C# difference between Environment.SpecialFolders and Application folders

Question

What is the difference between the magic paths in these namespaces:

Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData

versus

Application.LocalUserAppDataPath

And

Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData

versus

Application.CommonAppDataPath

etc...

@Kiquenet `System.Windows.Forms` and that's the difference... — Yousha Aleayoub, May 17 '20 at 13:36
Does this answer your question? [Difference between 'SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData' and 'SpecialFolder.ApplicationData'?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9709269/difference-between-specialfolder-localapplicationdata-and-specialfolder-appli) — Yousha Aleayoub, May 17 '20 at 13:41

Polynomial · Answer 1 · 2011-12-04T11:41:52.913

5

On Windows 7:

Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData = C:\Users\username\AppData\Local
Application.LocalUserAppDataPath = C:\Users\username\AppData\Local
Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData = C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming
Application.CommonAppDataPath = C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming

Local is only ever stored on the local machine. Roaming is copied to the domain server (when in a domain) and is then loaded back onto other machines in that domain when you log on.

edited Dec 04 '11 at 11:41

answered Dec 03 '11 at 17:50

Polynomial

27,674
12
80
107

So they are the same? Why have two references to the same paths? And why is CommonAppDataPath under username? – Jake Dec 03 '11 at 17:51
1

@Jake - Because not all windows operating systems mean that these are the same. And future ones are not guaranteed to be the same either. You _do_ want your code to work on multiple systems, right? – Oded Dec 03 '11 at 17:55
@Jake - Apologies for the delay in explanation, I had an edit ready but my battery died last night. I've now applied that edit, so hopefully that'll explain a little better. – Polynomial Dec 04 '11 at 11:42

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 03 '11 at 18:01

5

They are not the same. The Application version of them is aware of ClickOnce deployment, adjusting the paths accordingly to keep them isolated.

answered Dec 03 '11 at 18:01

Hans Passant

922,412
146
1,693
2,536

Which is the safer or more common choice for the average C# application targeting the average user: `Environment.SpecialFolder` or `Application` ? – Dan W Nov 28 '18 at 06:06

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 02 '20 at 14:19

0

To add to the answer for anyone in the future who lands on this page, for all special folder related questions see the Microsoft's documentation which lists all the folder types:

Environment.SpecialFolder Enum

answered Nov 02 '20 at 14:19

ΩmegaMan

29,542
12
100
122

C# difference between Environment.SpecialFolders and Application folders

3 Answers3

Linked