Windows x offers an selection to show hidden files and folders that y'all don't see past default. Once you enable this option, File Explorer starts displaying all your subconscious items.

You lot tin view the hidden files and folders in both File Explorer as well as control-line tools like PowerShell and Command Prompt.

Show Hidden Files and Folders in File Explorer

Follow the steps below to configure File Explorer to show all subconscious contents in your directories.

  1. Open up the Start menu, search for This PC, and select This PC in the search results.
  1. Select the View tab at the tiptop of the This PC window.
  1. On the correct of your screen, enable the Hidden items checkbox.
  1. File Explorer will first displaying hidden files and folders on your computer.
  1. To re-hide your items, deselect the Hidden items box in File Explorer.

Show Hidden Files and Folders From Control Panel

If you lot prefer the Control Panel, you can use an option in this utility to get Windows ten to brandish subconscious files and folders.

  1. Access the Outset carte, search for Command Panel, and select the utility in the results.
  1. In the Control Panel, select the menu adjacent to View by and choose Category.
  1. Select the Appearance and Personalization option.
  1. Choose Testify hidden files and folders nether the File Explorer Options.
  1. You're now in the View tab of the File Explorer Options window. Here, select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option. Select Utilise followed by OK.
  1. Windows File Explorer will at present brandish all your hidden files and folders.
  1. To hide hidden items, select the Don't testify hidden files, folders, or drives option. So, select Use followed by OK.

Show Subconscious Files and Folders From Settings

Windows 10's Settings app also includes the choice to testify hidden contents on your PC.

To use this method:

  1. Press Windows + I keys to launch the Settings app or search and select Settings in the Starting time menu.
  1. Select the Home button if you're not on the main settings page shown in Step 3.
  2. Select Update & Security.
  1. Select For developers from the left sidebar.
  1. Scroll downwards the right pane to Alter settings to show hidden and system files. Choose Show settings.
  1. Enable the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option. Then, select Use and select OK to salve your settings.

View Hidden Files and Folders in PowerShell

If you prefer command-line methods, yous tin can use a command in Windows PowerShell to recall a list of all your subconscious files and folders.

  1. Click on Start or the Windows Icon on the bottom left and type PowerShell. Select Windows PowerShell from the results.
  1. In the PowerShell window, type cd, type a space, and so enter the total path of the folder where your subconscious files are located. For case, if your subconscious files are in a folder chosen MyDocuments on your desktop, you'd use the following command replacing USER with your username. Then, press Enter.

    cd C:\Users\USER\Desktop\MyDocuments

  1. Type dir -strength and press Enter. This reveals your hidden files and folders.
  1. If you aren't certain what binder contains the hidden files, type cd, type a space, enter the total path of the folder whose subfolders could have the hidden files, and press Enter. And then, run this command:

    dir -recurse -forcefulness

  1. Hidden items in the selected folder and sub-folders should announced in the PowerShell window.

Continue in mind that this method simply shows subconscious files in a PowerShell window; it doesn't make hidden items visible in File Explorer.

View Hidden Files in Windows Command Prompt

Another way to view a list of hidden files and folders is to employ Command Prompt. Follow the steps below:

  1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt, and select the utility in the search results.
  1. Type cd, blazon a space, and and then enter the total path of the binder where your hidden files are stored. And then, press Enter.
  1. Type dir /ah  to view a listing of the hidden files and folders.
  1. If you don't know what folder contains the hidden files, you can run a hidden file scan on a parent folder. This will scan all of the subfolders in that master folder. To exercise this, type cd, type a space, enter the full path of the folder, and press Enter. Then, run the post-obit control:

    dir /ah /s

  1. The Command Prompt window at present lists the hidden items from the specified folder and sub-folders.

The above method doesn't brand any changes to File Explorer options and only lists the hidden files.

Show Hidden Operating Organisation Files

At that place are certain operating system files that won't appear fifty-fifty if y'all enable the hidden files pick in File Explorer. Follow the steps below to toggle on a separate option to view these subconscious Os files:

  1. Printing the Windows fundamental to open the Start bill of fare, type Show subconscious files, and select that option in the search results.
  1. Curlicue to Alter settings to show subconscious and arrangement files and select Show settings.
  1. Scroll down to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). Uncheck the box for this option.
  1. Select Yes if a warning pops up. Then, select Utilize followed by OK.

A Discussion of Caution

On the net, many resources may ask you to use the attrib command from the Command Prompt or PowerShell to view your hidden items. It's generally not prophylactic to change the aspect of a system file as this may take unexpected consequences.

Exercise allow usa know, in the comments below, which method worked for yous.