View Hidden Files and Folders

In many cases, a user reported that they want to edit or modify certain files, but can’t find the path of that particular folder because of the folder of the file is hidden. They don’t know how to view or show hidden folders and files.

Do you know Windows hides out many of the folders and files by default in its directories? This prevents users to modifying or deleting important Windows related files.

There are some important Windows system files in the installation directory that Microsoft does not want you to delete them by mistaken or accidentally.

If user modify or edit the Windows hidden file and folder in the wrong way, it can create several issues with your 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.

For this, you need to access Folder Options (Windows Vista & 7) or File Explorer Options (Windows 8.1 & 10) in order to show hidden folders and files. Check, how to access hidden files and folders in Window 8.1 & 10?

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 key combination Win + E or double click on Computer icon on the desktop screen.

Step 2. Click on Organize menu from the right-left of Windows explorer and select “Folder and search options”

Step 3. You will see the Folder Options windows on your screen.

• Click on View Tab and under Advanced settings: select the radio button of 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 will see the list of all control panel items, navigate and click on Folder Options to open it.

Then, follow the Step 3 under Method 1.

Method 3: From Run Dialog Box

• Press keyboard key combinations Win + R to open Windows Run dialog box
• Then, type control folders and hit OK button to open Folder Options
• Then again, follow the 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.

• For that, click on Window 7 Start menu and type in Search bar.
• Type, folder options and you will see the result.
• Click the find results as Folder Options.
• Again then, follow the given Step 3 under Method 1.

This article is for information purpose only. All of the 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 any time by doing default settings under View Tab in Folder Options screen. Just need to click on Restore Defaults and Windows will hide all the default files and folders as it supposed to be.

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