How to Open the Hidden Files in a USB Pen Drive

This updated guide examines How to Open the Hidden Files in a USB Pen Drive and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

On Windows

1. Plug your USB drive into your computer. Insert the USB drive into one of the thin, rectangular slots in your computer's housing.
   • If you're using a desktop computer, USB ports are typically in either the front or the back of the computer's CPU box.
2. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
3. Type inthis pc. Doing so will search your computer for the This PC program.
4. ClickThis PC. It's a computer monitor-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. Doing so opens This PC.
5. Open your flash drive. Find your flash drive's name below the "Devices and drives" heading in the middle of the page, then double-click it.
   • If you don't see your flash drive here, try unplugging the flash drive and plugging it back into a different USB slot.
6. Click theViewtab. It's in the upper-left side of the flash drive's window. Doing so prompts a menu bar to appear at the top of the File Explorer window.
7. Check the "Hidden items" box. Click the box to the left of the "Hidden items" option in the "Show/hide" section of the menu bar. Doing so will both place a checkmark in the "Hidden items" box and force any hidden files on your USB drive to display.
   • If there's already a checkmark in the "Hidden items" box, your USB drive is currently displaying hidden files.
   • Hidden files are generally dimmer and more transparent-looking than regular files.
8. Double-click the hidden file you want to open. Doing so will open the file, allowing you to view its contents.
   • If the file you're trying to open is a system file, you may not be able to complete the opening process.

Method 2of 2:

On Mac

1. Plug your USB drive into your computer. Insert the USB drive into one of the thin, rectangular slots in your computer's casing.
   • If you're using an iMac, you may find the USB ports on the side of your keyboard or on the back of the iMac's screen.
   • Not all Macs have USB ports. If you're using a newer Mac that doesn't come with USB ports, you'll need to purchase a USB to USB-C adapter.
2. ClickGo. This menu item is in the upper-left side of your Mac's screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
   • If you don't see Go , first either click your desktop or open Finder (the blue, face-like app in your Mac's Dock).
3. ClickUtilities. This option should be near the bottom of the Go drop-down menu.
4. Double-clickTerminal. You may have to scroll down through the Utilities folder to find it.
5. Enter the "show hidden items" command. Typedefaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YESinto Terminal, then press the⏎Returnkey.
6. Close and re-open Finder if it's open. If your Finder program is open, close it and then re-open it to refresh it.
   • You can also enterkillall Finderinto Terminal to automatically perform this step.
7. Click your USB drive's name. It will be in the lower-left side of the Finder window. Doing so opens the USB drive's contents, including any hidden files and folders that are on it.
8. Double-click a hidden file or folder. Hidden items resemble greyed-out versions of regular files or folders; double-clicking a hidden file or folder will open it.