3 Ways to Display Hidden Files/Folders in Windows 11

Windows 11 Hidden Files Not Displaying, Why?

Windows 11 users might encounter an issue where files are either hidden or not displaying properly. This can be due to several reasons.

• Files are concealed due to the shortcut virus.
• Windows Defender is restricting access to specific folders.
• Windows 11 inherently hides certain system files and folders.
• Some files might have their "hidden" attribute activated in Windows File Explorer.

Do you need to display hidden files and folders in Windows 11? Don't panic – you're not the only one. With an increasing number of users adopting Windows 11, the need to access hidden folder contents is on the rise. If you're struggling to locate a hidden file that you're trying to open, fear not! There are several straightforward methods to help you uncover these elusive files quickly and effortlessly. In this blog post, we'll delve into three ways to reveal and access those cunningly concealed files in Windows 11.

Method 1: Display Hidden Files in Windows 11 using File Explorer

Revealing hidden files in Windows 11 using File Explorer is a straightforward process that doesn't necessitate the assistance of a computer specialist. You can either watch this video to display hidden files in Windows 11 or follow the detailed guide below:

• 0:12 Introduction
• 0:17 Display hidden files in Windows 11 using File Explorer

Step 1. Open File Explorer.

Step 2. Tap on the three dots located at the top.

Step 3. Go to "Options > View > Hidden files and folders."

Step 4. Choose "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" to view concealed files in Windows 11.

Method 2: Display Hidden Files in Windows 11 using CMD Alternative

Another method to reveal hidden files in Windows 11 is by utilizing the CleanGenius tool.

Manual execution of command lines is suitable for computer professionals, as incorrect commands can cause more harm than good. For safety and user-friendliness, we highly recommend trying an automated command line alternative - CleanGenius. This practical tool allows you to check and fix file system errors, enable or disable write protection, and update your system with just one click, eliminating the need to type complex command lines.

Follow the simple steps below to reveal hidden files with this one-click solution software.

Step 1: DOWNLOAD the tool CleanGenius for free.

Step 2. Launch CleanGenius and select "Optimization" from the left panel. Next, click "File Explorer" on the right panel.

Step 3. Select the hard drive and click "Execute".

Step 4. After the operation is complete, click the here link to view the hidden files.

Translation:

Method 3: Display Hidden Files Using Data Recovery Software

If you're still unable to view hidden files in Windows 11, seek assistance from data recovery software. The Data Recovery Wizard is an excellent and user-friendly tool for promptly recovering lost data or displaying hidden files in Windows 11. Its intuitive interface makes it suitable for both experienced users and novices.

1. Utilizing this tool, restoring missing data is incredibly rapid since it removes the necessity for manual file location, scanning, and searching - conserving time that can be allocated to other tasks. 2. Moreover, this powerful hard drive recovery software excels at displaying concealed files that might have been unintentionally erased or damaged due to various reasons. 3. Boasting unparalleled technology, it allows users to promptly recover lost files or data within minutes. Download this data recovery software now and reveal hidden files with ease.

Step 1. Select the virus-infected drive to scan

Run virus file recovery software on your Windows PC. Select the disk that was affected by the virus to scan for missing or hidden files. Note that:

• If the files were hidden or deleted by a virus on an HDD, it's recommended to install the software on a different volume or an external USB drive to prevent data overwrite.
• If the infected device is an external hard drive, flash drive, or memory card, it's safe to install the software on the local drive of the computer.

Step 2. Check all scanned results

Data Recovery Wizard will instantly initiate a scanning process to locate your deleted or hidden files on the virus-infected hard drive. To swiftly find the desired files, you can utilize the Filter or Type Grouping feature to display only images, videos, documents, emails, and so on.

Step 3. Preview and recover deleted/hidden files In this step, you will be able to preview the deleted or hidden files that the software has found. Select the files you wish to recover and proceed with the recovery process. 1. After the scan is complete, the program will display a list of all the recoverable files. 2. You can preview the files by clicking on them, especially for image, document, or text files to ensure they are the ones you need. 3. Check the boxes next to the files you want to recover, or use the "Select All" option to recover everything. 4. If necessary, you can also use the "Filter" feature to quickly locate specific file types. 5. Once you've selected the desired files, click on the "Recover" button to initiate the recovery process. 6. Choose a safe location on your device or an external storage to save the recovered files, ensuring it's different from the original location to avoid overwriting any other data. 7. Wait for the recovery process to finish, and then access your recovered files from the designated save location.

Once the process is complete, you can preview the scanned files. Select the files you wish to recover and click the "Recover" button. It's recommended to save the restored files to a different secure location on your computer or storage device, not in the original location where they were lost.

Conclusion

You can employ any of the solutions above whenever you need to display hidden files in Windows 11. The first method is the most efficient, enabling you to reveal hidden files with just a few clicks. If you encounter lost files or missing files in Windows 11, utilize data recovery software tools to scan and recover the lost data.

"FAQs: How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 11"

You can obtain further assistance by reading the questions and answers below.

< strong >1. How can I locate my hidden file on a USB drive?< / strong >

Follow the steps below to display hidden files on a USB drive:

Step 1. In Windows 10/8/7, press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Step 2. In the Folder Options or File Explorer Options window, click on the "View" tab. Under "Hidden files and folders," select the option "Show hidden files, folders, and drives."

2. How can I locate hidden files in Windows 10?

Here are the steps to unhide files in Windows 10: 1. Open File Explorer: Click on the File Explorer icon typically located on the taskbar or press the keyboard shortcut 'Windows key + E'. 2. Navigate to the folder containing hidden files: Browse to the location where the hidden files are stored. 3. Access the View tab: Click on the "View" tab in the top ribbon of the File Explorer window. 4. Enable the "Hidden items" checkbox: In the "Show/hide" section, locate and check the box next to "Hidden items". This will enable the display of hidden files and folders. 5. See the unhidden files: Now, you should be able to see the previously hidden files and folders within the folder. They usually appear with a semi-transparent icon. 6. Optional: To permanently show hidden files and folders in all folders, follow these additional steps: - Go to the "Options" button in the top-right corner, and click on "Change folder and search options." - In the "Folder Options" dialog box, select the "View" tab. - Scroll down and find the option "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)." Uncheck this box if it's checked. - Below that, uncheck the option "Hide extensions for known file types" as well. - Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. Now, hidden files and folders will be visible by default in Windows 10 until you choose to hide them again.

Step 1. Access the Start menu search bar, type control panel, and press Enter.

Step 2. In the Control Panel, select Appearance and Personalization > File Explorer Options.

Step 3. Click on the "View" tab and select the "Hidden files and folders" option.

Step 4. Next, click on the option to Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

3. How do I hide files and folders in Windows 11? To hide files and folders in Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. **Select the File or Folder:** Navigate to the file or folder you want to hide and right-click on it. 2. **Open Properties:** From the context menu, choose "Properties." 3. **Toggle the Hidden Attribute:** In the "Properties" window, switch to the "Attributes" section. You'll see a checkbox labeled "Hidden." Click on it to check the box. 4. **Apply Changes:** Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. 5. **Show Hidden Files and Folders (Optional):** By default, hidden files and folders won't be visible. To view them: - Press `Windows key + E` to open File Explorer. - Click on "View" in the top menu bar. - Check the box next to "Hidden items" to show hidden files and folders. Remember that hiding files and folders does not provide strong security; anyone with access to your computer can still find them if they know how to reveal hidden items. If you need to protect sensitive data, consider using encryption or password protection.

To hide files in Windows 11: 1. Right-click on the file or folder you want to hide. 2. Select "Properties" from the context menu. 3. In the Properties window, navigate to the "General" tab. 4. Check the box next to "Hidden" under the Attributes section. 5. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. To show hidden files and folders: 1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E. 2. Click on the "View" tab in the top menu. 3. In the Show/hide section, check the box next to "Hidden items." 4. Now, hidden files and folders will be visible. Remember that hiding files does not provide secure protection. Anyone with access to your computer can still see hidden files if they know how to reveal them. If you need to protect sensitive data, consider using encryption or password protection.

Navigate to any folder in the File Explorer and click on the "More" button (represented by three dots) located at the top.

From the context menu, choose Options. Proceed to the View tab within the Folder Options dialog box.

Click the Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives option, and then click Apply > OK to save the changes.

4. How to fix the issue of Windows 10 not showing hidden files?

You can follow these solutions to address the issue with Windows 10 not showing hidden files:

• Run System File Checker (SFC)
• Modify Registry Settings
• Restore Hidden Files...