Tip 571: Backup files used by Office

Do you need to backup (or delete) the custom.dic, signatures, templates, Outlook’s nickname cache, or stationery? Paste this command in the address bar of Windows Explorer then press Enter to open the folder path.

%appdata%\Microsoft

These files, and more, are stored in subfolders under the Microsoft folder.

In Windows 7 and up, that command opens Windows Explorer to C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft.

In Windows XP it opens C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft.

This file path is marked hidden, but you can see them without changing your Hidden files and folders setting using this method.

Published December 5, 2008. Last reviewed on November 3, 2012.

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