How To View Hidden Files And Folders In Windows 10?

 Did you know that the majority of Windows users have a high security setting on all their files and folders? This can be a problem if it doesn't allow for all the necessary files to be accessed, or causes programs you installed to not function as expected. Whether you are dealing with an instance like this or are trying to cover your tracks from someone snooping through your computer, this article will show you how to view hidden files and folders in Windows 10.

Certain files and folders are usually hidden in your computer by default to prevent any unintended damage to your computer. You can also hide your own files or folders for various reasons. However, a common question among many people is how to view these files in case they got hidden.

In this article, we will look at some methods that you can use to view hidden files and folders in Windows 10.

Using the View Tab

You can use the View tab to show the hidden files and folders in Windows 10 by following the steps below:

1. Tap on the Windows icon and look for the This PC application. Click or tap on it to open it.
2. Once opened, a list of your computer drives will appear.
3. Open the drive that contains the files you are looking for. Oftentimes, it is drive C.
4. When the drive opens, go to the top of the window and locate a tab called View and click on it.
   
5. On the upper left side, look for Hidden Items which is usually deselected by default. Click on it to enable it.
   
6. Once enabled, the hidden folders and files will appear on your computer for you to view them.
7. If you can’t find anything in the current folder, go to the folder with the hidden files. You will notice that these files and folders have a slightly transparent icon compared to the regular folders/files.
   
8. Once you are done viewing these files, you can uncheck the Hidden Items box to hide them again.

Using the Control Panel

The Control Panel is another great way to view hidden files and folders in your Windows 10 computer. Here is how:

1. Right click the Windows button and click on Control Panel from the options provided.
2. Go to Appearance and Personalization option.
3. In this window, navigate to File Explorer Options to open three tabs.
   
4. Tap on the View tab on the top window.
   
5. You will see the Advanced Settings where you will be provided with several options.
6. Navigate the list until you find the Hidden files and folders settings. Click on it.
7. Two radio button options will appear from the options. Select the one that is named Show files, folders and drives.
   
8. When you click on it, you will be able to view the hidden files and folders.

Using Registry

1. First, you need to open the Run dialog box. To do this, hold the Windows key and the R key together.
2. A box will appear on the screen. Type regedit and press enter.
   
3. Once it opens, go to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrent VersionExplorerAdvanced
4. A list of options that you can change will appear on the right-hand side. Navigate through the list until you locate the one written Hidden. Double click on it to open it.
   
5. To keep your files and folders hidden, the entry will have a value of 2. To see the files and folders, change the value to 1.
   
6. Click OK after making the change.

Using Command Prompt

To use this method, you need to know the file path and exact location of the hidden file. Follow these steps to use the command prompt:

1. Right-click the Windows button and go to Run.
2. When the Run dialog box opens, type cmd to open the command prompt.
3. Navigate to the file path. For instance, if the file path is C:usersadmindesktopsecretfilemysecret.txt, you will navigate to C:usersadmindesktop
4. Then replace cd with h “secret file” to open the hidden files in the secret file folder.

Summary: How to view hidden files and folders in Windows 10?

• There are many reasons why you may need to create hidden files or folders.
• The most common reason for hiding files and folders on a PC is to ensure privacy.
• Another reason for hiding files and folders is that you want your Windows system to run more efficiently.
• If you want to hide some files or folders, then you can use the methods mentioned below. When you want to hide your files and folders, you need to right-click on the particular file or folder.
• You will see a menu asking "Do you want to hide this file" if it is a single file, or "Do you want to hide these files" if it is multiple files?
• Click on Yes and your file will get hidden from the system.
• To view hidden files, click on View tab in Windows Explorer and look for Hidden items option there.This method can be used to view hidden items in Windows 10 without using any third party tools.

Conclusion

We hope that any of these methods helps you locate any hidden files or folders in your system. Once you are done viewing the files, you can hide them back so they don’t interfere with the regular files in your computer.