What you can delete the PROGRAMDATA folders. Is it necessary to reserve and is it possible to delete these AppData folders

ProgramData is a folder that any user can see in the system, with certain computer settings. It is created automatically, the user has nothing to do with it. Therefore, many people arise that for the PROGRAMDATA folder and is it possible to remove it. The answer was prepared the most full information According to the ProgramData folder.

This folder is located on the volume hard diskwhere you have a Windows system. Usually this disk S. By default, the user should not see it, as it is hidden. In some cases, it may not be.

ProgramData is responsible for storage system files various programs, games, applications. These are files that are not needed by the user, but are needed by software. Most often is information about errors, data on preservation in games, etc.

Where did PROGRAMDATA folder come from?

The ProgramData folder could appear in two cases:

you turned on the display hidden folders on your device;

If you saw this folder and do not know what to do - ignore it. It will not affect the work of your system and takes a minimum of space, so just do not pay attention to it.

How to find the ProgramData folder?

Using the start, go to the control panel;

In the upper right corner, change the display of the category;

Go to the section "Registration and Personalization";

Click on the "folder parameters" row.

In the pop-up window, look for a section that is responsible for displaying hidden folders and press the bird to "Show hidden files, folders and discs." Click on "Apply".

After this procedure, on that disk, where you have Windows, the ProgramData folder should appear.

Important! If yours operating system Windows is only installed and practically no, then such a folder may not be.

Is it possible to delete the PROGRAMDATA folder?

You can not delete the ProgramData folder in any case. If you delete it, part of the data is lost in your programs. For example, you will have to re-pass the game or create a new profile to work with the program. Part of the data may be lost forever.

Most of the users of the operating room windows systems Do not know the small part of the capabilities that it possesses. From here on the Internet there are constantly requests and pages with answers to frequently asked questions.

One of the popular remains about system folders. For example, often asked about ProgramData.

Let's learn right now, let's find out what kind of "beast", where does the folder come from and whether to demolish it from the computer's memory troubles? So, proceed.

About the ProgramData folder

Windows is up to version 7 (including it) have a number of settings that are placed and stored in the most ill-fated folder called ProgramData. Going here, the user will delete a number of data that are preserved from games, editors and other applications. Also here are placed on time files intended to restore important documents (for example, Microsoft Word).

Operating system version 8. The aforementioned tendency went to the decline. So, in the 10 version in ProgramData already there are already very few files. Why? Because it happened a clear distribution of user rights. Now each of those who work for one computer can appear too different applications. So that nothing was shot down, the files stopped fit into ProgramData. Now the main directory for such information was the catalog called PPDATA. You can find it like this: C: \\ Users \\% UserName%. We note that some applications for the same goals began to use the Program Files folder.

So that you are finally confused, explain the other points relating to other version versions.

In Windows 8 (and close versions) and 10, the folder remained in place. It is used to store those data that are common to people using a computer. These data - dictionaries, screenshots, templates of some documents, settings multimedia software and projects. Thus, in the 10 version of Windows, the old-good folder All users (which was alive before Windows 7) now changed PROGRAMDATA.

Now briefly: new version of the OS changed not only their design. They also rebounded the staircase of the system folders. But this is not surprising, because the developers tried to improve the security of personal data (settings) of each of the users.

Important: ProgramData is hidden by default. To open it, you need to dig in the file manager settings.

Popular questions on ProgramData

Now arrange a small quiz with ready-made answers. Go!

Why is there a PROGRAMDATA folder on the disk?

Most likely at some point, you accidentally in the manager or conductor included the display feature that are hidden.

If you wish, hide it again, turn off the setting and no longer think about it. In advance, check in the properties, whether there is a check mark in front of the "hidden" item.

Another option - you recently updated the operating system. So, for windows update XP (either 7) on the system 10 This attribute disappears from the folder properties.

How to delete the folder "painless"?

We will pay you. The directory stores information from user applications. This means that you can delete almost everything that is located inside. It should be noted that all the same installations of the programs used will fly away.

Important: After the next start, the subfolder is again drawn. Together with the Microsoft folder. It is impossible to remove it. It can be "cured from dirt" utilities, cleaned. But we do not recommend this, since after that the system can completely die.

And tell me how to open the PROGRAMDATA folder so that hidden files are not displayed?

Easily. You just need to register the full path in the address bar of the conductor. Here it is: C: \\ ProgramData. If you use popular Total Commander.Simply add a CD prefix to the very beginning.

And where did PROGRAMDATA? I can not find.

If the catalog is not on the disk, then you just put new system And you do not have applications yet, which would add to the ProgramData folder.

Tip: Quietly use the operating system, soon everything will appear.

Hello colleagues! My question concerns the ProgramData folder, which is in my Windows 10 at the root of the disk (C :). In particular, I want to know the purpose of the folder, and is it possible to delete it or move it to another section HDD? It takes on my disk(C :) As many as 5.17 GB! The search for information in the network led me to the conviction that it is impossible to delete this folder, because in this case software installed It will begin to behave unstable. But then how to transfer it to the disk (D :)? Or something can be done with her to take less space?

ProgramData is a hidden folder in the root of the disk (C: \\) of Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 systems. What is this folder, what is its value, it is possible to partially get rid of its contents, and then remove the whole or lean to the thin end on the disk (D :)?

ProgramData: what the folder is so

This folder is not critical for the operability of the operating system itself, but its value is important for the work of a third-party software. It stores unpacked installation files, as well as data and settings of some programs - installed in the system and portable (which are started at least once).

Data and program settings in Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 are mostly stored in another folder, which we have recently mentioned in one of. But the latter keeps the data and settings of third-party software associated with the current accounting windows recording. While ProgramData is a shared folder for all computer accounts, and desktop programs with its content will work, no information from the user login.

How to access ProgramData

To access this folder, you need to go to the root of the disk (C: \\) before or in the file manager used.

If reluctant to bother with the parameters of the conductor, it is possible to get inside the "ProgramData" by way easier - insert the "Run" command in the field (hot keys of the Win + R) path:

Or value:

To whom it is more convenient.

What will happen if remove ProgramData

If you delete this folder installed in the program system can lose settings or start working incorrectly. Therefore, "ProgramData" and is protected by the system. In addition, this folder is hidden, its removal will be blocked by the need to obtain permission from hidden account Windows administrator.

Maximum that can be done with this folder if the disk is critical is not enough free space - it is to remove the subfolder with the settings of programs that are already uninstalled from the system. But partial cleaning "ProgramData" is unlikely to solve the issue with a free place, since its weight does not often reach and half-buy. Deciding the issue of clearing the disk (C: \\) you need using and programs for.

How to transfer the ProgramData folder

This interest Askbut only different experimenters and enthusiasts, and ordinary users It is hardly necessary, since the folder rarely grows more than 1 GB and the case with our reader is most likely an exception. If you decide on the transfer, then you need to know that Microsoft extremely does not recommend changing the location of the ProgramData folder and simple way For this there is no.Personally, I transferredprogramData folder to another disk, but it was a preliminary windows version 10 Insider Preview Build 10074. If someone from users did it with last version Win 10 or knows more ways, I will be grateful for the ideas.

All Windows users are perfectly familiar with the Program Files folder located on system diskIn which most applications are installed by default. In the Windows 10, 8 and 7 operating systems, the ProgramData folder may also be present on the system disk. It does not appear not immediately after windows installationsBut it is necessary for the competent operation of the system. Delete ProgramData is impossible, and below we will look at what it serves.

How to find a programdata folder

The default ProgramData folder is on the system hard disk, that is, on which the Windows operating system is installed. The folder is located at the root of the disk, but initially it is hidden.

To find the ProgramData folder, you need to go to the root of the system disk and turn on the display of hidden folders and files. In the Windows 10 operating system, this is done in the "View" tab of the window where you want to select "Show or Hide" and install a tick in the "Hidden Elements" item. After that, the ProgramData folder will be visible.

Why do I need a folder ProgramData

IN modern versions operating system Windows Folder ProgramData serves as a repository of general data, such as settings of various applications. All users, regardless of the availability or lack of administrator rights, can turn to information saved in it. This folder It is convenient to use, for example, to store in it templates for editing photos, video, general documents, and so on.

This folder was provided for by Microsoft in the operating system to third-party applications did not store the settings and general files In the Program Files folder, which is systemic and overwrite data in it is unsafe.

Note: IN early versions Windows operating system was provided a shared folder For storing documents at:

C: \\ Users (Users) \\ all users

IN this moment From her refused to programdata. Make sure that it is true, quite simple, in address line Explorer need to enter the old address: C: \\ Users \\ all users \\. By clicking on ENTER, you will notice that the conductor redesamed you to the ProgramData folder.

Why are PROGRAMDATA folders on disk

If the ProgramData folders are not on the system disk, this may be two reasons:

• A new operating system is installed on the computer, and at the moment no program has saved the general data in the ProgramData folder, respectively, it has not yet appeared;
• The display settings disabled hidden files and folders.

You do not need to create the ProgramData folder yourself, if necessary, the operating system will make it instead of a user in automatic mode.

Is it possible to delete the ProgramData folder

Remove the ProgramData folder is not recommended. If it is already created, most likely in it already exists folder Microsoftwhich will not be deleted due to the restrictions of the operating system. In this case, it is possible to erase the extra data from the folder. Removing from ProgramData temporary files of unused applications, you can free a lot of space.

This is especially critical if the operating system, and accordingly, the ProgramData folder is located on a small volume SSD.