How to Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 10 and 11

By default, Windows hides certain files and folders to protect critical system information from accidental modification. However, there are instances where you may need to access these hidden files for troubleshooting or customization. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to reveal hidden files and folders in Windows 11 and Windows 10, both using File Explorer and Command Prompt.

1. Display Hidden Files in Windows 11.

1.1 Open File Explorer:

1. Click the folder icon on your taskbar or desktop to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the directory you want to inspect, such as C:\Users.

1.2 Access Folder Options:

1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the File Explorer window and select “Options“.
2. In the Folder Options dialog box, switch to the “View” tab.

1.3 Enable Hidden Files Display:

1. Under the “Advanced settings” section, locate “Hidden files and folders”.
2. Select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”.

1.4 Unhide Protected System Files:

1. Uncheck the box for “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”.
2. Confirm the warning prompt by clicking “Yes“.

1.5 Display File Extensions (Optional):

1. Uncheck the option “Hide extensions for known file types” to reveal file extensions like `.ini`.
2. Click “Apply” and close the Folder Options window.

Now, all hidden files and folders, including system-protected ones like Default User and desktop.ini, will appear in the directory.

2. Display Hidden Files in Windows 10.

The steps in Windows 10 are slightly different:

2.1. Open File Explorer:

1. Navigate to the target directory, such as C:\Users.

2.2 Quickly Show Hidden Items:

1. Click the “View” tab in the top menu.
2. Check the “Hidden items” checkbox to immediately display partially hidden folders like Default.

2.3 Open Folder Options to Unhide More Files:

1. From the “View” tab, click “Options” to open the Folder Options dialog box.
2. Switch to the “View” tab and deselect “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”.

2.4 Reveal File Extensions (Optional):

1. Uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types” to show extensions such as `.ini` or `.bat`.

After these steps, you’ll see additional hidden files and folders, including system files like desktop.ini.

3. View Hidden Files Using Command Prompt.

For users who prefer command-line tools, here’s how to view hidden files:

1. Launch Command Prompt:Press `Win+S`, type `cmd`, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the Target Directory:Use the `cd` command to go to the desired directory, for example:

   cd C:\Users

3. List Hidden Files:Run the following command to view all hidden files in the directory:

   dir /a:h

4. This method is especially useful for quickly identifying hidden files without enabling them in File Explorer.

4. Conclusion.

Windows provides multiple ways to access hidden files and folders, allowing users to manage their system more effectively. However, be cautious when modifying or deleting these files, as they often play crucial roles in maintaining system stability. If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with others who might need it!

5. Demo Video.

You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.