Windows 10 offers an selection to bear witness hidden files and folders that y'all don't see by default. Once you enable this option, File Explorer starts displaying all your hidden items.

You can view the subconscious files and folders in both File Explorer every bit well as control-line tools like PowerShell and Control Prompt.

Show Hidden Files and Folders in File Explorer

Follow the steps below to configure File Explorer to bear witness all hidden contents in your directories.

  1. Open the Beginning menu, search for This PC, and select This PC in the search results.
  1. Select the View tab at the top of the This PC window.
  1. On the right of your screen, enable the Subconscious items checkbox.
  1. File Explorer will get-go displaying hidden files and folders on your figurer.
  1. To re-hide your items, deselect the Hidden items box in File Explorer.

Show Hidden Files and Folders From Control Console

If y'all prefer the Command Console, y'all can use an option in this utility to get Windows 10 to display hidden files and folders.

  1. Admission the Start card, search for Control Panel, and select the utility in the results.
  1. In the Command Panel, select the bill of fare next to View by and choose Category.
  1. Select the Advent and Personalization pick.
  1. Choose Show hidden files and folders under the File Explorer Options.
  1. You lot're at present in the View tab of the File Explorer Options window. Here, select the Evidence hidden files, folders, and drives option. Select Apply followed by OK.
  1. Windows File Explorer will now display all your hidden files and folders.
  1. To hide hidden items, select the Don't evidence hidden files, folders, or drives option. And then, select Use followed past OK.

Show Hidden Files and Folders From Settings

Windows 10's Settings app also includes the option to show subconscious contents on your PC.

To use this method:

  1. Press Windows + I keys to launch the Settings app or search and select Settings in the Start menu.
  1. Select the Dwelling house button if you're not on the main settings page shown in Step three.
  2. Select Update & Security.
  1. Select For developers from the left sidebar.
  1. Scroll down the right pane to Alter settings to bear witness subconscious and system files. Choose Evidence settings.
  1. Enable the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option. So, select Apply and select OK to salvage your settings.

View Hidden Files and Folders in PowerShell

If you prefer control-line methods, you can use a command in Windows PowerShell to recollect a list of all your subconscious files and folders.

  1. Click on Start or the Windows Icon on the bottom left and type PowerShell. Select Windows PowerShell from the results.
  1. In the PowerShell window, type cd, type a space, and then enter the full path of the binder where your hidden files are located. For example, if your subconscious files are in a folder called MyDocuments on your desktop, you'd utilise the following command replacing USER with your username. Then, printing Enter.

    cd C:\Users\USER\Desktop\MyDocuments

  1. Type dir -forcefulness and printing Enter. This reveals your hidden files and folders.
  1. If you aren't sure what binder contains the hidden files, blazon cd, blazon a infinite, enter the full path of the binder whose subfolders could have the hidden files, and press Enter. Then, run this command:

    dir -recurse -force

  1. Hidden items in the selected folder and sub-folders should appear in the PowerShell window.

Keep in heed that this method simply shows hidden files in a PowerShell window; information technology doesn't make hidden items visible in File Explorer.

View Hidden Files in Windows Command Prompt

Some other manner to view a list of hidden files and folders is to utilize Control Prompt. Follow the steps below:

  1. Press the Windows key to open up the Get-go menu, search for Command Prompt, and select the utility in the search results.
  1. Type cd, type a space, and then enter the total path of the folder where your subconscious files are stored. So, press Enter.
  1. Type dir /ah  to view a list of the hidden files and folders.
  1. If y'all don't know what folder contains the hidden files, you can run a subconscious file scan on a parent folder. This will scan all of the subfolders in that main folder. To practice this, type cd, type a infinite, enter the full path of the folder, and press Enter. Then, run the following control:

    dir /ah /southward

  1. The Command Prompt window at present lists the hidden items from the specified folder and sub-folders.

The above method doesn't make whatsoever changes to File Explorer options and simply lists the subconscious files.

Show Subconscious Operating Arrangement Files

There are certain operating organisation files that won't appear fifty-fifty if you enable the hidden files choice in File Explorer. Follow the steps below to toggle on a split up option to view these hidden OS files:

  1. Press the Windows key to open up the Kickoff menu, type Bear witness subconscious files, and select that option in the search results.
  1. Scroll to Change settings to show hidden and system files and select Bear witness settings.
  1. Whorl down to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). Uncheck the box for this pick.
  1. Select Yes if a alert pops up. Then, select Employ followed by OK.

A Word of Caution

On the net, many resources may enquire yous to use the attrib control from the Control Prompt or PowerShell to view your hidden items. Information technology's generally not rubber to change the attribute of a system file every bit this may have unexpected consequences.

Exercise let u.s.a. know, in the comments below, which method worked for you.