Every Windows computer has so-called “ hidden folders”. They are not visible on the user's screen for various reasons, however correct settings help to display them in order to make the appropriate changes. Next, we will describe in detail all the nuances of working with hidden folders.

How to enable hidden folders on Windows?

It should be borne in mind that some files on the computer are hidden from the user for a reason. As a rule, such folders are stored critically important information required for the operation of specific programs or the operating system as a whole. In no case should you delete them, which is why the developers “hid” the files in such a clever way.

Making them visible (we will use Windows 7 as an example, but on other versions everything is done by analogy) is quite simple:

  • Open “Computer” via “Start” or shortcut, in the upper left corner, on the taskbar, find the “Organize” button (in Russian localization “Organize”), click on the “Folder and search” item, a new “Folders option” window will open.
  • Go to the "View" tab and in the "Advanced settings" window, among different settings, in the subsection “Hidden files” mark the checkbox with the inscription “Show hidden files”.
  • Click “Ok”, look in the desired folder and check the result - the files should be displayed as translucent shortcuts.
  • If it becomes necessary to cancel the changes, just move the checkbox up one line and save the changes again, system folders and files will disappear from the screen.

How to see hidden folders in Windows 10?

Since the “dozen” by default has changed its interface (it can be returned to the classic one, but we will talk about displaying in a “tablet”, tiled appearance), it is worth mentioning separately the settings for hidden files.

  • To show them, click on the "Start" button, find the "Explorer" item, a new window opens.
  • Above, in the taskbar, we find the "View" menu, a little lower and to the right, next to the "Current view", put a checkbox opposite the "Hidden items".
  • An alternative option - press the key combination Win + Q, the search opens. In it we enter “Explorer parameters”, open the corresponding window. Then everything happens in the same way as described in the first paragraph - on the "View" tab we find the corresponding item for displaying files and folders.


Showing hidden folders in Windows Vista

If you still cannot part with this version of the operating system, let's say a few words about the differences in the settings here. In the classical form, they repeat paragraph 1, in the form “ Home page”From the Control Panel you will need to go to“ Appearance and Personalization ”, click on the link“ Show hidden files and folders ”. If necessary, the user can make a file or folder invisible on his own, in any modern Windows. Just right-click on the icon, go to its properties and check the “Hide” box.

Seeing hidden folders is useful for more than just changing settings. Sometimes they hide viruses that deliberately hide information from the user. If you find one of these suspicious folders- do not rush to delete it, first carefully analyze the contents.

All important system files and Windows 10 directories are invisible by default - they don't appear in File Explorer. This is done primarily for security, so that users do not accidentally delete the data necessary for the correct operation of the system. However, sometimes it becomes necessary to access this system data - for this it is useful to know how to open hidden folders in Windows 10.

Just start and follow the instructions, or do everything manually as described below!

How to open hidden folders in Windows 10

You can show hidden folders in Windows 10 in the Explorer window without having to configure the system through the "Control Panel":

You managed to make the hidden Windows folders 10, so be careful not to accidentally delete their contents.

How to make a folder invisible

If you need to hide a folder on the desktop, then it's quite simple to do this:

  1. Right-click on an empty area of ​​the desktop → “Create” → “Folder”.
  2. Click on the RMB folder → Properties → Settings → Change Icon:
  3. After completing these actions, the folder icon will become invisible.
  4. Press the combination "Win + R" → enter the charmap command.
  5. Select a blank character at the end of the table -> copy it.
  6. Right click on the folder → “Rename” → delete the name → paste the copied symbol.

Now this folder is invisible and it will not be possible to find it through a computer search. To see it on the desktop, you need to select all the icons with the "Ctrl + A" combination.

Output

Try not to leave the display of hidden folders enabled in Windows 10 - immediately after performing the necessary manipulations with their contents, make the directories back invisible. If you constantly need access to a certain directory, then simply remove the "Hidden" attribute from it.

In Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Vista, for the sake of safety and security, you can hide important files and folders so that other users do not accidentally delete / change important data, or simply from prying eyes. If necessary, these same files are fairly easy to display, which we will look at later in this article.

Also recently, a case has often been observed when users have all files and folders hidden, as if everything that was deleted was deleted and instead of them shortcuts with the same names are created, which is a consequence of a virus infection of the computer / removable media.

It can also happen after installing or checking the computer with an antivirus. If you have just such a case associated with a virus, the instructions below will also help you display hidden files and folders. But to completely remove the virus, read the article How to remove a virus with shortcuts.

The first and easiest method that I always use is with Total Commander. Open the program, select the drive you want and just click the "Hidden Items" button and you will see everything that was hidden (marked with a red exclamation mark).

If you do not have the program installed, use also quite simple ways described below.

Show hidden files and folders in Windows 8.x or 10

Use the View tab and click the Options button.

On the View tab, check the "Show hidden files, folders and drives" option at the very bottom. If you want to get to hidden Windows system files, uncheck the option "Hide protected system files"

Hidden files will appear semi-transparent. If you want to completely remove the "hidden" attribute from a file or folder, right-click on it and select properties. On the General tab, clear the Hidden check box.

In most cases this helps, but sometimes it so happens that the checkbox cannot be removed from the option, because the hidden attribute is inactive. If so, scroll down a bit and follow the instructions given.

Windows 7 or Vista

Open any folder and choose Folder and Search Options from the Organize menu.

Just like in the previous example, check or uncheck the boxes of the required options and click OK.

What to do if a folder has a hidden attribute inactive

In case you cannot remove the attribute hidden folder with the above method, the code below can help you in this situation. Just copy it, paste it into notepad and save it as folder with .vbs extension instead of txt to get folder.vbs. Then copy and paste the file to the drive you want ( USB flash drive, SD card or HDD), where you want to display hidden files and start it with a standard, double-click.

Remember to change "d:" to your drive letter.

'Reset file attributes for all folders within a specific drive
'Change d: to the letter of the drive where the script will be applied
cDrive = "d:"
Set FSO = CreateObject ("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
ShowSubfolders FSO.GetFolder (cDrive)
WScript.Echo "Done with fix."

Sub ShowSubFolders (Folder)
str = ""
For Each Subfolder in Folder.SubFolders
str = str & "" & Subfolder.Path
subFolder.Attributes = 0
ShowSubFolders Subfolder
Next
End Sub

After starting the file, you should see all hidden folders, but not files (note), since this method is applicable only to folders. And for files use the following method:

  • Open the Run dialog box, type cmd and press Enter.
  • Enter your drive letter, for example d: and press Enter.
  • Then enter the following command:

attrib d: \ *. * / d / s -h -r -s

Now, all hidden files should be displayed.

In the operating room Windows system there are hidden objects. They exist in fact, but they are not visible in the explorer. Accordingly, the user will not be able to accidentally delete, move or change them. Typically, these directories store system data. But if you need to view their contents, you cannot do it in the usual way. Let's figure out how to open hidden folders, adjust their visibility and "mask" a separate directory.

This is what a hidden folder looks like

If all of a sudden, ordinary objects that you created yourself “disappear” from your device, it is possible that malicious software is to blame. software... In this case, you need to check the system with an antivirus, and not deal with the attributes.

If you know the path to the invisible directory, here's how to open hidden files:

  • Go to "Start" - "Run". Or press the Win + R keys.

  • In the input field, write the full path to the directory. The name of a specific object must be specified with the extension.
  • Click OK.

Or another way:

  1. Open any local disk... You can also launch the "My Computer" menu.
  2. In the address bar at the top of the window, enter the path to the file or folder.

Visibility setting

Here's how to show hidden folders:

  • Go to the "Control Panel". It should be on the start menu. If it is not there, you will have to reconfigure it. Right-click on the taskbar, select "Properties", the "Start" tab and then - "Settings". In the list that opens, find the "Control Panel" and set the "Display" option to it.
  • Go to "Folder Options". Window in the Appearance and Personalization category.
  • Tab "View".
  • Scroll down to the Hidden section.
  • Place a marker next to "Show".
  • Save your changes.
  • If the object is still invisible, uncheck the "Hide system files" checkbox.

Now you will be able to see the hidden objects: they will be transparent and dim. This will distinguish them from regular directories.

There are several more ways to enter this menu. These options are valid for Windows 7 and higher.

  1. Open any directory.
  2. Click on "Arrange" in the upper left corner.
  3. "Folder and Search Options".
  1. Every directory has a menu bar. If you can't see it, hold down the Alt key.
  2. In this line, click on "Service".
  3. Item "Folder options".

It is not recommended to enable display if you just want to see what is inside the directory. Activate this option only if you need something specific. Files are hidden for a reason, but to protect the system.

Attributes

You have learned how to show hidden folders. Now you can figure out how to hide the visible object:

  1. Right click on it.
  2. "Properties".
  3. Check the "Hidden" checkbox. If it is not there, it means that it simply did not fit. Click Others. The required attribute will be there.
  4. Apply.
  5. To remove a parameter - on the contrary, uncheck the box.

Hide folder in Windows

Command line

If files have become invisible due to a virus, you can remove attributes from them using commands.

  1. Go to "Start" - "Programs" - "Accessories".
  2. Right click on "Command Prompt".
  3. Select "As Administrator".
  4. A window with a black background and white font will open.
  5. Enter the command "sd [Path to hidden object]". Hit Enter.
  6. Write or copy the line "attrib -s -h -r -a / s / d *. *" There without quotes. All attributes will be removed.
  7. Asterisks "*. *" Denote all possible names of objects in all possible formats.

Third party programs

To change the visibility of masked directories in file manager Total Commander, you need to do the following:

  1. Open "Configuration".
  2. "Settings".
  3. Section "Contents of Panels".
  4. Option "Show hidden files".

Another popular manager is Unreal Commander:

  1. Menu "Configuration" - "Settings".
  2. Go to the "View" section and the "Files" subsection.
  3. Check all the boxes in the Display area.
  4. Apply.

And for Nomad.NET:

  1. "Instruments".
  2. "Parameters".
  3. Security tab.
  4. The desired option will be there.

To show hidden files, you just need to put one check mark in the folder options. You shouldn't delete something in directories that were originally hidden. They usually contain data that is reserved for the needs of the system or important utilities.

In the Windows operating system, the display of system files is disabled by default, since an inexperienced user can accidentally delete them. In addition, they will distract you from finding the desired folder, clutter up the "Desktop". In general, it is better and more convenient when you do not see them.

However, in some cases it becomes necessary to show hidden Windows files 7, so that you can, for example, clean the system folders "Temp" and "Prefetch", thereby slightly increasing the operating system's performance.

It is very easy to enable the display of such files using one of the methods, which will be discussed below. In fact, each method will only change the sequence of steps required to access the Folder Options.

Via the "Service" menu

So, you have Windows 7 installed. You can show hidden files and folders in this operating system as follows:

  • Enter "My Computer" and press "Alt" on the keyboard. A panel will appear where you need to select "Service". By clicking on this button, a drop-down menu will open, in which you need to go to the "Folder options".
  • Now select the "View" tab and drop down to the bottom of the list. Here you need to uncheck the box next to the "Hide system files" option and mark the function responsible for showing hidden folders.
  • By clicking "Apply", a warning will appear that deleting such files may negatively affect the operation of the operating system. If you are confident in your actions, then click the "Yes" button.

That's all! Now you know how to show hidden files in Windows 7, so you can use the knowledge gained if necessary.

Through the "Control Panel"

The second method differs in the algorithm of actions, since to open the "Folder Options", you need to enter the "Control Panel".

So, open the Start menu and go to PU. If you have set to display by category, then select the "Design and Personalization" section. In the subsection "Folder Options", click on the "Show hidden files" label.

Now at the bottom, check the box, thanks to which you will be able to see hidden folders, and uncheck the box next to the option "Hide protected files". The last step is the "Apply" button, and then in the window that opens, click "Yes".

If, after opening the PU, you see that you have large or small icons displayed, then just find the item "Folder Options" and go to it. The further algorithm of actions is absolutely identical to those discussed above.

Now you can show hidden and system files of Windows 7 using the Control Panel.

Using the Run command

The third way to enable the display of such files is to use the Run command. To call this tool, press the "Win" and "R" buttons.

Now in the window that opens, you need to insert the command "control folders" and click "OK". This will open the "Folder Options", where by going to the "View" tab and following the steps above, you can show the hidden files of Windows 7.

Someone likes this method the most, since all that is required of you is to remember one command or write it down. Although there is nothing complicated in the first two methods.

Conclusion

So, now you can show the hidden files of Windows 7. If the need arises, you can at any time turn on the display of system folders and adjust their contents at your discretion.

With all this, it is worth remembering that without the need, and even more so without certain knowledge, it is not recommended to make any changes to these files.