How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 7

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

Windows 7 hides important folders and files in order to keep users from modifying or deleting their files and subsequently damaging their systems. Windows 7 does not show hidden files by default. For example, the pagefile.sys file is a commonly hidden file. (If an application is using too much memory, Windows uses this file, freeing up more memory.) Sometimes, however, you may need to show the hidden files and folders in Windows 7. A virus or spyware may be in these hidden files, making it hard to find and delete the virus.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:
Showing Hidden Files in Windows 7 Using Folder Options

1
Click on the Windows 7 Start button.
2
Click on Control Panel. You can also click the Start button and then type “folder options” in the search box. Select “Folder Options” in Control Panel from the resulting list.

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3
Click on “Appearance and Personalization.”
4
Click “Folder Options.”
5
Click on the View tab in the Folder Options window.
6
Click “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” in “Advanced settings” and click “OK.”
7
Choose the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” radio button in the “Hidden files and folders” category.
8
Click “OK” at the bottom of the Folder Options window.
9
Close the Control Panel window. You should now be able to view all files and folders as well as drives hidden in Windows 7.
10
Test this by navigating to the C:\ drive. Look for a program named “ProgramData.” If you can see this, you are now able to view hidden files and folders.
11
Notice that the icons for hidden files and folders are grayed out. This is how you can differentiate between hidden and unhidden files.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:
Showing Protected Operating System Files

1
Click on the Windows 7 Start button.
2
Click on Control Panel.
3
Click on “Appearance and Personalization.”
4
Click “Folder Options.”
5
Click “View.”
6
Click “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” in “Advanced settings” and click “OK.”
7
Click “Apply.”
8
Uncheck the “Hide protected operating system files” box.
9
See a dialog box asking if you are sure that you want to do this.
10
Click “Yes.”
11
Click “OK.”

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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:
Showing Hidden Files using the Registry Editor

1
Click the Start button.
2
Type “regedit” in the search box and press enter.
- You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do these steps.
3
Click “Yes” if prompted to confirm you are an administrator.
4
Find this key In regedit: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
5
Go to the right side of the Advanced window, where the values can be seen.
6
Find the value “Hidden.”
7
Right click it and change it to 1.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:
Showing Protected Operating System Files Using Registry Editor

1
Click the Start button.
2
Type “regedit” in the search box and press enter.
3
Click “Yes” if prompted to confirm you are an administrator.
4
Find this key In regedit: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
5
Go to the right side of the Advanced window, where the values are seen.
6
Right click on “Super Hidden ” and click on Modify.
7
Type 1.
8
Click “OK.”

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Community Q&A

Question

How do I sort out this problem if Windows explorer has stopped working?

Community Answer

Go to Tools, Folder Options, View, and then select, Show hidden files. That's it.

Warnings

Do not change or delete hidden files on your computer unless you are absolutely certain you know what you are doing. Any changes can be irreversible.

Thanks!
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