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Fix the Hidden Files Option is Not Showing Issue in Windows 10

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KumarSandeep43 Posts 4 Registration date Wednesday May 3, 2017 Status Member Last seen June 18, 2019 - Updated on Sep 15, 2020 at 07:29 AM
Jean-François Pillou Posts 18707 Registration date Monday February 15, 1999 Status Webmaster Last seen February 16, 2023   - Jan 30, 2019 at 07:52 AM
Microsoft Windows has a feature to hide files, so that they are not visible to second person using the PC or laptop. Moreover, Windows itself hide the important files, so that the users do not delete the files accidentally. Thus the ‘Hide Files and Folders’ option is a great feature in MS Windows. However, it becomes problem when we unhide the files and they are still not visible. Yes, in many cases the hidden file feature does not work out.

Most of the users generally opt for ‘Hidden Files’ option to hide important files, documents and media. In this way the files are not easily accessible. But when required in time there is also situations when unchecking the hidden files option does not display files and it does not work out. Here are some techniques to solve ‘Show Hidden Files Not Working’.

Before going to solve the ‘Hidden file issue’, back-up data to external storage device to avoid risk of data loss. You can go for Window backup feature or use a trusted backup recovery tool.

Solve Hidden Files Not Showing in Windows 10

There are two methods by which you can solve this problem by command prompt or Registry Editor

Fix Hidden Files Error via CMD


Go to Start and type CMD
Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Right click on icon and select ‘Run as Administrator’)
Check the drive letter from where you want to show hidden files
Type the command attrb –s –h –r /s /d *.*
Press the enter button. Here d is the drive letter, you have to select the drive letter of your drive
This will scan the drive and unhide all items
You can then see the hidden files and folders in Windows 10


Unhide Files via Registry Editor

Always go for the CMD method first to show hidden files, if that does not work out then you can edit the Registry to solve hidden files error


Go to Start and type run, or press window key + R to open run dialog box
Now type regedit.exe and press OK
The registry editor window will open
Now browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
Move to right side of window and look for ChechedValue entity
Right click on the option and Select Modify
Now set the value to 1 and close editor
Restart System and look for hidden files

You can also try to run the windows troubleshooter or SFC scan to repair window files. By following the above methods you can solve the ‘Hidden Files Not Showing’ in Windows 10.
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Answer 1 / 1
Jean-François Pillou Posts 18707 Registration date Monday February 15, 1999 Status Webmaster Last seen February 16, 2023  
Updated on Sep 15, 2020 at 07:29 AM
Hi Kumar,

Thanks for your message. Usually, the form is used to ask questions, that's why I'll copy-paste your message hereunder, to give the opportunity to users to see it as a solution:

Microsoft Windows has a feature to hide files, so that they are not visible to second person using the PC or laptop. Moreover, Windows itself hide the important files, so that the users do not delete the files accidentally. Thus the ‘Hide Files and Folders’ option is a great feature in MS Windows. However, it becomes problem when we unhide the files and they are still not visible. Yes, in many cases the hidden file feature does not work out.

Most of the users generally opt for ‘Hidden Files’ option to hide important files, documents and media. In this way the files are not easily accessible. But when required in time there is also situations when unchecking the hidden files option does not display files and it does not work out. Here are some techniques to solve ‘Show Hidden Files Not Working’.

Before going to solve the ‘Hidden file issue’, back-up data to external storage device to avoid risk of data loss. You can go for Window backup feature or use a trusted backup recovery tool.

Solve Hidden Files Not Showing in Windows 10

There are two methods by which you can solve this problem by command prompt or Registry Editor

Fix Hidden Files Error via CMD
  • Go to Start and type CMD
  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Right click on icon and select ‘Run as Administrator’)
  • Check the drive letter from where you want to show hidden files
  • Type the command 
    attrb –s –h –r /s /d *.*
  • Press the enter button. Here d is the drive letter, you have to select the drive letter of your drive
  • This will scan the drive and unhide all items
  • You can then see the hidden files and folders in Windows 10



Unhide Files via Registry Editor

Always go for the CMD method first to show hidden files, if that does not work out then you can edit the Registry to solve hidden files error
  • Go to Start and type run, or press window key + R to open run dialog box
  • Now type regedit.exe and press OK
  • The registry editor window will open
  • Now browse to 
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL
  • Move to right side of window and look for ChechedValue entity
  • Right click on the option and Select Modify
  • Now set the value to 1 and close editor
  • Restart System and look for hidden files


You can also try to run the windows troubleshooter or SFC scan to repair window files. By following the above methods you can solve the ‘Hidden Files Not Showing’ in Windows 10.
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