How to reveal hidden files. How to show hidden folders. Turning to command line functions
Surely every user personal computer sooner or later I came across such a phenomenon as disappearance some files or folders with hard drive or other storage device. You cannot find them where they simply must be.
In such a situation, most ordinary PC users immediately have only one thought - someone deleted the data. However, their sudden disappearance may be associated with more than just this. Often they just invisible.
Later in the article we will look at the main ways to show hidden folders and files using the operating system as an example Windows 7(however, this will also work in XP, Vista, 7 and 8). But first, let’s tell you why such situations arise.
Attributes of files and folders or how data becomes hidden
As you know, any modern operating system has many features for managing files and folders. These are not only well-known operations for creating, deleting, copying and moving data, but also operations for setting them up. Each file or folder can be assigned a so-called attribute, responsible for certain properties of an object. For example, a file can be assigned an attribute such as " Only reading", and the user will no longer be able to edit it, since the system itself will not allow him to do this.
These also include the attribute - “ Hidden" As the name suggests, it will make the object invisible. And if the system is not configured to display such objects, the user will not see elements hidden in this way.
Making files or folders invisible is quite simple. To do this you just need to go to properties the desired object and assign this attribute to it.
Let's try:
This suggests conclusion - Any user can make any element hidden.
But if I didn’t hide my files and folders and no one else uses my computer, what then?
If in your case any elements from the disk disappeared on their own, then the answer is obvious - virus programs were at work.
Unfortunately, manage attributes files can not only be used by users, but also any programs. There are many different virus programs on the network that, once they get into the system, can do whatever they want with its settings and data stored on the disk. If in your case such viruses have hidden some of your folders or files, then do not be upset - there are more of them can I return.
There are many ways to open hidden folders in Windows 7. Let's look at the simplest of them.
Setting up the system
Every operating system (including all Windows versions from XP and even earlier to the 10th) has internal settings that are responsible for displaying any data stored on the disk and any other media. So, to make files and folders visible, you need to do the following:
This method is suitable if files and folders hidden on your computer only had the attribute “ Hidden" Usually when they are working viruses, they additionally make objects systemic, which will still be impossible to see even if you enable viewing in this way. To detect such files, in the menu " Folders settings"You need to additionally uncheck the box " Hide protected system files ", as it shown on the picture:
If you try to uncheck this item, the system will issue a warning that this is not recommended. It's okay - we just agree.
Unfortunately, and it doesn't always help, since some viruses can easily change system settings immediately after the user tries to enable or disable certain OS parameters. In such cases, programs that can “see” hidden objects come to the rescue. One of these is Total Commander. This file manager, very similar in functionality to the standard " Windows Explorer».
Using Total Commander
Finding this program on the Internet is not difficult. Although it is paid, you can use it for free for a while - this is more than enough to see all the hidden folders or files on the system.
To get started, download Total Commander and install the application. After launching it, you will see a window divided into two panels - they display the folders and files on the disk.
Initially, the program does not allow you to view hidden elements - you must enable this function. To do this, open the menu “ Configuration" (at the top of the window), and then click on the item " Setting...».
All that remains is to find the item “ Panel Contents" We go into it and put a tick on “ Show hidden files" And " Show system files", then click Apply. Now the program will see hidden objects.
operating room Windows system supports the so-called hiding of folders and files. This was done for several reasons. Firstly, in this way the operating system manufacturer hides important system files that the user can inadvertently delete. And secondly, with the help of this function the user himself can hide the files he needs from prying eyes. In general, the function is very convenient and very popular.
Suppose you are using the PC of your relative, who, for example, hid photographs from you, and you would really like to look at them. And you know for sure that they are on the computer, but after looking through all the folders, you couldn’t find the photos. It is quite possible that they are in one of the hidden folders. Let's try to find her.
Option number 1
Using the first method, we can open files and folders that are hidden for viewing. This is not difficult to do; it will take you literally a minute of time. I'll show an example on Windows 7.
We look for the “Computer” shortcut on the desktop or in the “Start” menu and click on it. A window will open in front of you. In its upper left part there is a menu item called “Arrange”. Click on it, then select “Folder and Search Options.” Click on the last one.
Now you will see a new window in front of you called “Folder Options”.
Switch to the “View” tab, and then scroll to the very bottom of the menu. Here you will see the “Hidden files and folders” subsection. Check the box next to “Show hidden files, folders and drives.” Be sure to click “Apply” or OK to save the changes.
After this procedure, all hidden files and folders will become visible. How to distinguish them? They will be slightly less bright than the rest of the files.
Option number 2
You can use a slightly simpler method. To do this, you will need a file manager, for example, the well-known Total Commander. Launch the application. At the top of it you will see a menu. Select “Configuration” - “Settings”. A window with program settings will appear. Here, select the “Panel Contents” tab and check the box next to “Show hidden/system files”, then click OK.
You can now navigate discs using Total Commander and find hidden content.
By the way, there is an option to open hidden folders and files using, but I believe that this method is not necessary for the average user. In addition, when working with the registry, it is easy to make such a mess that after changing it the system may not start at all.
Carrying out a search
So, now all folders and files are open, which means you can start searching. This is quite problematic for the sole reason that no one can tell where to search. It’s good if there are only a few folders on the disk and one of them turns out to be the one you need. But if there are a great many files, then you will have to reconsider everything that was once hidden by your hands (remember that such folders and files stand out with their less bright shade).
If you are looking for, say, photographs, you can try using disk search. To do this, type .jpg in the search bar (in this case, this is the file format) and press Enter.
The system will show all files with the same extension that are on the disk. There may be a lot of them, but among them, quite possibly, there will be exactly the photos that you are looking for. Good luck in your search.
These are folders that have the Hidden attribute set. Typically, folders with this attribute are not displayed in Explorer. In order for hidden folders to begin to appear, you need to make changes to the operating system settings. In this material you will learn how to show hidden folders in Windows 7.
In order to force the Windows 7 operating system to show hidden folders, we need to open any folder and press the ALT button on the keyboard.
After pressing the ALT key, a series of drop-down menus will appear below the address bar: File, Edit, View, Tools and Help. Here we need to open the “Tools” drop-down menu and select “Folder Options”.
After this, a small window called “Folder Options” will open in front of you. In this window, you can configure all the basic settings that relate to the display of folders, files and drives in Windows 7 Explorer.
It should be noted that if you are unable to open the “Folder Options” window through the drop-down menu, then you can use the search in. To do this, open the Start menu and type “Folder Options.” After this, the Windows 7 operating system will find the desired program and will offer to open it.
So, you have opened the “Folder Options” window, in order to show hidden folders in Windows 7 you need to go to the “View” tab and find the options that are responsible for displaying hidden folders.
You need two parameters:
- “Hide protected system files” – you need to disable it;
- “Show hidden files, folders and drives” – you need to enable it.
After making changes, close the window by clicking on the “OK” button to save the changes. After this, you will be able to see hidden folders and files. Now, if there is such a need, you can remove the “Hidden” attribute and the folder will become normal. To do this, right-click on the folder and select “Properties”. After that, disable the “Hidden” function and close the window.
On the computer. They are there, but they are not visible.
1 . Right-click on the file or folder and select Properties.
2. A window will open. Check the “Hidden” box and click “OK.”
The file (folder) will disappear. In fact, it will remain on the computer, we’ll just hide it this way.
By the way, many users know how to open hidden files and folders. So think about whether it's worth hiding something this way.
How to open (show) hidden files and folders
If there is no such item, then click on the Start button and open Control Panel. Among the icons, find and open “Folder Options” (Appearance and Personalization → Folder Options).
In Windows 10, to do this, click on “View” at the top of the window and select “Options”.
Place a dot on the item “Show hidden files, folders and drives” (below) and click “OK”.
Files and folders that are hidden will be lighter than normal files and folders.
Regular folder:
How to make a hidden folder normal
- Right-click on the file or folder you want to make normal and select Properties.
- Uncheck "Hidden" and click "OK".
How to disable showing hidden files and folders
Open any folder on your computer. Click on “Organize” (at the top of the window) and select “Folder and Search Options”.
If there is no such item at the top of the window, click on the Start button and open Control Panel. Among the icons, find and open “Folder Options” (Appearance and Personalization → Folder Options).
In Windows 10, to do this, click on “View” and select “Options”.
A window will open. Click on the “View” tab (top).
Place a dot on the item “Do not show hidden files, folders and drives” (below) and click “OK”.
On a note . In Windows 10, you can do it easier: View → Show or Hide → Hidden Items.
The computer has many hidden files and folders in the Local disk on which the operating system is located (usually Local disk C). This is necessary so that you don't accidentally spoil anything.
If you delete any of these files or folders, even if you simply change the name, your computer may stop working or begin to freeze seriously. So be careful with system hidden files and folders!
It happens that the Windows operating system hides some of its folders from users by making them hidden. For example, having picked up a virus in the Host file, it happens that it becomes invisible. More precisely, the Host file itself is visible, but its duplicate, which seems to complement it, is hidden from view. And to view it you need to configure the display of hidden files.
In this article we will look at 3 ways to open hidden folders And Windows files 7 or vice versa hide them. This is done very simply.
METHOD 1. Open some window with folders, and in the upper left corner we find the “Arrange” tab. In the menu that opens, select the line “Folder and search options”
In the folder settings window that opens, select the “View” tab at the top. Find the item “Show hidden files, folders and drives” and mark it with a dot
Click the “Apply” and “Ok” button. All is ready.
METHOD 2. Again open some window in Windows Explorer with folders and files. Press the “Alt” key. An additional panel will appear in the upper left corner.
In the additional panel, select the “Service” tab and then in the drop-down menu select the line “Folder Options”
And again we get to the settings window, where we first select the “View” tab and then “Show hidden files”
METHOD 3. This viewing method is suitable for those who have the Total Commander program installed
So, open the Total Commander program.
IN top panel select the “Configuration” tab
In the settings window in the left panel, select “Panel Contents”
On the right side, check the box R12; Show hidden/system files (advanced only)
Click the “Apply” and “Ok” button
Here are three simple ways folder browsing!
