How to See Hidden Files in Windows 10
For the average Windows user, it can be a bit tricky to figure out how to view hidden files in Windows 10. It’s not always obvious where to look for files that are hidden, or how to make them visible. Fortunately, it’s actually quite simple to reveal hidden files and folders in Windows 10, and this guide will show you exactly how to do it. So if you’re curious about what’s lurking beneath the surface of your operating system, read on to learn how to see hidden files in Windows 10.
To see hidden files in Windows 10, open File Explorer and click on the View tab. In the Advanced Settings section, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and then click the Apply button. If the keyword starts with the “How To” word, then follow the steps below for a step-by-step tutorial:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on the View tab.
- In the Advanced Settings section, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
- Click the Apply button.
If the keyword includes the “vs” word, then create a comparison table as follows:
| Windows 10 | Other OS |
|---|---|
| Open File Explorer | Open File Manager |
| Click on the View tab | Click on the Options tab |
| Select Show hidden files, folders, and drives | Select Show hidden files and folders |
| Click the Apply button | Click the Ok button |
View Hidden Files in Windows 10
Windows has a feature that hides certain files from the user, making them inaccessible. While this feature is useful, there are times when you need to view these hidden files. This article will explain how to view hidden files in Windows 10.
The first step is to open the File Explorer. To do this, you can open the Start Menu and type “File Explorer” into the search bar. Once you have opened the File Explorer, you will see a ribbon at the top of the window. On the ribbon, click the “View” tab and then click the “Options” button.
Show Hidden Files and Folders
In the Folder Options window, switch to the “View” tab. In the Advanced Settings section, you will see an option labeled “Show hidden files and folders”. Check the box next to this option and then click the “OK” button. This will enable the display of hidden files and folders in Windows 10.
Once this option has been enabled, you can view hidden files and folders in File Explorer. Any hidden files or folders will be marked with a grayed-out icon or text. To view a hidden item, simply click on it and it will be revealed.
Show Hidden File Extensions
If you want to view the file extensions for hidden files, you will need to enable another option in the Folder Options window. Switch to the “View” tab and then scroll down to the Advanced Settings section. Here you will see an option labeled “Hide extensions for known file types”. Uncheck this option and then click the “OK” button.
With this option enabled, you will now be able to view file extensions for any hidden files in Windows 10. This can be useful if you need to know the type of file that is hidden.
Show Protected Operating System Files
Windows 10 also hides certain files that are part of the operating system. To view these files, you will need to enable the “Show protected operating system files” option in the Folder Options window. Switch to the “View” tab and then scroll down to the Advanced Settings section. Here you will see an option labeled “Show protected operating system files”. Check the box next to this option and then click the “OK” button.
With this option enabled, you will now be able to view any protected operating system files in Windows 10. These files are critical for the functioning of the operating system and should not be modified or deleted.
Hide or Show Hidden Items
If you no longer need to view hidden files and folders, you can disable the “Show hidden files and folders” option in the Folder Options window. Uncheck the box next to this option and then click the “OK” button. This will hide any hidden files and folders in Windows 10.
Alternatively, you can enable or disable the display of hidden items on a file-by-file basis. To do this, right-click on the file or folder and then select the “Properties” option. In the Properties window, switch to the “General” tab. Here you will see an option labeled “Hidden”. Check or uncheck this option and then click the “OK” button.
View Hidden Items in Command Prompt
If you need to view hidden files from the Command Prompt, you can use the “dir” command with the “/ah” switch. This will display a list of any hidden files in the current directory.
Syntax
The syntax for this command is as follows:
dir /ah
Example
For example, if you wanted to view a list of hidden files in the C:\Windows directory, you would use the following command:
dir /ah C:\Windows
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hidden file?
A hidden file or folder is any file or folder that has been marked as hidden in the file system of your computer. Hidden files and folders are usually used by the operating system or certain programs to store temporary information, configuration files, or other data that should not be seen by the user.
How do I enable hidden files in Windows 10?
In order to enable hidden files in Windows 10, you need to open the File Explorer Options. To do this, go to the View tab in File Explorer and click on the ‘Options’ button. In the File Explorer Options window, you need to go to the View tab and check the box next to ‘Show hidden files, folders, and drives’. Once you have done this, click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ to save your changes.
Where can I find hidden files in Windows 10?
Once you have enabled the option to view hidden files and folders, they will start to appear in File Explorer. To view hidden files, go to the View tab in File Explorer and click on the ‘Hidden items’ checkbox. This will display all the hidden files and folders within the folder you are currently viewing.
How do I view hidden files in Windows 10 using the command line?
You can also view hidden files in Windows 10 using the command line. To do this, open the Command Prompt and type the following command: ‘dir /A:H’. This will show all the hidden files and folders within the folder you are currently in.
How do I hide files in Windows 10?
To hide files in Windows 10, you need to open the file or folder you want to hide and select the ‘Properties’ option. Once you have done this, go to the ‘Attributes’ section and check the box next to ‘Hidden’. This will hide the file or folder and it will no longer be visible in File Explorer.
How do I delete hidden files in Windows 10?
To delete hidden files in Windows 10, you need to open the file or folder that contains the file you want to delete and select the ‘Properties’ option. Once you have done this, go to the ‘Attributes’ section and uncheck the box next to ‘Hidden’. This will make the file or folder visible in File Explorer. Once the file is visible, you can delete it like any other file.
How to Easily Show Hidden Files and Folders on Windows 10
Using the steps outlined in this guide, you now know how to view hidden files in Windows 10. With this knowledge, you can easily manage and access the hidden files on your computer without the fear of damaging your system. So, go ahead and use this knowledge to get the most out of your Windows 10 machine.