Besides the folders that Windows uses to store documents and programs, the operating system also has many areas that are not so easy to access. These are typically folders where data relevant to the system, configuration files, or device drivers are stored ..
An example of the above is the AppData folder, which contains program settings, user profiles, and temporary files. These folders and their files are hidden by default , as they are not used on a day-to-day basis, but are necessary in the background for the operating system to function properly.
As a general rule, it is neither necessary nor recommended that you start to edit or modify these hidden files and folders on your own. If you unintentionally move, rename, or even delete these items, some programs may stop working or may cause damage to your entire Windows system. In the worst case, one of these modifications can cause the complete crash of the system ..
Therefore, never modify hidden system files if you don't know exactly what you are doing. If in doubt, consult your system administrator . We also recommend that you create a system backup so that you can restore your computer if something goes wrong.
But sometimes users do need to see these hidden files , for example, to clean the Windows.old folder, removing saved system data from a previous Windows installation. For cases like this, there is the possibility of displaying the hidden files. Depending on the operating system used, the process may vary slightly..
To see hidden files and folders in Windows 8 and Windows 10, you must do the following:
Once you've viewed the hidden items, Windows displays these hidden folders with a slight transparent hue .
Alternatively, you can also view hidden files through Windows Folder Options . Just follow these five steps:
If you want to hide the files again, just remove the check mark or change the setting in the folder options.
The process for viewing hidden files and folders in Windows 7 is very similar. There are only a few changes to the menus. To see hidden files in Windows 7 you must do the following:
Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 7 in early 2020. It will no longer release any more security updates for the system. You can see what this means for you and what alternative options you have in our article on Windows 7 end of support.
Another method of viewing hidden files in Windows 7 and later versions is the Command Prompt. Proceed as follows:
You may need to hide certain files or folders, for example, if you work on a multi-user computer. The easiest way is to create a folder, right-click to access the properties and activate the option? Hidden ? from the section ? Attributes ? You can do the same with files, for example Office documents.
But remember: if you use any of the methods to see hidden files that we showed you before, the folders that you hide yourself will also be visible. To avoid this, there is another option:
In this way you will create a folder without a name and without an icon , so it will not be visible if you modify the folder options. To access the folder you just have to click on the place where the folder is located. It is important that you memorize its location well, since now the folder is invisible.
Are you a Mac user? Follow our step-by-step guide to find out how to show hidden files and folders on a Mac.
