Why is windows 10 installing programs to Users/AppData folder as default ?

Anonymous
2019-09-13T11:24:34+00:00

Why is windows 10 installing programs to Users/AppData folder as default and not to Program files or Program Files x86 ??? When I try to list a software I installed by default on my PC, I can not find it in the Program Files or Program Files x86 folder. Thank you

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-09-13T13:51:47+00:00

    Hello DaveM121,

    I recently downloaded Visual Studio Code which had a default install location to Users/AppData. When I tried to change the location to Program files, it would not install and would show an error. It has also occurred with other programs like uTorrent, Spotify or Google Chrome where the installed file location is in the AppData folder. But when I checked for Adobe Photoshop, the file location was as normal in the Program Files folder. So now I'm confused and I don't know if it's OK or not.

    Thank you

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  2. DaveM121 914.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-09-13T13:59:07+00:00

    Hi Mart

    Rest assured, this is all perfectly normal . . .

    BitTorrent, UTorrent and Chrome will always install to the AppData folder . . .

    I don't know about VS Code, because I use Visual Studio itself, which is so big, it basically installs everywhere on my PC

    All the Adobe products (Photoshop, Illustrator . . .etc.) will install to Program Files

    Honestly you have nothing to worry about, all these applications are set to install to specific locations and it is not advised to change the location they are installed to . . .

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-09-13T14:41:22+00:00

    OK Dave, thank you very much for your reply

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  4. DaveM121 914.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-09-13T12:38:13+00:00

    Hi Mart_28

    This should not be happening, the only software that installs into the AppData folder is standalone versions of Software, other than that 64bit Software Should go to Program Files and 32bit software should go to Program Files (x86)

    What software are you finding in that App Data folder, because generally you will find folders in there with the same name as your installed software, but those folders just contain Application data files, not the executables . ..

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