Windows 10 offers an option to evidence subconscious files and folders that yous don't run into by default. In one case you enable this option, File Explorer starts displaying all your hidden items.

You lot can view the hidden files and folders in both File Explorer besides as command-line tools like PowerShell and Control Prompt.

Prove Hidden Files and Folders in File Explorer

Follow the steps beneath to configure File Explorer to show all hidden contents in your directories.

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

Show Hidden Files and Folders From Control Console

If you prefer the Control Console, you tin can utilize an pick in this utility to become Windows 10 to display hidden files and folders.

  1. Access the First card, search for Control Panel, and select the utility in the results.
  1. In the Control Panel, select the menu adjacent to View by and choose Category.
  1. Select the Appearance and Personalization option.
  1. Cull Testify subconscious files and folders nether the File Explorer Options.
  1. Y'all're now in the View tab of the File Explorer Options window. Here, select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option. Select Apply followed by OK.
  1. Windows File Explorer volition now display all your hidden files and folders.
  1. To hide hidden items, select the Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives option. And so, select Employ followed past OK.

Show Hidden Files and Folders From Settings

Windows 10'due south Settings app likewise includes the selection to testify hidden contents on your PC.

To utilise this method:

  1. Press Windows + I keys to launch the Settings app or search and select Settings in the Beginning menu.
  1. Select the Abode push if you lot're not on the master settings page shown in Step iii.
  2. Select Update & Security.
  1. Select For developers from the left sidebar.
  1. Scroll down the right pane to Change settings to show hidden and organisation files. Choose Prove settings.
  1. Enable the Show hidden files, folders, and drives choice. So, select Apply and select OK to save your settings.

View Hidden Files and Folders in PowerShell

If you lot prefer command-line methods, you can employ a command in Windows PowerShell to retrieve 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, blazon cd, blazon a space, and and then enter the full path of the folder where your hidden files are located. For example, if your hidden files are in a folder called MyDocuments on your desktop, y'all'd utilize the following command replacing USER with your username. Then, press Enter.

    cd C:\Users\USER\Desktop\MyDocuments

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

    dir -recurse -force

  1. Subconscious items in the selected folder and sub-folders should announced in the PowerShell window.

Go along in heed that this method merely shows hidden files in a PowerShell window; it doesn't make subconscious items visible in File Explorer.

View Hidden Files in Windows Control Prompt

Another style to view a listing of hidden files and folders is to employ Control Prompt. Follow the steps below:

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

    dir /ah /s

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

The to a higher place method doesn't make any changes to File Explorer options and only lists the hidden files.

Testify Hidden Operating System Files

There are certain operating system files that won't appear even if you enable the subconscious files selection in File Explorer. Follow the steps below to toggle on a separate option to view these subconscious Bone files:

  1. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, blazon Show hidden files, and select that choice in the search results.
  1. Curl to Modify settings to evidence subconscious and arrangement files and select Show settings.
  1. Scroll down to Hide protected operating arrangement files (Recommended). Uncheck the box for this option.
  1. Select Yep if a warning pops up. And so, select Apply followed by OK.

A Word of Circumspection

On the internet, many resources may ask you to utilise the attrib command from the Control Prompt or PowerShell to view your subconscious items. It'south generally not safe to change the aspect of a organization file equally this may take unexpected consequences.

Exercise let u.s. know, in the comments below, which method worked for y'all.