How to see AppData folder?

1. One way to get there (actually to .....AppData\Roaming ) is to type/copy
%appdata%
into the address bar of file explorer.

2. You can also simply copy
C:\Users\[your username]\AppData\
into file explorer's address bar and it will open it.

3. It's a hidden folder- make those visible using the bottom option:



A really easy way to make changes to the Start Menu is to download and install Open Shell - a free start menu.

That allows you to drag and drop items, delete items in the start menu easily, and just by rt click and click open either of the folders comprising the start menu.

It's a fully featured start menu which you can use as such- a good many here use it. No tiles.
With it installed you can still use Win 10's start menu.

It includes the best features of Win 7 and XPs start menus- and more- so you can have a familiar start menu.

I use Classic Shell / Open Shell on all my PCs. You can configure the start menu to resemble Windows 7.

Thanks for all the replies!

It seems that the problem of the hidden AppData folder has mysteriously solved itself. You may recall that even though I had set the folder view in File Explorer to show hidden files, the file list under "user" went from 3D Objects to Contacts, with no AppData in between.

Well, as I mentioned in my first post, I'm an old guy, and I need to take a nap every afternoon, so after leaving my message here I shut down my PCs and took a nap.

Then, after my nap, when I booted up my PCs again, I was surprised to find the AppDate file had popped up between 3D Objects and Contacts like this:


Is it possible that making a change in the View settings requires a system reboot for the change to take effect?

So, this time at least, all's well that ends well.

I still have an awful lot to learn about Windows 10, so I'm glad I found this forum. You folks are great! I'll be checking back here often in the days to come.

In the meantime, I'm going to hold off on installing a classic shell app. I did that for Windows 7 and Windows XP, but this time around I'd like to try to force myself to learn to use Windows 10 as is, out of the box. At least while I'm learning my way around it in the coming few weeks. Then, if I still find it utterly maddening to deal with (as I do now) I'll likely just throw in the towel and install a classic shell so I can just get on with using my PC instead of fighting with it all day long.

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

Besides the obvious, "Open Shell" you may also want to install "Grant Admin Full Control".
I don't have a URL for it, but I'm sure you can find it with a Google Search.
It's a little script, that when run will give you full control over every file and folder on your PC.
It installs itself into your Right Click Context menu, so you just Right Click on a folder or file and than click on Grant Admin Full Control in the drop down menu, and VOILA, you own it!
After becoming the Owner of a file, you can then rename it, delete it, move it, etc.

When I install any OS, 'Grant Admin Full Control' is one of the first things I install during the setup process.
Try it! I think You'll like it!

TM

Don't want to interrupt what I'm doing to login to Administrator.
I believe what is being referred to is How to Add Take Ownership to Context Menu in Windows 10
and like TechnoMage, it's one of the first changes I make to a system after it's installed.

@CluelessInSeatl

Do not take ownership of that folder. It will cause problems.

Stop Application Data folder replicating? Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

Don't take ownership of any folders unless they are non-system folders that you or a program created without knowing how to restore original permissions. Sometimes it's okay to temporarily take ownership.