Windows 10: Hidden files not behaving properly

Until yesterday, when I went to a given file's properties and clicked on the Hidden checkbox, the file would remain in its folder but be grayed out. This was the normal and correct behaviour and I've taken advantage of that for many years.

Yesterday, the behaviour changed: once I choose Hidden and click on Apply, the file becomes completely invisible. I know it is still there because if I try to create a file with the same name as the just-hidden file, Windows protests and says there is already a file with that name already in the same folder.

I've looked at the Folder Options and found that neither of the radio buttons where you indicate whether hidden files should be shown or not are selected. If I select "show hidden files" and click on Apply, the folder redraws itself but the just-hidden file is still invisible rather than grayed out and when I return to Folder Options, neither of the radio buttons for showing/hiding hidden files are selected. I get similar behaviour when I use the Hidden File option in the File Explorer View window: the Hidden checkbox is initially unchecked, I check it, then the folder contents redraw but the just-hidden file remains invisible and the Hidden checkbox has unchecked itself. I've looked at the registry key (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AdvancedHidden) and it has a value of 0, meaning don't show hidden files and folders and drives. I tried to edit it manually in Regedit and was denied permission, even though the ID I was using is an Administrator (as is the only other ID on this computer). I downloaded and ran the batch file for setting that value to 1 and ran it but it too failed on authorization issues.

I'm running Version 1903. What else can I do to make Windows behave correctly again? (For bonus points, I'd be curious to know why the behaviour started messing up. I don't hide files and folders every day but I certainly do it several times a month and yesterday was the first time this nonsense happened.)

:)

 

All hidden files turned Un-hidden

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community and being part of Windows 10.

I suggest you to re-add them to the hidden items list and check.

Steps:

• Right click on the folders to hide, select Properties.
• Go to General tab, under Attributes check mark the option
  Hidden.
• Click on Apply and on Ok.

I suggest you not to use any third party anti-virus software. Try to use Windows Defender.

Refer: Using Windows Defender

Hope it helps. Feel free to contact us for further assistance on Windows Operating System, we will be happy to help you.

 

Hidden Files

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files
• How to Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 7, 8, or 10
• Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10

 

Show hidden file button are unchecked

Hi Priyankjain,

We would like to know more about your concern. Please provide the following information:

• Have you enabled the Hidden files and folders view tab before?
• Are there any changes made prior to this issue
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

Meanwhile, we suggest that you perform System File Checker (SFC) scan.

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. To perform the SFC Scan, you may refer to this
link.

Let us know how it goes.