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How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows

This wikiHow teaches you how to display and locate hidden files and folders in Windows. Open the Start menu . Either click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press the key.
Part 1 of 2:

Displaying Hidden Items

  1. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 1How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 1
    Open the Start menu
    How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 2How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 2
    . Either click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press the ⊞ Win key.
    1. On Windows 8, hover your cursor in the top-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon.
  2. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 3How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 3
    Type file explorer options into Start. This will bring up the File Explorer Options icon at the top of the search results.
  3. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 4How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 4
    Click File Explorer Options. It's the folder-shaped icon at the top of the Start window.
  4. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 5How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 5
    Click the View tab. You'll see it at the top of the File Explorer Options window.
  5. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 6How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 6
    Click the Show hidden files, folders, and drives circle. It should be in the middle of the "Advanced settings" window.
    1. If you don't see this option, double-click the Hidden files and folders line of text. If you don't see that option either, first double-click Files and Folders at the top of the "Advanced settings" window.
  6. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 7How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 7
    Click Apply, then click OK. Both of these buttons are at the bottom of the window. Doing so will reveal any hidden files, folders, drives, and other items on your computer.
Part 2 of 2:

Searching

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    Open File Explorer
    How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 9How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 9
    . This app is the folder-shaped icon on your taskbar.
    1. You can also type file explorer into Start and then press ↵ Enter.
  2. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 10How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 10
    Click your hard drive's name. It's in the left-hand column of options. In most cases, this will be OS (C:).
  3. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 11How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 11
    Click the search bar. It's in the top-right corner of the File Explorer window.
  4. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 12How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 12
    Type in the name of a hidden item. If you don't know the item's name, try typing an asterisk and then the item's file type (e.g., typing "*.jpg" will show results for all jpeg images that end in the filetype ".jpg").
  5. How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 13How to Find Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Picture 13
    Review the results. You should see several hidden folders and files here.
    1. These files and folders are not accessible from the Start search.
    2. If you don't see your desired hidden file, folder, or other item, click This PC in the left-hand column and run your search again.
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