[Solved] Windows 11/10 Do not Show Hidden Files and Folders 2023  

[Solved] Windows 11/10 Do not Show Hidden Files and Folders 2023


Windows 11 is the latest OS for PC, but some users are frustrated that it doesn't show hidden files and folders by default. However, there are 5 ways to solve this problem, and if those don't work, you can try using data recovery software like Qiling to recover your hidden files.

Windows 10 users often face the issue of hidden files and folders not being displayed, despite hiding them. This problem can be frustrating, especially when you need to access those files. However, there are solutions available to recover and display hidden files and folders, and this article will guide you through some of those methods. By following these steps, you can resolve the issue of "show hidden files Windows 11/10 not working" and regain access to your hidden files.

Quick Navigation
Solution 1: How to Show Hidden Files from View Menu
Solution 2: How to Show Hidden Files/Folders Using Control Panel
Solution 3: How to Use Command Prompt to Show Hidden Files/Folders
Solution 4: How to run System File Checker Tool to show hidden files/folders
Solution 5: How to adjust the Registry to show hidden files/folders
Solution 6: How to Recover Hidden Files on Computer

Solution 1: How to Show Hidden Files from View Menu

If the files or folders are not hidden with tight security, they are likely just hidden from view, and can be shown by accessing the View menu.

  1. To show hidden files in Windows 11/10, open the file manager, click on the "View" tab, and select the "Hidden items" checkbox. Alternatively, you can press the "Ctrl + Shift + E" shortcut to toggle the display of hidden files.
  2. To view hidden files on a Windows computer, go to the "View" option and check the box next to "Hidden items". This will allow you to see the hidden files that were previously invisible.
  3. show hidden files in windows 10

Solution 2: How to Show Hidden Files/Folders Using Control Panel

If solution 1 doesn't work, you can try another way by using the Control Panel. This is also a simple method, but make sure to choose the right options to avoid messing up something else. Follow the below guideline.

  1. To open the Control Panel, click the Windows button at the bottom left panel, select and open it.
  2. To access Folder Options, go to the Appearance and Personalization section, click on the Options icon located on the right side of the ribbon.
  3. In the Folder Options dialog box, select the View tab and choose the option to Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
  4. show hidden files windows 10
  5. Deselect Hide extensions for known file types and click OK.

Solution 3: How to Use Command Prompt to Show Hidden Files/Folders

Command Prompt is a command-The Command Prompt, also known as cmd prompt, is a line interpreter application available in most Windows operating systems, used to execute entered commands. To show hidden files or folders using Command Prompt, you can follow these steps: [insert steps here].

  1. To access the Command Prompt on Windows, click the "Start" button on the main screen and enter "cmd" in the search bar.
  2. Right-To run a command prompt as an administrator, click on the "Start" button and type "cmd" in the search bar. Right-click on the "Command Prompt" result and select "Run as administrator".
  3. In Command Prompt, enter attrib -h -r -s /s /d f:*.* (f is the local disc which contains the hidden files).
  4. show hidden files windows 10 not working

Solution 4: How to run System File Checker Tool to show hidden files/folders

If you're unable to check the "Show hidden files" option in Windows 11/10, it's likely due to corrupted system files. In this case, running the System File Checker tool can be a helpful solution. This built-in Windows tool can repair missing or corrupted system files, which should resolve the issue and allow you to see hidden files. To run the System File Checker tool, follow the step-by-step instructions to fix the "show hidden files not working" error in Windows.

Step 1: To run the DISM command, type the following lines in the command prompt: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and sfc /scannow. The DISM command creates a Windows image for protecting data. (Note: I corrected the command line to include the space between "sfc" and "/scannow")

Step 2: Restart your computer and check whether the problem still persists or not.

Solution 5: How to adjust the Registry to show hidden files/folders

To access the registry, press and hold or right-click on the Start button, then select "Run." Type "Regedit" in the Open box and select OK. Be cautious when modifying the registry, as small mistakes can cause significant system errors. The registry runs as an administrator, giving it control over the entire Windows system.

Step 1: Press "Windows + R" keys together and type "Regedit". In the prompt, click "OK".

Step 2: Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL

Step 3: Double-click on "CheckedValue" and set the "Value data" as "1".

Step 4: Reboot your computer and check whether "show hidden files not working" still exist or not, most probably it's gone.

windows 11 can't show hidden files

Solution 6: How to Recover Hidden Files on Computer

If none of the above solutions work and your Windows still can't show hidden files, you may need to try a professional data recovery tool. Deep Data Recovery is a tool that can help, offering two scanning modes to find specific files. If you're experiencing issues with "Windows 11/10 show hidden folders not working", this tool can help you get back on track with a step-by-step guide.

Your Safe & Effective PC Hidden File Recovery Software

  • Free download version available, and a deep scan can be performed if the normal scan fails.
  • The software offers a wide array of support for various file systems, allowing for a simple three-step process for recovery, making it an efficient and effective solution for data recovery needs.
  • 100% safe and effective to help you recover deleted My documents folder in Windows 10, 11, and other OS.

Step-by-step Guide to Recover Hidden Files on Computer

  1. After launching the software, locate the folders from where the files are disappeared and scan to recover deleted hidden files in Windows 10.
  2. windows 10 show hidden folders not working
  3. After the scan is complete, the retrieved files will be displayed on the screen. You can preview and select the files you want to recover, and then click the "Recover" button to finish the process.
  4. windows 10 do not show hidden files and folders

We hope you've found a solution to showing hidden files or folders on Windows 11/10 after reading this article. If not, we've provided 6 step-by-step solutions, and if those fail, you can try the Deep Data Recovery tool, a trusted and reliable tool that many experts use to recover hidden, lost, or deleted files, and also protects them from virus attacks. This tool has many advantages, including data recovery, and we wish you a safe recovery without losing any important data.

Download Deep Data Recovery software to have a try!

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