APPDATA folder in wrong location

Question

When setting up my new computer windows 11 put my APPDATA folder in one drive. It should be on my local c drive. How can I move it without breaking things?

Answer 1

Hi Barbara,

I am not sure how you moved it to OneDrive, but if you did move it, the programs installed after moving would surely break.

Some helpful links here:

https://superuser.com/questions/1250288/can-i-move-my-appdata-folder-in-windows-10

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/1dr6ijp/is_there_a_way_to_reduce_or_move_appdata_to/

I hope this information helps. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out.

Otherwise, please take a moment to rate the answer. Wishing you good luck!

Standard 3rd party link disclaimer:

There may be links to non-Microsoft websites that provide accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on websites frequently classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). There is no need to buy paid products to fix your computers, as they sometimes do more harm than good.

Answer 2

To move your APPDATA folder from OneDrive back to your local C drive without breaking things, you can follow these general steps:

1. Create a New Location: First, create a new folder on your local C drive where you want the APPDATA folder to reside. For example, you could create C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData.
2. Copy Contents: Copy the contents of the APPDATA folder from OneDrive to the new location you created on your local C drive. Make sure to copy all subfolders and files to ensure nothing is missed.
3. Change Folder Location: You will need to change the location of the APPDATA folder in Windows. This can typically be done by right-clicking on the folder, selecting Properties, and then adjusting the location under the Location tab.
   • If the Location tab is not available, you may need to use the Command Prompt to create a symbolic link from the new location back to the original OneDrive location.
4. Verify Changes: After moving the folder, verify that your applications are functioning correctly and that they can access the APPDATA folder in its new location.
5. Remove Old Folder: Once you are sure everything is working correctly, you can delete the old APPDATA folder in OneDrive to free up space.

Note: Be cautious when moving system folders like APPDATA, as improper handling can lead to application issues. Always back up important data before making changes.