"Users/username/AppsData" - This folder is missing.

Although in the past I've opened this particular folder several times, it has now mysteriously disappeared from the Windows Explorer file list. I've Googled this problem and many suggestions have been to ensure that the option, "Show hidden files, folders" in File Options is checked. I've done this but the problem still persists.

Can someone please advise how to correct this?

Thank you.

Hello Thorvalde, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Type %UserProfile%\AppData in the address bar of File Explorer and press Enter to see if appears.

Brink, if using a standard acct, any admin level acct info will not be displayed, yes? no?

That folder will still display for a standard account.

Thanks. I had this problem too. I have made a Desktop shortcut to it now. But - why should this folder be invisible in Windows Explorer?

EDIT: I put %UserProfile%\AppData into the search again and looked at Properties. It was checked 'Hidden'. I unchecked it and it's visible again.

Hello rafikiphoto,

The AppData folder is a hidden system folder by default. It's hidden to help prevent changes made to it since doing so could make your apps run poorly or stop working entirely.

What is the AppData folder? - Windows Help

rafikiphoto said:

Thanks. I had this problem too. I have made a Desktop shortcut to it now. But - why should this folder be invisible in Windows Explorer?

EDIT: I put %UserProfile%\AppData into the search again and looked at Properties. It was checked 'Hidden'. I unchecked it and it's visible again.

Click to expand...

AppData is sort of a jumbled concept. It was intended to be used for files that programs need to modify on a per user basis, but that are not strictly speaking "Your Documents", and thus it should be fine to hide the whole folder. That's all well and good, but Microsoft has always stored Outlook .pst files there, and they are most certainly "Your Documents". Many other programs follow suit and store your documents there behind your back; better programs at least document it. This is a problem for file-based backup schemes, because naive users don't know to look there, and they can miss many important files they should be backing up. Instead of unhiding the folder, I add a shortcut to it in my Explorer Favorites pane, and when I set up my file-based backup program, I go through it with a fine-toothed comb to see what I need to back up. I also do this for ProgramData, which is at the root of the system drive.