How to show hidden folders in Windows 7: step by step instructions

По сравнению с Windows XP интерфейс седьмой OS version has undergone dramatic changes. The ways of displaying hidden files in this operating system are also different from its predecessor. And without showing hidden directories, do not tweak Windows. This article will tell you how to display folders hidden from the user.

How to show hidden folders in Windows 7

There are several ways to display hidden directories in the standard file manager, but they all boil down to opening the folder properties window. So, the standard course of action is this:

• open "Explorer";
• click on the "ALT" button;
• in the top menu, click on the line "Service";
• in the list that opens, click on the folder settings;
• expand the "View" tab;
• in the window, scroll through the list of parameters to the very end;
• move the bottom switch to "Show";
• Also, if you need to show hidden files and folders in Windows 7, which are also system files at once, uncheck the box next to the “Hide protected files” text;
• Click on “OK” or press “ENTER” on the keyboard.

To test open the explorer and go topartition with installed Windows. The Program Data directory should appear in its root. Notice that the files and folders that were hidden by the developer or administrator are displayed with semi-transparent icons - their colors are mixed with the background.

Additional ways

There are several simpler ways toopen directory mapping options. For example, you can open the "Start" menu, and type the word "Options" in the search bar. Then it remains to click on the item with the same name.

You can also show hidden folders of Windows 7 using the Control Panel configuration utility:

1. So go to the "Control Panel".
2. Click on the "Personalization" category.
3. In the window that pops up, select Folder Options.
4. Go to the second left tab.
5. Set the switches to the position indicated in the instructions above.

To re-hide files, simply return the switches to their original position.

Command line

If working with directories is optional, but necessaryjust clarifying their availability is sufficient and command line tools. How to view hidden folders on Windows 7 using console commands? Follow the instructions below:

1. Create a shortcut, expanding the context menu of the desktop, and, following the path to the menu, "Create" - "Shortcut".
2. In the file location string, type “cmd”.
3. Name set any.
4. Run the shortcut as administrator.
5. Enter the drive letter to work with.
6. Go to the root of the directory in which you want to show the hidden folders of Windows 7, using the "cd" command immediately after which you must enter the path to the desired folder, for example, "cd C: Windows".
7. Enter "dir / ah", after which a complete list of files and directories will be displayed on the screen.

This method is the fastest, but he hasOne major drawback is that it will be difficult for a simple user to remember the commands and the order in which they are entered. For those who print slowly, this method does not work at all, since entering a long path will take too much time.

Using third-party software

Show hidden folders Windows 7 can not onlyExplorer, but also third-party file managers, for example, Total Commander. This approach is convenient if it is necessary to frequently fine-tune the operating system, but not only experienced users are working on a computer and displaying hidden directories in Windows Explorer is not desirable.

How to view hidden folders on Windows 7 with Total Commander? Do the following:

1. First, install the file manager. It is distributed on the shareware model, but does not require the purchase of a license.
2. After installing and running Total Commander, click on the item "Configuration". It is located in the top menu of the utility.
3. In the list that opens, click on the "Settings" line.
4. In the left part of the settings window, select the “Content of the panels”.
5. In the main part of the parameters window, put both checkmarks in the top line.

If inexperienced work at the computerusers who may accidentally erase important system information, then before showing hidden folders in Windows 7 with the help of Total Commander, you should first remove its shortcuts from the desktop. After that, you can start the program by typing the text "total" in the search box. Total Commander is not the only file manager that can display hidden files. For example, Far Manager, FreeCommander, File Navigator are also equipped with similar functionality. Moreover, in Far Manager, this setting is made by default.

As can be seen from the article, show hidden foldersWindows 7 is a snap, but always remember that they were hidden from the user for a reason and often depend on the correct functioning of all software. After removing the hidden directory, the operating system may not load at all. Perform any actions with hidden folders only after pre-creating a system restore point or even a full backup of the partition.