By default, the ability to see hidden files is disabled in any version of Windows. This is necessary so that inexperienced “dummies” do not accidentally delete anything and disrupt the operation of the OS. The solution is quite logical, since these folders are rarely needed. And even then - only to a few users. But sometimes there is a need to look at hidden files.

For example, during Windows optimization and garbage cleaning. Many programs (Microsoft Word, Skype) create hidden files during operation. Over time, they become unnecessary, but are stored on disk and take up extra space.

Very often gamers need to enable hidden folders and files. After all, they are where saves from many games are stored.

Also, displaying hidden files is required by users who want to hide documents on a flash drive, but do not yet know how to find them later. In general, there are a lot of reasons.

I should immediately note that this setting is carried out differently in different versions of Windows. Although some methods may be the same. Therefore, below are several instructions on how to enable hidden files in all Windows - “seven”, “eight”, “ten” and XP. Plus, there is a universal method that works on all operating systems.

If you need to disable their display, then in the same window, check the box “Do not show...”.

Second way:

1. Go to Start, open Control Panel and click on the Folder Options shortcut.
2. Select the “View” section, scroll the slider down and activate the “Show...” item.
3. Save your changes by clicking Apply.

And the third way:

1. Open any folder you like.
2. Click the Alt button and a menu like this will appear.
3. Click Tools – Folder Options.
4. A familiar window will open: to enable showing hidden files, go to the “View” tab and check the “Show...” checkbox.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated here. Choose any method that suits you best and use it at the right time.

When you enable viewing of hidden files in Windows 7 using any of the methods described above, they will be visible everywhere. Including on a flash drive. You just need to connect it to your PC or laptop - and you will see the hidden folders (provided that they are there). The same applies to an external HDD.

We've sorted out the "seven", now let's move on to the "eight".

How to enable hidden files in Windows 8?

There are also 3 options to choose from. The first two are described above in the instructions for Windows 7. That is, you can enable hidden files in Windows 8 by entering the control folders command. Or by selecting the “Folder Options” shortcut in the Control Panel.

But there is another way to show hidden files in Windows 8:

1. Open any folder you like.
2. Select the "View" section.
3. Click on “Show or hide”, and then check the “Hidden elements” checkbox.

Ready. And not only in the current folder, but also in others. The same methods will help you display hidden files on a flash drive or external HDD – you just need to connect them to your computer or laptop.

The last method, which works on Windows 8, is also suitable for the “ten”

To enable hidden files in Windows 10:

1. Open any folder.
2. Select the "View" section.
3. Check the "Hidden Elements" box.

After this, you will be able to see hidden folders and documents in any partition of your hard drive or on a flash drive (it must be connected to the PC).

If you want to hide the folders again, uncheck this box.

There is also another way to enable the display of hidden files in Windows 10:

Ready. Now you can open any hidden files on Windows 10. As you can see, the methods on different versions of the OS are quite similar, but differ in minor nuances.

Not many users use Piggy today, but we’ll still consider it. You can view hidden files in XP like this:

That's it - now you can open or delete hidden folders and documents.

If you don’t want to understand the differences between different versions of Windows, you can use the universal method

In this case, you just need to install the Total Commander file manager (download link). The program sees hidden documents and works on all Windows.

How to see hidden files in Total Commander? To do this you need to do the following:

Now all folders and documents in Total Commander will be visible. And to do this, you don’t even have to go into Windows settings and change folder display settings.

Need to see hidden documents? Launch Total Commander and go to the desired hard drive partition. Or connect the USB flash drive and then open it through this file manager.

As you can see, all ingenious is simple. Now you know how to show hidden files and make them visible. And if necessary, you can easily find them. My only advice: if you find any unfamiliar folders, do not delete them. After all, they may contain important system files, the removal of which will disrupt the operation of Windows.

Hidden folders have the “Hidden” attribute on them, so they are not visible in Explorer. In order to see them, you will need to change some OS settings. The question is especially important for those new to Windows 7, since the previous XP axis has significant differences. The solution to the problem is simple and quick.

This article covers the following four ways to show hidden objects in Windows 7 Explorer:

1. Show invisible files using Folder Options;
2. Viewing protected system objects;
3. View invisible files using the Registry Editor;
4. Enable display of protected system objects.

The developers of Windows 7 took care of the invisibility of some directories to users in order to protect the functioning of the system from the users themselves.

But there are times when seeing hidden OS data is necessary to ensure the normal operation of Windows 7, such an example would be an operation to remove malware that has infected a computer.

Method No. 1

To display invisible directories and files using “Folder Options”, you should follow the following procedure:

You can check the effectiveness of this technique by entering the “C” section and if the “ProgramData” directory is present in it, then the procedure was completed successfully and the hidden data is available to the user. They will differ from the usual ones in a lighter shade.

Method number 2

This technique helps solve the question “How to see protected system objects?” To do this you need to do the following:

Method number 3

To view what is invisible using the Registry Editor, you must do the following (using administrator rights):

Method number 4

To enable the display of protected system objects using the Registry Editor, you must do the following (logged in with administrator rights):

If you need to return Windows to its original state and hide system data, this can be done using the same methods above, but by setting or removing the appropriate checkboxes or changing the values ​​using the registry editor.

There are a lot of things that remain incomprehensible and unknown to us users.

Show hidden files in Windows 7

Option 1. We go to the Control Panel - and first, for convenience, change the view to “Small icons”, and then look for the icon - “Folder Options”, see the screenshot more clearly (click to enlarge):

In the window that opens, go to the “View” tab - in the “Additional parameters” field, go down to the very bottom and check the box "Show hidden folders and files" also, if necessary, here you can uncheck the box so that system files are shown, more details in the screenshot:

Click “Apply” - “OK” and you’re done. All files will be visible.

Option 2. There is another way to get here. Namely through “My Computer”. We go into my computer - press the “Alt” button and we will see the top menu as in the good old one:

Click on “Tools” - “Folder Options”:

and we will see the same window as in, and here we do the same thing.

Option 3. In the same “My Computer” window, click on the “Arrange” button (in the top menu) and select “Folder and Search Options”:

Well, for starters, another way to see all these files and folders is to use some kind of file manager, for example, my favorite is . But first, you still need to go to the settings and check so that all files are displayed. To do this, click on the “Configuration” menu - “Settings” - and on the “Panel Contents” tab - check the “Show hidden / system files” item:

Then click “OK” and all your hidden/system files will be visible.

Personally, I always display hidden files in Total Commandere to see the whole picture, this is especially useful when a person comes with his flash drive with viruses, and you immediately see all his viruses, since they are disguised as system files. This is such a useful feature. I recommend taking note, but you need to be careful here so as not to accidentally delete an important system file.

OK it's all over Now. With this, I say goodbye to you for a moment. Good luck to all!!

The installed operating system protects its vital data. They are invisible to users with any access rights. The goal is to protect the system from collapse due to an accidentally deleted file important for the operation of the operating system or damage to it by inept actions. If you work at an enterprise where the equipment is serviced by an engineer with a special education - a system administrator, then you do not need knowledge about such data - if the need arises, the administrator will work with it. But, if the operating system at home malfunctions, knowledge will come in handy.

To make hidden folders appear, use the tips below

The need to show hidden folders in windows 7

Reasons to look at hidden folders:

• antivirus system messages about a virus in System Volume Information . Here the operating system saves data so that if a failure occurs, you can quickly restore the system (if this feature is enabled). By default this data is hidden
• desire to free the hard drive from unnecessary recovery points
• clearing temporary files along the path C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
• deleting files from Temp folders to free up disk space

Ways to open hidden folders in Windows 7

To display hidden folders in Windows 7, you need to get to their properties, where you can set the appropriate settings.

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This can be done in several ways:

1. conductor
2. control Panel
3. additionally installed programs

Using Personalization Properties

Press the start button and use the control panel to go to the section that is responsible for the external display of information. It's called Design and Personalization. Here we select the section responsible for folder parameters and set the necessary parameters.

Fig.1 Go to the “Design and Personalization” section

If you want to display system data, then in the same way uncheck the box “Hide protected system files”

Using Windows 7 Explorer

In Windows 7 Explorer, select the “Arrange” item, then select the item responsible for folder properties.

Fig.2 Select “Arrange”

It's called Folder and Search Options. Data display options that allow you to make hidden folders visible are located on the View tab.

Fig.3 Go to “Folder and Search Options”

Using the properties of additionally installed program managers

Often users use additional managers for ease of use. Such as ACDSee, Total Commander, Far manager and similar. In the settings of most of them, you can configure the display of hidden folders, which allows you to enable hidden folders.

Ways to protect your own documents from damage

If a computer is used by several users, then often in order to hide information, protect it from the eyes of a neighbor, or protect the fruits of their labor from accidental damage, users make their data hidden. In addition, you can put a password on your own documents to protect against prying eyes and unplanned changes.

• It is possible to create an invisible folder in widows 7.

To do this, right-click on the name, select “Rename”, press the alt and 255 keys simultaneously. This way we get an invisible name. To make the folder itself invisible, you need to right-click, select “change icon” from the context menu, and select an invisible icon from the proposed icons.

You can password protect a folder in Windows 7 in several ways:

• using an archiver
• using additional programs (for example Hide Folder)
• using a small program code written in a bat file

In addition, files become hidden if you use the “hidden” attribute in the additional parameters of their properties.

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 searching for the desired folder and clutter up your “Desktop”. In general, it’s better and more convenient when you don’t see them.

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

You can enable the display of such files very easily by using one of the methods that will be discussed below. In fact, in each method, only the sequence of actions required to access the “Folder Options” will change.

Via the "Service" menu

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

• Log into “My Computer” and press “Alt” on your 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 “Folder Options”.
• Now select the View tab and scroll down to the bottom of the list. Here you will need to uncheck the checkbox next to the “Hide system files” option and check 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 this knowledge if necessary.

Via "Control Panel"

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

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

Now, at the bottom, check the box that will allow you to see non-displayed folders, and uncheck the box next to the “Hide protected files” option. The last step is the “Apply” button, and then click “Yes” in the window that opens.

If, after opening the PU, you see that you have large or small icons displayed, then simply find the “Folder Options” element 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 launch this tool, press the "Win" and "R" buttons.

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

Some people like this method the most, since all you have to do is remember one command or write it down. Although there is nothing complicated in the first two methods.

Conclusion

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

With all this, it is worth remembering that it is not recommended to make any changes to these files unless necessary, and especially without certain knowledge.