Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo show ordinary hidden files and folders in Windows 10, open File Explorer, select View, choose Show, and turn on Hidden items. If that compact menu is unavailable, use View > Options > View, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and select OK. Protected operating-system files use a separate safeguard, so they can remain invisible until you deliberately change that setting.
Show ordinary hidden files from File Explorer
This is the fastest method for most Windows 10 installations. It changes a viewing preference; it does not change a file’s permissions, ownership, encryption, or other security controls.
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- Open File Explorer from the taskbar. You can also open any folder window.
- Select the View tab on the ribbon.
- Select Show.
- Select Hidden items.
Hidden files and folders should now appear in the current folder and other locations you browse. Windows usually displays them with a lighter or translucent icon so you can distinguish them from ordinary visible items. That visual treatment is a warning, not a restriction being removed.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If you do not see a Show menu, or your File Explorer layout uses different ribbon controls, use the Folder Options route below. The setting is the same, but the longer path is available on Windows 10 editions where the compact command is not shown.
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Use Folder Options when the View menu is different
Folder Options provides the dependable Windows 10 path for the ordinary hidden-item setting.
- Open File Explorer.
- Select View on the ribbon.
- Select Options. On some Windows 10 builds the command is labeled Change folder and search options.
- In the Folder Options window, open the View tab.
- Under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
- Select OK.
Return to the folder you were checking and refresh it if necessary. The preference applies to File Explorer’s folder views, not just the window in which you changed it. To hide ordinary hidden items again, repeat these steps and select Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives.
Why a file can still be missing: protected operating-system files
Windows distinguishes between an ordinary hidden item and a file marked as both hidden and system-protected. Selecting Hidden items is not the same as disabling the operating-system protection. A system file can therefore remain absent even after the ordinary toggle is on.
If you have a specific reason to inspect one of these files, change the second setting temporarily:
- In File Explorer, select View, then Options (or Change folder and search options).
- Open the View tab.
- In Advanced settings, locate Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
- Clear that check box and confirm the warning Windows displays.
- Select OK, inspect or copy the required item, and then return to Folder Options and enable Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) again.
Leave this protection enabled during normal use. These files are shielded because deleting, renaming, or editing the wrong one can prevent Windows or an application from starting. Showing a file does not grant permission to modify it, and it does not make a protected file safe to change.
List hidden files with PowerShell
PowerShell is useful when File Explorer is unavailable, when you need a text list, or when you want to distinguish hidden and system attributes. Microsoft’s Get-ChildItem command does not display hidden items by default.
List hidden and system entries
Open PowerShell, change to the directory you want to inspect, and run:
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Get-ChildItem -ForceThe -Force parameter tells the FileSystem provider to include hidden and system entries in the listing. It affects what the command displays; it does not alter the attributes or permissions of any item.
Filter for hidden items
To select hidden items specifically, run:
Get-ChildItem -HiddenThis uses PowerShell’s hidden-item filter. If you need both the hidden and system entries in a folder, use -Force. If you need to inspect another directory, provide its path, for example:
Get-ChildItem -Path "C:PathToFolder" -ForcePowerShell’s output can reveal an entry that is not currently visible in Explorer, but it still does not bypass access permissions. An access-denied result means your account lacks the required rights; changing visibility is not an elevation mechanism.
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Which method should you use?
| Method | Interface | What it reveals | Reversibility | User risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View > Show > Hidden items | File Explorer | Ordinary hidden files and folders | Turn the same toggle off | Low while protected-system files remain hidden |
| Folder Options | File Explorer settings | Ordinary hidden files and folders; also exposes the separate protected-system option | Restore the previous selections | Higher if protected operating-system files are exposed |
Get-ChildItem -Force |
PowerShell | Hidden and system entries in the selected directory | Command changes no attributes | Listing is low risk; later delete or edit commands can be destructive |
Get-ChildItem -Hidden |
PowerShell | Entries selected as hidden by the FileSystem provider | Command changes no attributes | Listing is low risk; permissions still apply |
For a one-time visual check, use File Explorer. For a repeatable inventory or troubleshooting session, PowerShell is clearer because the command records exactly what you requested. Use the protected-system option only when the item you need is known to be covered by that safeguard.
If the folder or file still does not appear
Confirm that you are looking in the right location
Hidden-item settings cannot display a file that is in a different directory, on another drive, or inside an archive. Copy the folder path from the application or instruction that identified the item and paste it into File Explorer’s address bar. Then apply the visibility setting in that location.
Check both visibility controls
Make sure Hidden items is enabled first. If the item is a Windows system file, review Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) in Folder Options. Re-enable that safeguard immediately after checking.
Use PowerShell to separate visibility from permissions
Run Get-ChildItem -Force against the exact directory. If the entry is listed, Explorer’s display settings or your current view were the issue. If PowerShell reports that access is denied, the problem is authorization rather than visibility. Do not take ownership or alter permissions merely to make an unfamiliar system file appear; identify the file and the purpose of the requested change first.
Refresh the window
After changing a setting, select the folder again or refresh the File Explorer window. A stale view can make it seem as though the preference did not apply.
Consider that the item may not exist
An application may have removed, moved, or recreated a temporary file between the time it was mentioned and the time you checked. Hidden-file settings cannot restore an item that is no longer present.
Hide the files again after troubleshooting
Leaving hidden items visible makes accidental changes more likely, especially in system and application-data folders. Reverse the setting when your task is finished:
- Open File Explorer and select View > Options (or Change folder and search options).
- On the View tab, select Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives.
- Ensure Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) is selected.
- Select OK.
If you only used PowerShell, there is no persistent display setting to undo: Get-ChildItem -Force and Get-ChildItem -Hidden merely included items in that command’s output.
Visibility is not the same as access
- Showing a hidden item does not remove NTFS permissions or bypass an administrator prompt.
- It does not decrypt protected data or make an application-owned file safe to edit.
- It does not prove that a file is malicious or harmless; the hidden attribute is only a display attribute.
- Before changing a system file, create an appropriate backup and follow the instructions for the specific Windows component or application involved.
Use the smallest change that answers your question. If you only need to confirm whether a file exists, list it with PowerShell or enable ordinary hidden items and leave protected operating-system files shielded.
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Windows 10 support status
Microsoft states that after October 14, 2025, it no longer provides free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. The visibility steps above remain the Windows 10 procedure, but an unsupported operating system carries additional security risk. If your hardware supports a currently supported Windows release, plan an upgrade; otherwise, treat exposed system files with particular caution and maintain reliable backups.
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