Have you ever lost some important files in your system? Or do you think some files should be present in your system but you cannot find them? This article analyse the steps in which you can setup your system in order to be able to view hidden files. In some cases, hackers, malwares and viruses have used this ways of hiding their files to destroy your system so that you cannot find those harmful files to delete. But knowing how to discover such unwanted files can prevent your PC from malware or virus attack.

Below are the following steps and various versions of windows

Windows 95

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Select the View menu and then click Options.
After the new window appears select the View tab.
Scroll down until you see the Show all files radio button and select it.
Press the OK button and close the My Computer window.
Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows 98

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Select the View menu and then click Folder Options.
After the new window appears select the View tab.
Scroll down until you see the Show all files radio button and select it.
Press the Apply button and then the OK button and close the My Computer window.
Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows ME

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
After the new window appears select the View tab.
Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows NT

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Select the View menu and then click Options.
After the new window appears select the View tab.
Scroll down until you see the Show all files radio button and select it.
Press the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows 2000

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
After the new window appears select the View tab.
Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows XP and Windows 2003

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
After the new window appears select the View tab.
Put a checkmark in the checkbox labeled Display the contents of system folders.
Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
Press the Apply button and then the OK button and shutdown My Computer.
Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows Vista

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
Click on the Control Panel menu option.
When the control panel opens you can either be in Classic View or Control Panel Home view:


If you are in the Classic View do the following:

Double-click on the Folder Options icon.
Click on the View tab.
Go to the last step.
If you are in the Control Panel Home view do the following:

Click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
Click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
Go to step 5.
Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.
Press the Apply button and then the OK button.
Now Windows Vista is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows 7

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps. Please note a guide with images that shows the same steps can be found here:

Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
Click on the Start button. This is the small round button with the Windows flag in the lower left corner.
Click on the Control Panel menu option.
When the control panel opens click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
Under the Folder Options category, click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files, folders, or drives.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
Press the Apply button and then the OK button.
Now Windows 7 is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows 8

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps. Please note a guide with images that shows the same steps can be found here:

From the Windows 8 Start Screen, click on the Control Panel app.
When the Control Panel opens scroll down to the bottom and click on the More Settings option.
The traditional Windows 8 Control Panel will now open. When it is open, click on the Appearance and Personalization link.
Under the Folder Options category, click on Show Hidden Files or Folders.
Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files, folders, or drives.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
Press the Apply button and then the OK button.
Now Windows 8 is configured to show all hidden files.

Windows 10
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