How to View Hidden and System Files and Folders in Vista

Contributed by Hack_Vista

July 31, 2006

Tagged: Microsoft Vista

This tutorial shows the user how to view hidden files and folders on their system.

Seeing your hidden files and system files in Vista is not much different than in XP. Here are the step-by-step directions. Remember that system files are hidden for a reason. Don’t go messin’ around with stuff.

1. Click the round blue Start thing in the left corner
2. Click Control Panel
3. Click Folder Options
4. Click the View tab
5. Click Show hidden files and folders
6. If you want to see system files as well, unclick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
7. Click OK

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Anonymous

Dude, this really helped me out, i finally found a folder that has some important stuff to me in it, Thanks!

anonymous

My friend thought it was funny to hide a 3gb folder on my memory stick (taking up all the memory). Needed this to find and delete it.

Thank you for your help.

Will

Same here, I had a 2 hidden folders on my SD Card which I only noticed when I put it into my PS3. (Which I Just Deleted From My SD Card)

Jonathong

Thanks dude, godsend :P

(not used to silly vista)

Celine

Alrighty, thanks so much!

Mr F Shields

how do you delete the notes on the recent items on widow svista

Lindsey

Help! I'm trying to hide my sensitive files because I have an employee coming in this weekend. I hid three of the directories in my main folder, but now I can't even figure out how to view them myself! How do I un-hide them? I'm in the root directory (called "Lindsey,"), it's one tier up from My Documents. When I click on "customize this folder" i get an error message saying properties for this item (Desktop?) are not available!!

james

My question was how to see the pictures in an album formatt and not how to find files.

robz

Chrs Thank you xxxx

lovelyslickyvixen

the folder option isnt there! how??

sud

type folder options in search in control panel

DeAdnre

Or on the left side click "Classic View" and then look for "Folder Option" Once again.

sud

very gud info

thanks.....

VistaMan

good stuff buddy.. thanks alot, i had totally forgotten how to findem'

Cam

Awesome! Thanks a lot man! I accidentally hid a bunch of folders on my desktop and did not know how to view them again!

This really helped!

Chris

This was useful to me, but for the opposite reason. I was trying to turn off the viewing of hidden files. People who are reading this, this article is very informative, but just don't bother with hidden files. They're annoying, trust me, and there's a reason they're hidden. Tampering with them at all can crash your entire system, I know from experience.

hh

ya

scottishguy

might be worth mentioning... IF you go into control panel but you cannot see the icon "folder options".. then you should click on "classic view" text on the left... this will reveal the folder options icon amongst others..

J

Control panel > Appearance and Personalization

Drew

Thanks for this I hid some folders by mistake! Many thanks pal

dave

Help!

Hi! I have several folders hidden in my computer, i followed the steps bellow, but just can't unclick "do not show hidden files and folders", it just doesn't let me do that. I entered the folder options in mode "run as administrator", but still doesn't work. Any idea? Thanks.

david

Rico

I have the same problem as David's. I have clicked the "show hidden files and folders" and then click Apply button but doesn't take any effect. When I open the Folder Options box again, the radio button still points to "Do not show hidden files and folders". Even when I unchecked the "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected operating system files", it did not work. Need help here...

Glenn

Thankyou, i hid a folder and could not find it when i needed it, helped a lot thanks

kitty

my computer doesnt allow me to select show, it only has DO NOT show hidden files, and it wont let me un click it! i have 3 gig of photos hidden (my sister sneaks through my stuff) how can i access it???

Xem8wt

U own. Thanks for your help

Rohan

I still have files that arnt showing up?

Igor

But i dont have Folder Options in my Control Panel!!!!
grrrrrr this post suck!

Shakya

try classic view.....

Shakya

wonderfully helpful, thankyou

Devils Advocate

I think it funny that this "tutourial" is snide enough to refer to the start menu as "the round blue Start thing in the left corner", but doesnt mention that to find Folder Options in the control panel you first have to click that classic view thingy at the top left corner of the control panel window first. Try testing out your own directions first next time. FAIL.

aaron

if your smart enough you could just write folder options come on common sense

jayson byrd

sweet. tysm

Mohammed

I do the three Methods that you have shown me including the download of smart virus remover and it DIDN'T WORK this problem driving me criusy PLEASE tell me what to do

glen

Thanks for that post. It was very handy. TY

troy

THANKS BUDDY ...............was driving me nuts

surj

thanks

franc

hey' thank u so much...

HoTTiE 4 YoU

thanks so much i made one of my albums on my computer hidden and i found it but the picture i was looking for wasnt on it so thank goodness i fouind this site ur a life saver i was like ditto i cant find it... lol

deborah1

How do you View Hidden and System Files and Folders in Windows 7 Ultimate (evaluation copy) ?

I am in need of help on this, apparently this needs to be done because my email program incredimail is sending blank e mails.

mnnit08

plz help me if any one know that how to hide system file once it unhide,window file continiously showing on my desktop,once i have click unhide the file n folder to see my hidden files but forgot to click on 'hide protected system file option',and then i found system files are visible on desktop,even clicking on hide protected system file option afterward.

thepeskypenguin

hello just found this quick step by step its almost perfect :) please add in the step that folder options is in the apperance tab thanks :)

marinejser

there is no folder option in my vista's control panel

BarryWom

Cheers. I know without having to think how to do this using XP, but, as always with anything that's a newer version, they have to change things and you have to relearn how to do some of the simplest things..! Quite frustrating when you just want to get on with things. But, once I knew where to look, it was easy.

julian81

i ve done what u said..but the hidden files are not showing still. when i check the folder options it has automatically gone back to do not show hidden files agin itself...hmmm

hirenrughani

hello sir, i did the steps suggested by you, but it doesnt work, acually each & every time when i open view tab it ever shows "dont show hidden files & folders" , then i changed it to " show hidden files & folders" & then "apply" & "ok." but it doesnt work at all, again when i open view tab it shows "dont show hidden files & folders" , though i changed all the settings.

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How to View Hidden and System Files and Folders in Vista

This tutorial shows the user how to view hidden files and folders on their system.

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