Windows 10: Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10

How to: Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10

How to Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows 10


Information Hidden files, folders, and drives do not show by default in Windows. Windows protected system files (ex: desktop.ini files) are hidden by default. You can also manually hide a file or folder by setting its hidden attribute.

It's recommended to not modify or delete hidden files since these are usually app and system files, and is why they do not show in File Explorer by default.

When you set to show hidden files, folders, and drives, they will appear dimmed to indicate that they are hidden items.

This tutorial will show you how to show or don't show hidden files, folders, and drives for your account in Windows 10.



Tip If you want an empty CD/DVD drive to show in the navigation pane, you'll need to set show empty drives below, and set to show all folders in the navigation pane.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Hide or Show Hidden Files in File Explorer Options
• Option Two: To Hide or Show Hidden Files in File Explorer Ribbon
• Option Three: To Hide or Show Hidden Files using a BAT file

EXAMPLE: Hidden (dimmed) files set to show in File Explorer










OPTION ONE [/i] To Hide or Show Hidden Files in File Explorer Options
1. Open File Explorer Options.

2. Do step 3, step 4, step 5, or step 6 below for what you would like to do.


3. To show hidden files, folders, and drives
A) In the View tab, select (dot) Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)





4. To don't show hidden files, folders, and drives
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) In the View tab, select (dot) Don't show hidden files, folders, and drives, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)





5. To show protected operating system files
A) In the View tab, select (dot) Show hidden files, folders, and drives, uncheck the Hide protected operating system files box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)



B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)




6. To hide protected operating system files
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) In the View tab, check the Hide protected operating system files box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)









OPTION TWO [/i] To Hide or Show Hidden Files in File Explorer Ribbon


Note This option will allow you to quickly toggle to hide or show whatever you have set from Option One above.


1. While you have File Explorer open, click/tap on the View tab, and check (show) or uncheck (hide) the Hidden items box in the ribbon for what you want. (see screenshot below)









OPTION THREE [/i] To Hide or Show Hidden Files using a BAT file


Note The .bat files below are for changing the DWORD values in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Hidden DWORD

0 = Don't show hidden files, folders, and drives
1 = Show hidden files, folders, and drives


ShowSuperHidden DWORD

0 = Hide protected operating system files
1 = Show protected operating system files


1. Do step 2, step 3, step 4, or step 5 below for what you would like to do.


2. To show hidden files, folders, and drives
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Show_hidden_files_folders_and_drives.bat

Download

3. To don't show hidden files, folders, and drives
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Don't_show_hidden_files_folders_and_drives.bat

Download

4. To hide protected operating system files
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Hide_protected_operating_system_files.bat

Download

5. To show protected operating system files
NOTE: This also does step 2 above.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 6 below.

Show_protected_operating_system_files.bat

Download
6. Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run the .bat file.

7. If prompted, click/tap on Run to approve.
NOTE: If you like, you can unblock the .bat file to stop getting the Run prompt.

8. You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.

9. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.



That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Set or Unset Hidden Attribute of Files and Folders in Windows 10
• How to Add Hide selected items to Context Menu in Windows 10
• How to Add Hidden items to Context Menu in Windows 10

:)

 

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

 

Can't see hidden files on a USB drive on a Windows 10 computer, even with show hidden files box checked

This problem continues to persist. This is any USB drive on any Windows 10 computer will not show hidden files and folders. As mentioned I have the show hidden files check box checked. This is a Windows 10 Bug.

 

Hello febsr, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

This tutorial wouldn't apply to your issue.

Do you mean the DVD drive doesn't show in "This PC" or navigation pane when empty?

The DVD drive should show in "This PC".

Using the tutorial below to show drives in the navigation pane may help, but the DVD drive will only show up when something is in it.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

 

none of the above fixes the issue for me. "show hidden files, folders, and drives" won't stay ticked and "hide protected operating system files" won't stay unchecked. i had i program that worked like a charm but i can't fine it new. any ideas and or suggestions?

 

Hello ChaChaLaBoom, *Smile

After you set them how you like in Folder Options and click/tap on Apply, when do they revert back on you?

Do you have any 3rd party tweaking program installed that could be overriding these settings?

 

no and i've already done a thorough virus and malware scan

 

After you set them how you like in Folder Options and click/tap on Apply, when do they revert back on you?

 

i tick show hidden files, and uncheck hide protected then click apply, ok and nothing changes even after a refresh

 

hey if you're still looking for a solution looks like i found one. at least one that works for me. in another thread here a member suggested disabling bitdefender and changing the settings, so i went into safemode, set them, and once in windows they held. i'm posting to say thanks for attempting to help, and for other to maybe see this if they run across the issue.

 

Great news. Thank you for posting back with your findings. *Party

 

Hi Brink,

I've discovered that lately (probably due to the latest Windows 10 updates), the only way to get my DVD drive to appear in File Manager (This PC) is to go into 'View' and choose 'Show All Folders'.

The problem is that this then reveals some other folders (Control Panel, Libraries, and User) that I would like to keep hidden. I've seen your tutorials for hiding/showing the various folders in File Manager, but if I hide them, then my DVD drive is hidden as well. Do you have a work around for this?

Thanks a lot,

 

Hello Florio, *Smile

Does the DVD drive stay hidden only when empty?

Does it show when you have a disc in the DVD drive?

 

Yes, Brink. I just checked.

If I untick 'Show all Folders' while there is a disc in the drive, then the drive remains visibile. Is that 'standard behaviour' now as far as DVD drives in Windows 10 are concerned? I remember that once upon a time, DVD drives were just not hidden.

 

You might check using the tutorial below to see if unchecking Hide empty drives in Folder Options and clicking on OK may help.

*Arrow Drives - Hide or Show Empty Drives in Computer Folder - Windows 7 Help Forums