Ever since Microsoft Windows was first launched it has been setup by default to only show certain files. This means that there are many files on your computer which are hidden away from you and that you cannot see.
Many people for one reason or another often ask How to View Hidden files as it is not always as obvious as it may seem. This guide will show you how to view hidden files on every Microsoft Windows release so you will never be stuck again and will be able to view, show and delete hidden files.
Windows 95: How to View Hidden Files.
- Close all of the programs that you have running.
- Double click on My Computer.
- Click the View menu and the go and click on Options.
- Once the window opens click on the View tab.
- Scroll down the window until you can see the Show all files radio button. Once you see it click on it.
- Click on the OK button and close the My Computer window.
- Your computer will now show all hidden files.
Windows 98: How to View Hidden Files.
- Close all of the programs that you have running.
- Double click on My Computer.
- Click the View menu and the go and click on Options.
- Once the window opens click on the View tab.
- Scroll down the window until you can see the Show all files radio button. Once you see it click on it.
- Click on the Apply button then click on the OK button.
- Your computer will now show all hidden files.
Windows ME: How to View Hidden Files.
- Close any programs that you have running.
- Double click on My Computer.
- Click on the Tool menu and then click on Folder Options.
- Once the window opens click on the View tab.
- Under Hidden files and folders select the radio button which is labelled Show hidden files and folders.
- Uncheck the checkmark from the checkbox which is labelled Hide file extensions for known file types.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide protected operating system files.
- Click on Apply and then click on OK and shut down the My Computer window.
- You will now be able to view all hidden files.
Windows NT: How to View Hidden Files.
- Double click on My Computer.
- Double click on My Computer.
- Click on the View menu and then click on Options.
- When the new window pops up click on the View tab.
- Scroll down and when you see Show all files click on it.
- Click OK then close down My Computer.
- You will now be able to view and see hidden files.
Windows 2000: How to View Hidden Files.
- Close all the programs that you have open.
- Double click on the My Computer icon.
- Select Tools menu and the click on Folder Options.
- Once the new window has opened click on the View tab.
- Check the checkbox that is labelled Display the contents of system folder.
- Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labelled Show hidden files and folders.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide file extensions for known file types.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide protected operating system files.
- Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button then shut down the computer.
- Now when you reboot your computer will be configured to show all of the hidden files.
Windows XP and Windows 2003: How to View Hidden Files.
- Close all the programs that you have open.
- Double click on the My Computer icon.
- Select Tools menu and the click on Folder Options.
- Once the new window has opened click on the View tab.
- Check the checkbox that is labelled Display the contents of system folder.
- Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labelled Show hidden files and folders.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide file extensions for known file types.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide protected operating system files.
- Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button then shut down the computer.
- Now when you reboot your computer will be configured to show all of the hidden files.
Windows Vista: How to View Hidden Files.
- Make sure that you close all programs on your computer.
- Click on the Start button which is in the bottom left of the screen.
- Select and click on the control panel menu.
Once the control panel opens it will be in either Classic View or Control Panel Home view.
- In Classic View:
Double click on the folder icon.
Click on the view tab.
- In Control Panel Home view:
Click on Appearance and Personalization link.
Click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
- Under the Hidden files and folders section click on the radio button which is labelled Show Hidden Files and Folders.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide extensions for known file types.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide protected operating system files.
- Click on the Apply button and then click on OK.
- You are now good to go and all hidden files will be visable.
Windows 7: How to View Hidden Files.
- Make sure all programs are closed.
- Click on the Start button.
- Click on the Control Panel menu.
- Once the control panel is open click on Show Hidden Files of Folders.
- Under Hidden files and folders section go and click on the radio button labelled Show hidden files, folders or drives.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide extensions for known file types.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide protected operatin system files.
- Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button.
- Windows 7 will now show and allow you to view hidden files.
Windows 8: How to View Hidden Files.
- Click on the Control Panel app.
- Once the control panel is open scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on More Settings.
- Within the next window opens click on Appearance and Personalization link.
- Go to the Folder Options category and click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
- Next go to the Hidden files and folders section and then click on the radio button which is labelled Show hidden files, folders or drives.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide extensions for known file types.
- Uncheck the checkbox which is labelled Hide protected operating system files.
- Click on the Apply button then click on the OK button.
- You can now view all hidden files.
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