View Hidden Files and Folders
In many cases, a user reported that they wanted to edit or modify certain files, but they can’t find the path of that particular folder because the folder or the file is hidden. They don’t know how to view or show hidden folders and files within Windows
Do you know Windows hides out many of the folders and files by default in its directories? This prevents users from modifying or deleting important Windows related files.
Microsoft does not want you to delete any important Windows system files in the installation directory by mistake or accident.
If a user incorrectly modifies or edits a Windows hidden file or folder, it can cause several problems with Windows operating system.
Show Hidden Folders and Files in Windows
Hereby this article shows you the four (4) different ways to view or show hidden folders and files in Windows 7.
To do this, you will need to access the Folder Options (in Windows Vista and Windows 7) or File Explorer Options (Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and 11) in order to show hidden folders and files.
[Read: How to access hidden files and folders in Windows 8.1, 10 and Windows 11?]
Method 1: From Windows Explorer
This is the quite popular and easy way to show hidden folders and files in Windows 7.
Step 1. Open Windows Explorer. To Open Windows File Explorer, you can use the key combination Win + E or double click on the Computer icon on the desktop screen.
Step 2. Click on the Organize menu from the right-left side of Windows explorer and select Folder and search options
Step 3. You will see the Folder Options window on your screen.
- Click on the View Tab and under Advanced settings: select the radio button to Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
- If you want to see file type extensions, then uncheck Hide extensions for known file types.
- Click Apply and OK to save the settings.
Method 2: From Windows Control Panel
Step 1. Click on Windows 7 Start Menu and select Control Panel from the given list.
Step 2. Navigate to the right, from the drop-down of Category, select, Small icons. By doing this, it will explore the control panel items for you.
Step 3. Once you see the list of all control panel items, navigate to and click on Folder Options to open it.
Then, follow Step 3 under Method 1.
Method 3: From Run Dialog Box
- Press the keyboard key combinations Win + R to open the Windows Run dialog box
- Then, type control folders and hit the OK button to open Folder Options
- Then again, follow Step 3 under Method 1
Method 4: From Windows 7 Search Menu
This is the easiest way to open Windows Folder options and show hidden folders and files in a Windows 7 PC.
- To do that, click on Window 7 Start menu and type in Search bar.
- Type folder options and you will see the result.
- From the given results, select Folder Options.
- Again then, follow the given Step 3 under Method 1.
This article is for information purposes only. Be aware that all hidden files and folders in a Windows operating system are protected for a reason by Microsoft.
Modifying or deleting them can damage your Windows operating system or may cause any of the startup issues with Windows.
We don’t recommend any changes in your hidden files and folders unless you know how to access (modify) them correctly.
Note: You can hide Windows files and folders at any time by going to the default settings under the View Tab on the Folder Options screen.
You just need to click on Restore Defaults and Windows will hide all the default files and folders as they are supposed to be.
