The biggest problem especially in computers with macOS and Windows operating systems and in storage devices such as memory cards and USB flash drives that you take with you to many places is privacy. Because all your files and folders located here are visible. To avoid this situation, hiding files and folders is an extremely effective method.
Fine, but I’ve hidden the files and folders, and now you might be saying I can’t see it. Many users have this type of problem after hiding files and folders on their computer or storage device. Don’t worry, all devices and operating systems have an easy solution to this problem. Let’s take a closer look at how to show hidden files and see some of the ways you can easily apply.
How to show hidden files?
- Show hidden folders and files in Windows
- Show hidden folders and files on macOS
- Show hidden folders and files on USB flash drive and memory card
Show hidden folders and files in Windows:
- Method #1: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 7
- Method #2: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 8
- Method #3: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 10
- Method #4: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 11
Method #1: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 7:
- Step #1: Open the Control Panel page.
- Step #2: Go to Appearance and Personalization page.
- Step #3: Display the Folder Options screen.
- Step #4: Expand the View tab.
- Step #5: Find the Advanced Settings heading.
- Step #6: Click on ‘show hidden files, folders and drives’.
- Step #7: Click the OK button.
To show hidden folders and files on your computer with Windows 7 operating system, just follow the steps above. If you cannot view hidden folders and files after the process, you may need to restart your computer.
Method #2: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 8:
- Step #1: Open the Windows search bar.
- Step #2: type and search folder.
- Step #3: Click on Folder Options from the results.
- Step #4: Expand the View tab.
- Step #5: Find the Advanced Settings heading.
- Step #6: Click on ‘show hidden files, folders and drives’.
- Step #7: Click the OK button.
To show hidden folders and files on your computer with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating system, just follow the steps above. If you cannot view hidden folders and files after the process, you may need to restart your computer.
Method #3: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 10:
- Step #1: Open the Windows search bar.
- Step #2: type and search folder.
- Step #3: Click on ‘Show hidden files and folders’ from the results.
- or
- Step #4: Open File Explorer.
- Step #5: Open the view page.
- Step #6: Open the Options page.
- Step #7: Click on ‘Change folder and search options’.
- Step #8: Expand the View tab.
- Step #9: Find the Advanced Settings heading.
- Step #10: Click on ‘show hidden files, folders and drives’.
- Step #11: Click the OK button.
To show hidden folders and files on your computer with Windows 10 operating system, just follow the steps above. If you cannot view hidden folders and files after the process, you may need to restart your computer.
Method #4: Show hidden folders and files in Windows 11:
- Step #1: Open File Explorer on your computer.
- Step #2: Expand the View tab.
- Step #3: Open the Show page.
- Step #4: Click Hide Items.
To show hidden folders and files on your computer with Windows 11 operating system, just follow the steps above. If you cannot view hidden folders and files after the process, you may need to restart your computer.
Show hidden folders and files on macOS:
- Method #1: Show hidden folders and files with terminal command
- Method #2: Show hidden folders and files with hotkeys
Method #1: Show hidden folders and files with terminal command:
- Step #1: Open the Terminal page on your macOS computer.
- Step #2: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE; Type killall Finder and press Enter.
- Step #3: Hidden files will be displayed.
- Step #4: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE; Type killall Finder and press Enter.
- Step #5: The files will be hidden again.
To show hidden folders and files on your macOS computer using the Terminal command, just follow the steps above. After typing the command in question, it will be enough to press the Enter key to run it.
Method #2: Show hidden folders and files with hotkeys:
- Step #1: Open the Finder window with the hidden folders and files you want to view.
- Step #2: Key in cmd + shift + dot key combination.
- Step #3: Hidden files will be displayed.
- Step #4: Press the cmd + shift + dot key combination again.
- Step #5: The files will be hidden again.
To show hidden folders and files on your computer with macOS operating system using hot keys with a special key combination, just follow the steps above.
Show hidden folders and files on USB flash drive and memory card:
- Method #1: Show hidden folders and files via Command Prompt screen
- Method #2: Show hidden folders and files via Control Panel
Method #1: Show hidden folders and files via Command Prompt screen:
- Step #1: Connect the device with the hidden folders and files you want to see to your computer.
- Step #2: Open the Command Prompt screen by typing and searching cmd in the Windows search bar.
- Step #3: Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:*.* and press Enter.
- Replace G with the name of the device.
- Step #4: Hidden files will be displayed.
Method #2: Show hidden folders and files via Control Panel:
- Step #1: Connect the device with the hidden folders and files you want to see to your computer.
- Step #2: Open the Windows Control Panel.
- Step #3: Open the Appearance and Personalization page.
- Step #4: Open File Explorer.
- Step #5: Open the view page.
- Step #6: Open the Options page.
- Step #7: Click on ‘Change folder and search options’.
- Step #8: Expand the View tab.
- Step #9: Find the Advanced Settings heading.
- Step #10: Click on ‘show hidden files, folders and drives’.
- Step #11: Click the OK button.
We answered the question of how to show hidden files on your computer with Windows and macOS operating systems, or on a memory card and USB flash drive, and we talked about the simplest methods you can apply for this process.