Ubuntu: How to View Hidden Files and Folders

Contributed by shamanstears February 10, 2008  
Tagged: Linux

By default, Ubuntu’s File Browser does not display hidden files and folders. If you need to see these files, you can use one of the following methods:

To change the default setting of the File Browser:

1. Go to the Main Menu, click on Places, and select Home Folder (any of the selections that will open up in the File Browser will work).

2. Click Edit and select Preferences.

3. When the File Browser Preferences window appears, go to the Views tab.

4. Check the Show hidden and backup files checkbox.

5. Click the Close button

To temporarily view hidden files without changing the File Browser settings:

Press ctrl+h on your keyboard. All hidden files and folders in the current window will appear. Once the File Browser session is closed, the view will be returned to not show the hidden files.