Microsoft’s decision to hide the AppData folder is sensible design for the average user, but it creates a friction point for gamers and IT professionals. Thankfully, the %appdata% shortcut creates a perfect bridge, making the hidden folder instantly accessible without compromising system safety.

The AppData (Application Data) folder is a hidden directory in Windows that contains all the data created by your installed programs. It is split into three sub-folders:

While accessing AppData is easy, messing with it can be dangerous.

Type start %appdata% to open Roaming. Type start %userprofile%\AppData to open the parent folder.