Windows keeps some files and folders out of sight, such as AppData and various system files, so nobody changes them by accident. One switch in File Explorer brings most of them back, and a second option covers the files Windows guards more strictly. People usually go looking for them when a program stores its settings in the hidden AppData folder, when an app needs its stored data cleared, or when a folder they know exists is nowhere to be seen.
Turn on Hidden items from the View menu
Hidden files and folders appear with paler icons, which is how you tell them apart from ordinary ones. If an item you expect still is not listed, press Ctrl + R to refresh the window, or close File Explorer through Task Manager and reopen it. If it will not reopen, the File Explorer fixes apply. To hide them again, turn the same option off.
- Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
- Click View on the command bar.
- Point to Show, then click Hidden items so it has a check mark.
Use the Folder Options dialog instead
The same switch lives in a dialog that also holds the protected-files option covered next. The dialog also opens from Control Panel: choose Appearance and Personalization, then File Explorer Options.
- With a File Explorer window up, click the three-dot button on the command bar, then click Options.
- In the Folder Options window, open the View tab.
- Under the hidden files and folders setting, choose Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
- Click OK.
Show protected operating system files too
Protected operating system files carry the hidden and system attributes, and Hidden items must already be on. Changing these files can affect system stability, so look but do not edit, and switch the option back off when you are done.
- Open the View tab of the Folder Options window as above and make sure Show hidden files, folders, and drives is selected.
- Clear the check box named Hide protected operating system files.
- Click Yes when Windows asks you to confirm.
- Click OK.
Find the same options on Windows 10
Windows 10 puts the controls in slightly different places, and any one of these routes does the job.
- On the ribbon, open the View tab and tick Hidden items in the Show/hide group.
- Click the View menu, then Options, then Change folder and search options to reach the Folder Options window.
- In Control Panel, set the View by menu to Large icons or Small icons, open File Explorer Options (it may also be called Folder Options) and go to the View tab. Choose Show hidden files, folders, and drives, clear Hide protected operating system files, click Yes and then OK.
Hide or unhide a file with the attrib command
The Command Prompt changes the hidden attribute directly. Open Terminal (Admin). Use +h to hide an item and -h to show it again.
- To unhide a folder hidden with both attributes, use -h -s. A path that contains spaces goes inside straight double quotes.
- dir /A:H lists the hidden items in the current folder.
attrib +h c:\autoexec.bat attrib -h c:\autoexec.bat attrib +h +s "C:\path\to\folder" attrib -h -s "C:\path\to\folder"