Sometimes while working in Windows 10, we try to locate an important file or folder but we are unable to find it. It happens because Windows 10 or any other operating system intentionally keep some of the files and folders hidden so that the users might not accidentally delete or modify those files and folders as this can harm your computer system and can prove to be very disastrous for you. If you really want to work with those files or folders, you will need to make them visible. In this article, we will explain to you the methods through which you can show the hidden files and folders in Windows 10.
Three Ways of Showing Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 10
For showing the hidden files and folders in Windows 10, you can make use of any of the three methods listed below:
Method # 1: Use File Explorer to show hidden files
In this method, we will tell you how you can show the hidden files using the File Explorer in Windows 10. For doing this, you need to proceed as follows:
Type file explorer in the search section of your taskbar and click on the search result to launch the File Explorer window or you can simply double-click on its icon located at the taskbar to launch it. The newly opened File Explorer window is shown in the image below:
Now click on the View tab to expand it as shown in the following image:
Finally, tick the checkbox corresponding to the field of “Hidden Items” to show the hidden files and folders. This checkbox is highlighted in the image shown below:
Method # 2: Use Windows Control Panel to show hidden files
In this method, we will tell you how you can show the hidden files and folders using the Control Panel in Windows 10. In order to do this, you need to perform the following steps:
Type control panel in the search section of your taskbar and click on the search result to launch the control panel window. The newly opened Control Panel window is shown in the following image:
Click on the Appearance and Personalization tab as shown in the image below:
Now click on the File Explorer Options to launch its window as shown in the following image:
Click on the View tab.
Select the radio button corresponding to the field of “Show hidden files, folders and drives” as highlighted in the following image:
Finally, click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button to save the settings.
Method # 3: Use Registry Editor to show hidden Files in Windows 10
In this method, we will tell you how you can show the hidden files and folders using the Registry Editor in Windows 10. For doing this, you need to proceed as follows:
Type regedit in the search section of your taskbar and click on the search result to launch the registry editor window. The newly opened Registry Editor window is shown in the following image:
Click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER to expand it as highlighted in the image shown above.
Click on Software as shown in the following image:
Now click on Microsoft as highlighted in the image shown below:
Click on Windows as shown in the following image:
Now click on Current Version as highlighted in the image shown below:
Click on Explorer as shown in the following image:
Now double-click on Advanced as highlighted in the image shown below:
So, the complete path is as follows:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Explorer\ Advanced
As soon as you will double-click on Advanced, the right-hand side pane will change as follows:
Locate the Name “Hidden” as highlighted in the image shown above. It can be seen from the image that its current value is set to “2” which means that currently; you Windows 10 is not showing the hidden files and folders so you will need to modify this value.
Just double-click on “Hidden” to modify its current value. Its value dialogue box will appear which is shown in the following image:
Set the value highlighted in the image shown above to “1” to make the hidden files and folders visible.
Finally, click on OK to save your settings.
Conclusion
By following any of the three methods listed above, you can easily show the hidden files and folders in Windows 10. The first two methods are pretty easy and convenient to use and they work fine in almost every situation. However, if you like working with the Registry Editor more, then you can make use of the third method, which is a little bit complex as compared with the first two.
