How to Show Hidden Files in Linux

Just starting out in linux and can't see your secret/configuration files in the file manager? Having the same problem while using the terminal emulator? Here's the answer. Open the File Manager.

Table of Contents

Inside the File Manager
From the terminal emulator

Method 1 of 2:

Inside the File Manager

Open the File Manager.
1. Depending on your desktop environment, the steps for doing this vary.
Click the menu button related to View settings.
1. In most File Managers, this is called View.
2. In others, it might be a button with no name. In such a scenario, click to see all of the buttons available.
Check the option which says Show Hidden Files from the drop down menu.

Method 2 of 2:

From the terminal emulator

Open the terminal emulator. Either Ctrl+Alt+t or clicking its icon will do.
Navigate to your desired directory using 'cd ' and 'ls'.
1. Use ls to see your directory contents.
2. Use cd [directory_name] to change directories.
Type "ls -a" (without quotes) to see all files, hidden and unhidden.

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David Pac

Update 04 March 2020

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