4 Ways To Hide and Show Hidden Files / Folders In Windows

There are many methods to hide your files and folders in Windows. We have listed some easy methods to hide files and folders in Windows. Feel free to suggest any other methods to hide files and folders in Windows in the comments section below.

Method 1: Using File Explorer

1. Right click on the file / folder you wish to hide and select properties from the drop down list.
2. Under the 'General' tab in the attributes section check the box next to Hidden.
   
3. Click 'Apply' then 'Ok' and then again 'Ok'.

That should hide your folder.

Show the hidden folder:

In the file explorer click on the 'View' tab, then in the Show / Hide tab check the box next to Hidden. That should show your hidden folder.

Read: Lock your Files and Folders in Windows 7/8/8.1/10 without downloading or buying any additional softwares- With Video Tutorial

Method 2: Using Control Panel

1. Right click on the file / folder you wish to hide and select properties from the drop down list.
2. Under the 'General' tab in the attributes section check the box next to Hidden.
3. Click 'Apply' then 'Ok' and then again 'Ok'.

That should hide your folder.

Show the hidden file / folder:

1. In start search for 'Control Panel' and open it by clicking on the first result.
   

   
2. Click on Appearance and Personalisation.
   

   
3. Click on 'File Explorer Options'
   

   
4. Go to the 'View' tab and click on 'Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives'.
   

   
5. Click 'Apply', then 'Ok'.

That should show your hidden folder.

Method 3: Using Command Prompt

1. In start search for cmd and open Command prompt by clicking on the first result.
   

   
2. In the Command Prompt window type the following command attrib +h +s followed by the path of the file or folder you wish to hide just as shown.
   

   
3. (Now, we recommend you to write down the path somewhere as a back up so that even if you forget the path you can retrieve the files and folder.) Now press Enter.

That should securely and successfully hide your file / folder.

For your knowledge we would like to tell you that the letters h and s in the attribute command tells the computer to treat the respective file / folder to be treated as a hidden and system file / folder.

Show the hidden file / folder:

1. In start search for cmd and open Command prompt by clicking on the first result.
2. In the Command Prompt window type the following command attrib -h -s followed by the path of the file or folder you wish to unhide / show just as shown.
   

   
3. Then press Enter.

That should show your hidden folder.

Method 4: Using Registry

1. Right click on the file / folder you wish to hide and select properties from the drop down list.
2. Under the 'General' tab in the attributes section check the box next to Hidden.
3. Click 'Apply' then 'Ok' and then again 'Ok'.

To show the hidden files:

1. On your keyboard hold Windows key and press R to bring up the run dialog box.
2. Here type ' regedit ' and Click on 'Ok'
   

   
3. In the left panel click on 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER"
4. Go to Software-->Microsoft-->Windows-->Current version-->Explorer-->Advance
5. In the Right panel, for the option Hidden set a value 1 to show the hidden files and set a value 2 to hide the hidden files.