a 64GB SSD drive on my laptop and it’s killer with all that junk going to the C drive!
I am experiencing the same thing as FabioGNR said above. I can’t move my “Local” folder because of a couple files that are being used by SYSTEM. I figure that most of the data will be moved by having roaming and LocalLow folders moved. I also used the same technique (for windows 7) to move all the other folders to another location. Windows 7 really makes it easy, minus the Local folder.
I made the changes but when I run “appdata” it still opens the location on the C: drive. I have restarted the machine after making the changes. I want to delete what’s in the C: drive appdata folder, but I’m not sure I can do that without losing all my stuff, and I can’t rename it. Any ideas? I need to free up space on my SSD C: drive to upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. Thanks.
Where I work we used to do the AppData linking like this, pointing it to different directory, but it seems like it isn’t working anymore. I do not know when did this break down but I can’t get it to work on my laptop either, so I assume they have made some changes on Windows that broke this down. :/
Am i the only one who gets a complete windows breakdown after this change? Windows explorer stops working and i can’t access any files once i change the path and restart, requiring a windows reinstall.
This, by no way, should affect OS functionality. Installed applications might stop working, it will not break OS. There could be some other reason in your case.
When i try to change location by GUI ( windows 7 )
Everything goes right but there are a few locked files which i cant copy. Is there anyway of changing location during startup so those files aren’t locked?
Thanks for sharing the method.
There are some tools in the web which you can use to copy files even if they are locked.
Dear Sir,
Its giving access denied error that i have administrative rights kindly advice
regards,
Irfan
Make sure that you run the commands from elevated command prompt.
the above regkey change works for windows 7 too
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'm running Win 7 on an SSD drive and I want to do as little i/o on that drive as possible. My RAM drive will work much better.