Where Does Windows Store Notifications?
The Windows notification database behind Action Center, and the service to stop before touching it.
Last updated
Windows stages Action Center history in a SQLite database: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Notifications\wpndatabase.db (plus wal and shm sidecars), with toast images in the wpnidm sibling. The system account keeps its own copy under the systemprofile tree.
Entries are short lived by design and vanish on expiry or dismissal, so it is poor forensics. Deleting the database clears history and resets the app notification list, which fixes the known WpnUserService crash loop. Stop the WpnUserService first or the rebuild races your delete; it regenerates automatically on restart.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Notifications\wpndatabase.db
Per user toast history (Notification and NotificationHandler tables; Payload holds text). Images in wpnidm/. System copy under C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\...\Notifications needs admin. Stop WpnUserService_* before deleting; it rebuilds on boot.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear all Windows notifications at once?
Stop the WpnUserService, delete or rename the Notifications folder above, and reboot. The database rebuilds empty and Action Center history plus per app lists reset.
Can I recover old Windows notifications from this database?
Rarely. Entries expire and delete quickly, so only recent toasts survive. Parse the Payload field with a SQLite tool including the WAL file for whatever remains.
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