The hidden folders feature in Windows 7 is used to protect system documents from third-party influence, as a result of which the OS may fail. But it will also be useful for ordinary users.

Enable Hidden Items to Show

Let's consider four simple ways how to show in Windows 7 hidden files. The first one is done through the element "Control Panel", the second and third - directly in the Folder Browser, and the fourth - in the program Total Commander.

Method 1: Control Panel

Via the menu "Start" call element "Control Panel". Switch the content display option to "Category".

Now open "Design and personalization". Towards the end of the list there is a column "Showing hidden...", select it.

Scroll to the bottom of the list and activate the last item, and then apply the changes.

Method 2: View Menu in Explorer

Open the main section of Explorer ( "Computer"). Now click on "Arrange" from the toolbar. From the drop down menu select "Folders settings…". Switch to section "View", scroll to the end of the list and enable the option "Show hidden...". Button "OK" will be confirmation of your actions.

Method 3: Tools Menu in Explorer

Expand any directory in Explorer. On your keyboard, press Alt, this will bring up an additional toolbar at the top. Open the menu there "Service", and click on the item "Folders settings".

The same window will open as in the previous method, the instructions for setting up are similar.

Method 4: Total Commander

This program is an alternative Windows Explorer, but with expanded capabilities. Among its functions you can also find the inclusion of hidden folders.

Note: documents and sections with the hidden attribute will be visible only in the programTotalCommander. In the ExplorerWindows will always display them off.

Setup instructions:

Going to hidden directories

It is not wise to enable the display of masked elements if you only need to interact with them once. In this case, you can use the transition function. This is done through a dialog box "Run".

The easiest way to call it is by simultaneously pressing Win + R. In the dialog box, you need to enter the name of the section, enclosing it on both sides with percent signs. Let's look at everything using a specific example.

The user needs to change the settings of one of the programs. The configuration document is stored in the folder appdata user section. And here there are two options: act according to the instructions described earlier or use the quick transition. Since we are now talking about the second option, we will resort to it.

Run the utility "Run". Enter your request % appdata%(there may be another system directory instead of appdata if its name is not repeated) and click "OK".

The required section will open immediately.

Hiding a folder

The described function can also be used to protect personal data. To do this, you need to figure out how to hide a folder in Windows 7. The method will also be relevant for single files.

Important: The transition method for manually masked documents is invalid. You need to turn on visibility every time.

Let's start with the fact that hidden files and folders in Windows 7 became so without the malicious intent of Windows developers. Vice versa. This is done to protect important information from accidental deletion. The data protection rule dates back to the earliest versions of Windows. Another reason for hiding folders is to avoid cluttering your desktop with unnecessary information in daily use.

Important! By assigning the hidden flag to regular folders, the user makes them invisible to view.

Display using built-in win 7 tools

Let's figure out how to show hidden files and windows folders 7 built-in OS tools. There are three ways:

1. By changing the Folder Options settings.
2. Through Explorer, “Arrange” tab.
3. Through Explorer, “Service” menu.

All methods lead to one menu with settings for folder attributes.

Another way is to use third party programs, for example, Total Commander. We'll look at this below.

Let's start with the first method

Go to Control Panel and open Folder Options.

Click on the tab and a folder management menu will open. Open the “View” tab, scroll to the end, until you set the display of hidden folders. Select "Display...". Click OK to close.

Folders opened this way will appear translucent in Explorer.

Let's move on to the second method

Open Explorer, click on “Arrange”, select the “Folder and Search Options” tab. Click on it, the same folder settings menu will open.

We perform the same manipulations on the “View” tab as in the first method, click OK.

Third way

In Explorer, select, for example, drive C, click on “Tools” -> “Folder Options”.

In the window, find “View”, check to show hidden folders and files, as was done in the previous methods. Click OK.

How to show hidden windows 7 files and folders in Windows Commander

Download Commander from a reliable torrent storage and launch it. If the directory does not display system folders in red with a “!” sign, then the display option is disabled.

How to enable it

Open the “Configuration” toolbar, we need the settings tab.

Here you need to open the “Panel Contents” menu, checking the option to show hidden and system files, “Apply”, OK.

From now on, the hidden folder can be seen with all its contents.

Commander provides such a useful feature as changing a folder attribute. That is, we even turn the system directory into a regular one. Open the “Files” menu and select “Change Attributes”.

A window will appear where you need to select the “Load from file under the cursor” option, then uncheck the “System” and “Hidden” attributes. Next, we note, as shown in the screenshot, the processing of directory contents. After this change, folders, subfolders, and files will be affected. Click OK.

The same procedure is done in the Windows environment. To do this, open Explorer, select the desired folder, right-click to open Properties. Click on them; by default, a window with the “General” menu will open. Uncheck the “Hidden” property, click “Apply”, OK.

This folder will become normal. To return the hidden attributes, you just need to check the appropriate box.

Important! When changing an attribute in Seven, only the directory is visible, without displaying the contents.

How to make a folder visible via the command line

To finish what we started and open the contents of such a folder, use command line. Administrator rights are required.

1. Win + R bring up the line, enter cmd command to call the console.
2. Next, enter the command attrib -s -h с:* /s /d, where instead of с: indicate the path to the folder or disk. The remaining command parameters remove the hidden and system attribute, start processing files, and allow display of processed folders.

The command takes some time to complete. When it completes, the system and previously hidden folders can be seen in Explorer.

How to open hidden files on a flash drive

Working with a flash drive in the Windows 7 environment is no different from working with a disk. Therefore, to open hidden files, it is enough to use all three methods of the built-in Windows tools described at the beginning of the article, including Total Commander.

Important! When starting a flash drive, do not forget to scan the flash drive for viruses

How to show hidden folders through the registry

We must immediately warn you that the built-in Windows tools are sufficient for manipulating folder attributes. Tampering with the registry can end disastrously for an inexperienced user. If the risks are taken into account and the actions are thought out, we proceed.

We do it as shown in the screenshot:

The best thing to do is reboot your computer.

What to do if there is no Folder Options menu in Explorer

This a clear sign infecting your computer with viruses. Viruses are often disguised as attributes of Windows system files. If they got into HDD, then, most likely, the antivirus could not cope with them, so disabling folder properties is a direct influence of malicious code.

How to restore access? It’s sad that even after cleaning your computer from viruses, hiding folder settings remains.

We carry out the restoration as shown in the screenshot:

This parameter is forced by the virus, which is why the folder properties are hidden and inaccessible.

We consider ways to enable display of system hidden folders and files, how to return the hidden attribute, and how to correctly make changes to the registry after a virus attack. What can you do with Total capabilities Commander in this regard. We warn once again against interfering with the registry if you are not confident in your abilities. In case of erroneous entries, this may lead to reinstallation of the OS

Hi all! Today we will look at basic knowledge Windows, without which you can’t go anywhere. All modern Windows operating systems hide from our eyes by default system files and folders so that you don't accidentally harm yourself and delete them. However, there are many reasons when access to these files becomes necessary - this is where the question arises of how to show hidden folders in Windows 10.

When might this be useful? For example, the hidden AppData/Roaming folder contains a huge amount of user data (the same toy saves). Or maybe you just don’t like that the system is trying to limit you - you can and even need to view hidden folders!

Many users use hiding various files and folders to protect information. It’s clear that the method is so-so, but I know people who have hidden the folder... and don’t know how to get into it (hid from themselves)

I decided to tell you about three ways to open hidden folders and files in Windows 10 (although it will work perfectly for any other Microsoft OS). In this regard, Ten has gone far ahead and it is possible to show the necessary files in a couple of clicks, without wandering through the system settings.

How to show hidden folders in Windows 10 through Explorer

The shortest way to get what you want is to use a small tweak in the standard and everyone's favorite Windows Explorer. Find the "View" tab and make sure that "Hidden Elements" is checked. That's all - the system will show you hidden files and folders.

Hidden files and folders in Windows 10 through Folder and Search Options

If the method above appeared only with Windows 8... then the second option has probably been around since the very first versions (By at least it was in Windows 98, but previously I didn’t even have a computer).

Click on the “File” tab and select “Change folder and search options” from the drop-down menu.

In the window that opens, go to the “View” tab and check the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” option, click “Apply”

This is how we enabled the display of hidden folders in Windows 10 - as you can see, everything is simply outrageous.

How to open hidden folders on Windows 10? - Control Panel

If the previous two methods seemed too simple to you, then meet the longest and most inconvenient option with displaying hidden files in Windows 10 (for those who like to complicate things).

You can enable showing hidden files through the Control Panel. In fact, we use the second method with setting up Explorer, but we do this not from the program interface, but from the global system settings.

Go to the Control Panel and for easier searching, change the view to “Small icons” and find the “File Explorer Options” item.

On the “View” tab, check the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” option and click the “Apply” button. From now on you will be able to see hidden files.

You will most likely be warned that showing hidden files is not entirely safe - edit them wisely and know what you are doing... (if you want to show system files, then uncheck “Hide protected system files”)

Bottom line

We have reviewed 3 different ways show hidden folders in Windows 10. Please note that system files are also hidden and simply checking the “Show hidden files” checkbox is not enough... you need to make the settings according to the third method in the control panel - then you will see everything!

Sometimes there is a need to make available hidden files or folders, display them, make them visible. Let's look at how to do this in the Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems (in Windows Vista and 8 similarly). The "Folder Options" window itself in all Windows versions the same, only the method of opening this window is different.

How to show hidden folders and files in Windows 7, Vista

Let's go to Control Panel (via menu Start). Select an item Folders settings . If not found, then in the upper right corner of the Control Panel there is the word "View:" and next to it you can select a display option: "Category", "Large Icons", "Small Icons". Choose one of two latest options. Now you will definitely find the item you need Folders settings .

After that in all operating systems a window will open in front of you where you can configure display hidden folders and files. Further, the procedure will be the same, despite minor differences in appearance windows

Go to the tab View. Under the inscription Extra options there is a list of parameters that can be checked. Scroll this list down to the end. We put a point opposite "Show hidden files, folders and drives" , uncheck "Hide protected system files" (here the system will issue a warning, we answer Yes). Click "Apply" And "OK" .

All is ready. That's it Hidden and system folders and files are displayed as usual. When the need for this disappears, you can go to Folders settings and on the tab View press "Restore defaults" .

How to show hidden folders and files in Windows XP

Method 1. Opening Conductor(or My computer ). In the upper left corner we look for the standard menu bar (File, Edit, View...). Click Service - Folder properties... .

Method 2. Opening Control Panel (via menu Start), select Folder properties . If you do not find this item, then on the left you need to click "Switch to Classic View".

In the Windows 7/10 operating systems, it is possible to set the “Hidden” attribute for folders and files, after which they cease to be displayed in Explorer, i.e. become "invisible". Typically, this setting is used when the user wants to hide some information from prying eyes. But this function It is also a built-in security tool for the Windows system itself. Part of the so-called system folders storing important files OSes are hidden by default so that novice users cannot damage their contents and thus not disrupt the performance of the system. In this article we will talk about how to display hidden folders and files in Windows 7/10, regardless of whether they are system files or not.

Enabling showing hidden folders

Windows 7

In the "seven" to display hidden folders and files, go to Explorer, and then to top menu choose Service – Folder Options. If this menu does not appear for you, then press the button Alt and it will appear immediately.

Next, in the “Folder Options” window that opens, go to the “View” tab and in the list of additional options, set the switch to the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” position. After that, save the settings using the “Ok” button.

That's it, now you can see hidden folders and files. If you need to display Windows 7 system directories, you should uncheck the box next to “Hide protected system files (recommended)” by clicking “Yes” in the window with the warning message.

An alternative way to get to Folder Settings in Windows 7 is to use the Control Panel tool. We go into it through the Start menu, and then to the “Small icons” display mode, click on the “Folder Options” item. Then we do everything in the same way as described above.

Windows 10

IN Windows system 10 in order to enable the display of hidden folders and files, you need to follow the path in the Explorer menu View – Options – Change folder and search options.

Folder display settings can also be accessed through the Control Panel. Open it, and then go to the “Explorer Options” section.

Here we act according to the already known scheme.

Using the Windows Search Bar

In both Windows 7 and Windows 10, you can quickly go to folder settings search string Start menu. In the “seven” you just need to enter the request “Folder Options”, in the “ten” - “Explorer Options”.