How to make hidden folders open in Windows or MacOS. How to View Hidden Files and Folders in Windows
To protect system folders, in which files important for the operation of the operating system are stored, they are made hidden. IN normal mode the user does not see these directories and cannot even view them. In this article we will tell you how to find hidden folders at any Windows versions and MacOS.
Using Explorer
Let's see how to see the hidden ones Windows folders using only the operating system itself. This method works equally well on all its versions. Using it, get the opportunity to see hidden folders in Windows XP, which has not yet left the arena, and more latest versions, such as Windows 8 or 10. To enable the display of hidden objects, you will need to go to and find the section “ Folder Options».
In the window that opens, select the “ View" and scroll all the parameters to the very end, where you see a section called " Hidden files and folders" Use the switch to change the default value by setting it to " Show hidden files, folders and drives».
After this procedure, “windows” of any version, from 2000 or XP to Windows 8 or 10, will constantly display them in Conductor. The pictures below show the process of gaining access to hidden folders in Windows 7, as the most common version.
Another way that will allow you to display hidden Windows folders, is to use a file manager Total Commander. This is a convenient, two-panel tool that installs and works on Windows 8, 10, 7 and other older systems. So, let's see how to make hidden folders visible using it. The main window of the program in which you will work is presented below.
As can be seen in the figure, top panel contains settings grouped into blocks that must be changed in order to be able to see on the computer system files. IN in this case we are interested in " Configuration", open it and select the item " Setting...».
The following window will open, in which we go to the section “ Panel Contents" At the top we find the block “ File display" The visibility parameters are responsible for the two top items, which we enable by checking them. We complete the actions by clicking the Apply button and get the opportunity to view system directories and files that were previously hidden.
To restore normal mode, all steps must be done in reverse order. Uncheck the viewing options and save your actions. You don’t have to constantly work with system files, and therefore, having completed the necessary actions, you can disable this mode as unnecessary.
Files on the flash drive are “lost”
A user may encounter such a situation when he gives his media to someone to write information on it. When you receive it back, you cannot find your files or the ones you wanted to receive. At the same time, they assure you that everything was recorded normally and no one erased anything from your disk. This phenomenon occurs when the virus has hidden files on the flash drive by setting the “hidden” attribute for them. This problem affects Windows users 8 and other versions of this OS. Although, often the one who infected the disk does not even know about the presence of viruses.
Let's figure out how to restore a flash drive and what the solution to the problem is. Now you already know how to detect hidden folders and, by turning on the appropriate mode, you can check whether they are there. In some cases, the virus, having hidden directories, creates shortcuts for them, and then the flash drive looks something like the one shown below.
In this case, the folders are found on the disk, but they are opened through shortcuts created by the virus, one of which leads to it. You need to restore such a flash drive sequentially, without launching anything from it. You will need to remove the shortcuts and turn folder visibility back on.
Changing attributes
So, to get to their files, they used knowledge of how to display hidden directories. Now let's learn how to remove the "hidden" attribute from a folder. Let's do this in Conductor And Total Commander.
Let's select the folder. Right click to expand context menu and select the item "".
An options window will open, showing a checkbox that hides it. By unchecking the “ Hidden", return the directories to their normal, ready-to-use form.
You can solve the same problem by using the already familiar file manager. In the disk selection window, find your flash drive and, going to it, select any necessary files. You can select one or several at once, and then click on the menu “ Files».
Open the dialogue " Change attributes"and perform actions similar to Conductor.
As you can see, restoring visibility to the data was not difficult. After you finish working with the folders, you need to scan the flash drive with an antivirus. If time allows, then completely reformat it, after saving the found data.
MacOS Hidden Folders
MacOS X is no exception; there are hidden folders on Mac computers as well. Now you will learn how to open access to hidden folders in this operating system. There is a simple and effective way, allowing you to instantly both open hidden folders and hide them back.
To perform this operation, Mac users just need to open the Finder and switch to the English layout, press the combination Shift keys+ Command + . . The last character is a dot, which in the English layout is located on the Russian letter “yu”.
As you can see, everything is much simpler on a Mac than on Windows. The whole question of how to find a hidden folder in MacOS can be solved using one command and does not require special settings.
In the case when there is no need to gain access to all hidden files, but only need to open “ Library"You can use another method. To enable this feature on MacOS, you will need to press the Option button and open the " Transition" V Finder. “” will appear in the list of available sections Library».
This mode in MacOS is convenient to use for a one-time transition to system folders.
Nice bonuses
Knowing how to view hidden folders on your computer, you can hide them if necessary. confidential information even on the desktop. As you guessed, we use the same technique that the virus used on the flash drive. We change the folder attribute to “hidden” and then remove the ability to display such files in the system. Using this simple technique allows you to hide a file or folder from unwanted views.
Conclusion
After reading this material, you have found answers to questions about how to show hidden files in different operating systems, as well as how to remove information you don’t want to show.
Video on the topic
The answer to the question: “Why?”
Often hidden folders are system folders. In this case, the manufacturer hides them in order to protect you from losing “vital” programs for your computer and to protect you from further possible non-functionality of the computer. There is also another option: the reason for hiding files and folders may be the owner’s reluctance to get into a situation where any part of his “personality” can be easily detected on the PC. In this case, users resort to hiding folders. Today we will look at information on how to open hidden folders. This is somewhat similar to the situation with telephones. At one time there were mobile phones, where using a password it was possible to protect personal messages from prying eyes. Approximately the same can be done with your laptop or PC.
How to Open Hidden Folders in Windows XP
Due to certain circumstances, there is often a need to search for hidden information. Then, if you are not an IT specialist, the question arises: “How to open hidden folders?” In order to help you, I have prepared information on how to do this on different Windows platforms, namely Windows 7 or Windows XP. First, let's look at Windows XP. Let's try to open them using the control panel. Click “Start”, then go to “Control Panel”, look for the “Folder Options” icon and click on it. Once Properties opens, you should go to the tab called View. Already directly in it we can open all hidden folders. Scroll down the entire list, check the box next to “Show hidden files and folders” and confirm the action with the “Apply” and “OK” buttons. All! For faster and easy opening hidden files, you can use the “My Computer” shortcut, which is located on the left side of the desktop. Open it, select “Tools” in the folder menu, then “Folder Options”, “View” and perform the same actions.
The first step is to go to Control Panel using the Start menu. This panel will include the item “Folder Options” (it is located in the first column) - open it. Go to the “View” tab, at the bottom of which there will be a “Hidden files and folders” folder. You also need to check the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” section. Click "OK".
We go to this folder and press the magic “Alt” button on the keyboard. After clicking it, you will have an additional line at the top of the folder. In this line, select “Service”, click on “Folder Options”, then “View” and do the same. Another tip: to quickly perform functions, you can press Win + E together. This will help you open “My Computer” easily and quickly. Such combinations make working on the computer much easier and make you feel more confident.
Conclusion
As it turned out, opening hidden folders is quite easy. Moreover, with the help of this information you can not only find hidden information, but also protect your PC from ill-wishers. Now you have become one step more experienced in the field of IT and can easily help your colleagues, friends and acquaintances solve this problem.
Sometimes you need to view or find hidden files or folders in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. This is easy to do:
How to show or hide hidden folders and files in Windows XP
Open some folder or " My computer". In the menu at the top of the window, the item “ Service" and click on it with the left mouse button. In the drop-down menu you need the lowest item - “ Folder properties«:
All. Don't forget to click the " OK»
How to show (open) or remove (hide) hidden folders and files in Windows Vista / Windows 7
It's even easier in Windows 7. Go to Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization, and find the "Show hidden files and folders" section.
After clicking on it, the same window will open as in Windows XP.
On the “View” tab, check the box next to “ Show hidden files and folders«.
You can also uncheck the box next to “ Hide protected system files«.
All. Again, don’t forget to click the “ OK«.
This instruction is about how to see or disable the display of hidden folders in Windows, and how to make a folder hidden. This is useful for viewing or deleting the contents of a hidden folder, or correcting accidental settings changes. The instructions are suitable for Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.
Via Explorer
Open File Explorer. This is done with the keyboard shortcut Win + E, or an arbitrary folder is opened.
In Windows 8 and 10, in the main menu at the top, select the “View” tab → “Show or Hide” → check or uncheck “Hidden elements”.
In Windows XP and 7, folder options in Explorer are opened via top line menu “Tools” → “Folder Options”. If this menu is hidden, click Organize → Folder and Search Options. On the “View” tab, at the very bottom of the list, find the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” item.
Via control panel
Open Control Panel. Find it in Start or right-click on the Start icon and find it in the context menu.
Select viewing type in the first top corner Control Panels - Icons.
Open File Explorer Options.
On the View tab in the list additional parameters Click “Show hidden files, folders and drives” (at the end). To disable the display of hidden folders, select “Do not show hidden files, folders and drives”.
System files are hidden separately. In the same place, uncheck “Hide protected system files” to display.
Click OK to apply the settings.
In the control panel there is a search by settings.
How to hide a folder
To make a folder or file hidden, open its properties (right mouse button - “Properties”). On the “General” tab, check the “Hidden” checkbox. In the same way, the hidden folder is made normal. Now the display of this folder will depend on the settings for showing hidden folders in Explorer.
How to enter a hidden folder
The hidden folder will open even if it is not visible in Explorer, if you know the path. Open File Explorer and address bar write down the path to the folder. For example, C:\Users\Admin\AppData and press Enter. The root folder has the hidden attribute, but the contents are not.
Even hidden files and folders are shown through search. Read reliable way hide a folder or file inside a picture.