4 Ways to Show Hidden Files in Windows Using CMD, Control Panel, and Software

Page content: Four Ways to Show Hidden Files

When your files go missing from a USB drive or hard disk, you might wonder, “Is there a command in the Windows Command Prompt that can list hidden files?” Yes, there is a command that shows hidden files. Plus, there are a few other handy ways to unhide hidden files. The table below summarizes these methods, and you can click through for details.

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How do I make hidden files visible?

What would you do if your files and folders mysteriously vanished from your computer's hard drive, USB flash drive, or external hard disk without you deleting anything from the storage location?

If you're asking yourself "how to show hidden files" or "how to view all hidden files," don't panic. Files may be hidden by a virus, or simply because you don't have the permissions to see all hidden files and folders in Windows.

Here, we introduce 4 common methods to solve this issue: using Attrib CMD (Command Prompt), Show Hidden Files CMD tool, Windows Control Panel, and Data Recovery Wizard tool to show hidden files on Windows computer.

Method 1: Display/Recover Hidden Files with Data Recovery Software

In addition, a reliable data-recovery utility is a good bet for unearthing files and folders that may have been hidden by a virus or that are otherwise concealed because of incorrect file settings.

Here, you can use the Data Recovery Wizard tool to help you find all hidden files on your computer or external storage device and effectively perform deleted file recovery, formatted hard drive recovery, raw drive data recovery, and more. Mac users can also download the Mac version of this software to easily recover hidden and lost files.

Let's see how to use data recovery software tools to get back hidden files:

Step 1. Select the infected drive to scan

Run an antivirus file recovery program on your Windows computer. Select the infected disk to scan for lost or hidden files. Note that:

• If the infected files are on an HDD that was hidden or deleted due to a virus, it is recommended to install the software on another volume or external USB drive to avoid overwriting data. • If the infected device is an external hard drive, flash drive, or memory card, it is safe to install the software on the local drive of your computer.

Select the location to scan

Step 2: Check all the scan results

The "Data Recovery Wizard" will start scanning your virus-infected hard drive immediately, looking for the deleted or hidden files. To quickly find the file you need, use the "Filter" or "Group by Type" feature to display only pictures, videos, documents, emails, and so on.

Step 3: Preview and Recover Deleted/Hidden Files

Once the scan is finished, you can preview the files that were found. Select the ones you need and click the “Recover” button. You should save the recovered files to a different secure location on your computer or storage device instead of the original spot where they were lost.

Method 2: Display Hidden Files using Attrib CMD

This command will display all files that have been hidden manually or by a virus infection. The attrib command can also be applied to external storage devices like showing hidden files on USB drive and memory card.

Step 1. Press Windows + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or click the Windows icon, choose "Search," then type in cmd. Right-click on it and select "Run as administrator."

Step 2. Identify the drive or storage device from where you want to recover the hidden files.

Step 3: Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:\*.* and press Enter. (If your device's letter is D, replace G: with the letter of your device.)

Attribute Grammar Interpretation

- The `-h` switch removes the hidden attribute. - The `-r` switch removes the read-only attribute. - The `-s` switch removes the system attribute. - Using `/s` applies the `attrib` command and any command-line options to matching files in the current directory and all its subdirectories. - Using `/d` applies the `attrib` command and any command-line options to directories.

Method 3: Use the CMD Alternative to Show Hidden Files

While running commands manually from the command line is suitable for tech experts, incorrect commands can do more harm than good. For safety and ease of use, we highly recommend trying an automated command-line alternative, such as CleanGenius. This handy tool lets you check and fix file system errors, enable/disable write protection, and update your system with a single click, without the need to type complex command lines.

Use this one-click repair tool to show hidden files with the simple steps below.

Step 1: Download the CleanGenius tool for free.

Step 2: Launch CleanGenius, and then select “Optimize” from the left. Next, click on “File Display” on the right.

Step 3: Select the hard drive, then click “Execute.”

Step 4: Once done, click on this link to view the hidden files.

Method 4: Show Hidden Files through the Windows Control Panel

When you can't see some of your saved files on your computer hard drive or external storage device, but you're sure that the files still exist, seek assistance with the tips here.

Step 1: Open the Control Panel in Windows, and in Windows 10, 8.1, and 8, navigate to the File Explorer Options.

Step 2: In the File Explorer Options window, go to the View tab, and under the Hidden files and folders section, check the box for Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

Step 3. Re-open your local drive or device and check your computer for hidden files and folders again.

If you still can't see the hidden files after trying both Methods 1 and 2, your files are likely gone for good.

What is the best way to show hidden files?

It would be wise for you to study in depth all the options for un-hiding files, and choose the one that best fits your situation.

While you can use the Command Prompt and the Attrib command to 100% locate hidden items on your computer and external storage devices, this requires a bit of computer know-how. The Hidden files and folders option in the Control Panel is an easy way to unhide files, but it doesn't address virus infections.

Data recovery software provides a simple and powerful way to help you find hidden documents, images, and various types of files. Let's walk through a step-by-step guide to displaying all hidden files and folders, making them visible once again.

Bottom line

This page includes four practical methods to help you recover and show hidden files from your Windows computer hard drive or external storage device. You can apply the Attrib command, Control Panel, and data recovery tool software to address this issue on Windows 10/8/7/Vista and XP.

Here, we've gathered some popular questions and answers you might also be interested in, such as how to remove viruses from your computer or storage devices, or how to protect your important files. Take a look, and hopefully, these answers will be helpful:

Question 1: Why aren't my hidden files showing?

If Hidden Files Settings no longer shows up after the scan, just restart and they should be available again.

Question 2: How do I view hidden files?

Open Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options > View > Under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives > OK.

Question 3: Which command is used to display hidden files?

The CMD command `attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:\*.*` is used to display hidden files.

Moreover, reliable data recovery software allows you to preview and restore all lost files with ease. All the detailed steps are listed on this page, and you can always refer back to the best solution.

For more help finding missing or hidden files on your computer, use the search function on the Tools website, or visit the " How-To " directory page for more answers.