Did you know that Windows will hide some critical system files to prevent important files from being deleted? Windows does this when you search for files on your hard drive. This can be annoying if you want to always be able to see every file on your computer. This guide will show you how to make Windows display all files.

It's worth noting : If you see an error message on your PC that "You don't currently have permission to access this folder", learn how to eliminate it.

Table of contents

• How to display Windows hidden files through control panel
• How to display Windows hidden files through File Explorer
• How to use the registry to make hidden files appear
• How to show and hide files through context menu
• FAQ

How to display Windows hidden files through control panel

There are several ways you can show hidden files on Windows. This method changes the default settings through the Control Panel.

1. Enter Control Panel in Windows Search and click the best match below.

2. In Control Panel, click the View By drop-down menu, select Small Icon or Large Icon to see all the options at once, and then click the File Explorer Options icon.

3. Click the View tab and check the "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" option. Then check the "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" option down.

4. Click Yes, prompt that you have selected to display protected operating system files. After returning to the File Explorer option box, click OK. All files hidden before should be visible.

Be careful when handling protected operating system files, which are different from the usual hidden files. Windows creates and continuously uses these protected operating system files to ensure the system runs smoothly. Usually hidden files are less important and are created by users or third-party applications most of the time.

Tip : Learn how to use tags in File Explorer to improve your multitasking experience.

How to display Windows hidden files through File Explorer

Open the same File Explorer Options window through File Explorer, which may be easier to display files without navigating to the Control Panel.

1. Start File Explorer by clicking its icon or using Win E shortcut keys and navigating to the folder that you want to display with the folder.
2. Click View on the top bar, hover over the Show menu, and select Hide Items. This will only display non-system hidden files.

3. Alternatively, click the three-dot icon on the top bar and select Options to open the Folder Options window.

4. If you are using older versions of Windows, find the same settings by clicking on the "View" option. Select Show Hide Items via the Show/Hide drop-down menu.

Tip : Have trouble with file explorer? Learn how to solve the most common problems.

How to use the registry to make hidden files appear

Manage how Windows handles hidden files by tweaking the Registry Editor.

1. Press Win R to open the Run dialog box, enter regedit, and press Enter .

2. Manually navigate to the following path, or copy and paste it into the path bar:

 <code>Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced</code>

3. Double-click the Hide option to allow you to set the value of the hidden file.

4. Select "1" as "Value Data" to let Windows display hidden files, or select "2" to keep hidden files.

5. Set "ShowSuperHidden" to "1" to view those protected Windows files. The default value "0" will keep them hidden.

Tip : Become an advanced registry editor user and use these tips.

How to show and hide files through context menu

When you want to hide or show hidden files, there is no need to go deep into the setup, just do it immediately through the context menu, by quickly applying registry editing. We modify the registry by starting a .REG file because this is the easiest way to apply or remove.

1. Launch the Notepad app via Windows Search.

2. Copy the following code and paste it into Notepad:

 <code>Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00<br>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\shell\Windows.HideSelected]<br>"Description"="@shell32.dll,-37575"<br>"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{0947c622-f98a-48a5-9df7-60e5fe202e07}"<br>"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"<br>"MUIVerb"="Show / Hide Selected Files"</code>

3. Press Ctrl S to save the new file. Change the extension to ".REG" instead of ".TXT".

4. Launching a newly created registry file will activate the option to hide or show any files through the context menu. Double-click the file and agree to the notification by clicking "Yes -> OK".

5. When you right-click on any file, you will see the option to hide it.

6. If you want to show hidden files, first set Windows to show hidden files using one of the above methods.

7. Create another .REG file with the following code and start it to disable this feature and remove the context menu option. Keep these two .REG files for later use.

 <code>HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\shell\Windows.HideSelected</code>

Tip : Does Windows automatically save files and folders to OneDrive? Learn how to stop it.

FAQ

How to hide files on Windows?

The standard way to hide a file or folder is to right-click it and select Properties. Under Properties, you will see a checkbox that allows you to set the file to Hide.

How to create an invisible folder on Windows?

Create a regular folder, right-click it, and select Properties. Navigate to the Customize tab and select Change Icon. Select the blank/transparent icon after swiping to the right. Once you have a transparent folder, hide the name of the folder. Press F2 (or FN F2 ) to rename the folder and quickly press Alt 0173 to insert a null character.

Can I sync hidden files across devices?

Can. The best way to sync hidden and password-protect files across devices is to use OneDrive personal vaults. It allows you to hide files and access them on another device, even Android and iOS. Install OneDrive on your PC, set it up, and activate your personal vault.

Image source: Flaticon & Unsplash. All screenshots were taken by Mustafa Ashour.

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