How to make folders public. How to make hidden files visible. How to make hidden folders visible

Sometimes there are situations when information stored on a computer (especially a public one) is confidential and you need to make sure that no one except you sees this information. Here the question arises, how make folder hidden? In fact, this is done very simply and in today’s article we will talk about how to hide a folder and how to make a hidden folder visible.

Let's start naturally from the first point. How to make a folder hidden and inaccessible to everyone? To do this, we will need to change the folder attribute, which is responsible for how this folder is displayed on your computer.

For example, I need to make the program folder with everything that is in it hidden (including other folders and files). To do this, right-click on this folder and select the properties menu. In this menu, go to the General tab and check the folder attribute is hidden. After this, the system will ask whether you need to hide the entire contents of this folder or just one folder (in our example, “Programs”). This method Works in both xp and windows 7.

How to make hidden folders visible?

We have learned how to hide folders, and now we definitely need to learn how make hidden folders visible. Otherwise, it may not be a very good situation when you have hidden folders with important documents from prying eyes, but cannot get them back. This is also very simple, but if hiding the folder worked the same way, both in the seven and in xp, bringing the folder to in windows xp works a little differently. And so I will show you both ways.

To view hidden files and folders in your operating system is necessary. In Windows XP, go to Start – Control Panel – Folder Options. A window opens in front of us in which Folder Options in which we need to go to the View tab and in the hidden files and folders menu check the box “Show hidden files and folders”. Click the Apply button and all hidden folders become visible. For XP users, there is also another way to make a hidden folder visible. You can call the folder properties window directly from any open open window(see screenshot).

You can make a hidden folder visible in Windows 7 in the same way. To do this, we need to go to the service - folder properties, check the box in the menu show hidden files and folders. The main difference between this action.

Now you know how to properly hide a folder and make a hidden folder visible. I recommend that you definitely hide the necessary work files (and even protect them with a password) if they are some important work documents or something confidential.

Under hidden documents system means those directories that are not displayed when the computer is running. The purpose of such “secrecy” is to preserve elements important for work that can be accidentally deleted by the user.

IN this material We will talk about how to make hidden folders visible. The methods will be described for the 7th and 10th versions operating system"Windows".

Types

In this operating system, there are two categories of hidden documentation:

Just hidden elements. Their attribute is set to "Hidden". In this way, you can hide any elements yourself by changing the state in the properties.

Attention! But sometimes, folders and documents containing viruses can be hidden in this way!

System folders and files. Their properties contain the S attribute. This means that they are system elements and deleting or changing them can lead to an error in the operation of the computer. You can only display their contents using the following options.

How to perform the procedure on Windows 7

This type of operating system is quite popular compared to others. Therefore, it would be logical to start with it. So, how can you make hidden folders visible?

Go to the Start panel and launch File Explorer. Two will appear standard list.
You need to activate the “Control Panel” line.
Go to the subsection called “Design and Personalization”.

Attention! To make the search convenient, you need to set the sections to be displayed by category.

After going inside the personalization settings system, you need to find a paragraph named “Folder Options”.
Activate the option to show hidden system elements. Before you can make hidden folders visible, you need to change a couple of important details.
After clicking on the line to display hidden elements, the settings window will open. It will be called "Folder Options".
Now you need to move to the subsection called “View” and in the line about hidden files and folders, allow them to be displayed.

Additional method

Another much simpler option for making hidden folders visible in the Windows 7 operating system:

Open any directory.
At the top of the window, activate the section called “Arrange”.
Select the line “Folder and Search Options”.
As soon as a new window appears, launch the “View” subsection and activate the “Apply to folders” line. Thus, hidden directories can be made visible both in this section and in all others.

How to show hidden folders on Windows 10

Quite a simple way. Allows you to display only part of the hidden documentation.

You need to launch Explorer through the Start panel.
Next, you need to go to any directory and activate the “View” tab, on the top line under the window name.

In the subsection that opens, place a marker in the field next to the “Hidden elements” function.

Additional method

This paragraph will tell you how to make hidden folders visible through the options in Explorer.

First you need to open the search bar. This is done using the keyboard shortcut Win + Q.

In the window that appears, you need to enter “Explorer Options”.
After going to this section, you need to open a tab called “View”.
Mark the line that allows display of hidden elements.

It is also recommended to allow the display of system directories. To do this, you need to remove the marker before the line responsible for hiding system documentation.
In the warning that appears, you must confirm your choice.

How to get a hidden folder back

In the event that the folder was hidden by the user and its location was lost, you must:

Open a window with the directory in which the document is located.
In the top line, activate the “Arrange” section. In the appeared context menu Click on “Search Options”.
As soon as the window appears, switch to the tab called “View”. Activate the line to show hidden files and folders.
Apply changes.

Results

As you may have noticed, displaying hidden files and hiding your own documents in the same way is quite simple. The given algorithms will help not only to find any important components of the system, but also to hide your own documents from unauthorized users.

In Windows 10, as in previous Windows operating systems (XP, 7, 8), not all folders are visible to the user; some of them are hidden. This was not done by accident, Windows is hiding it from you system folders, where files important for the operating system are stored so that you don’t accidentally delete them and thereby make your computer inoperable. But there are times when you need to see hidden folders (to remove unnecessary junk, clean your computer from virus activity, etc.). To do this, you need to make these folders visible, this will be discussed in this article. how to make hidden folders visible in Windows 10.

Attention!!! Take the content seriously hidden folders, since the operation of your computer/laptop depends on them.

First, let me explain, there are two types of hidden files or folders:

1) Hidden files and folders. These are folders in the properties of which the attribute H - hidden (hidden) is selected. If you wish, you can hide any folder by setting this attribute in the properties of the folder or file. Sometimes viruses can hide from you like this.

2)System files and folders. In the properties of which the S - system attribute has been added. These are files and folders that are critical for the operation of the operating system and simply opening hidden folders will not give you the opportunity to see protected ones system files.

In this article I will look at two ways to show hidden Windows folders 10:

1) Using the View tab;

2) Using the Explorer Options menu.

How to make hidden folders visible in Windows 10 using the View tab.

This method is extremely simple and will require a minimum of effort and time from you. But it will not allow you to see protected system files, only hidden files and folders. The first thing you need to do is open Explorer or any folder on your computer/laptop.

In the top field, select the View tab and check the box next to "Hidden elements".

After this, hidden folders will become visible to you. If you want to return everything back, uncheck the box accordingly.

How to see hidden folders in Windows 10 using File Explorer Options.

This method will allow you not only to see hidden folders, but also display protected system folders.

To use this method, press the key combination “Win” + “Q” and enter “Explorer Options” in the search bar.

In the Explorer Options window that opens, go to the View tab. If you want to see:

- hidden folders Windows 10, check the box "Show hidden files, folders and drives";

Hiding folders and files from viewing in Windows 7 is a mechanism for protecting against access to particularly important data. It is used both to protect information from accidental and intentional changes, and to store confidential user information. It is also customary to hide some service files and folders so that they do not spoil appearance desktop and did not “clutter up” other directories.

Sometimes folders that should be visible are hidden. Most often this happens due to viruses that use this opportunity to hide more reliably. And in some cases, this is done by the users themselves by changing the attributes of the object.

How to open hidden directories in Windows 7 Explorer?

If there are no obstacles (especially viruses) to gaining access to hidden directories, they can be opened in two ways:

through the control panel applet “Folder Options”;
through the “Arrange” folder menu.

Option using control panel

Launch Control Panel.

Click the “Design and Personalization” group.

Find “Folder Options” and click the “Show hidden files and folders” link under it.

In the next window, find “Hidden files and folders” in the list of additional options and check the box next to “Show”. Click OK.

Folders with the “Hidden” attribute in their properties will become visible. IN Windows Explorer 7 they will have an unusual, translucent appearance.

Option using the “Arrange” menu

Open any folder and click the “Arrange” button in the top menu.

Select “Folder and Search Options” from the list.

Go to the View tab in the Options window.

Further actions are the same as in the option using the control panel.

How to make hidden folders visible using Total Commander?

File Total manager Commander, like Windows 7 Explorer, may or may not show hidden folders. If displayed, such objects are marked with a red exclamation mark.

If you do not see any such folders in the directory tree, then their display is turned off.

To Total Commander was able to show invisible objects, you need to open the “Configuration” menu and click “Settings”.

In the settings, you need to expand the “Panel Contents” category and check the “Show hidden/system files” checkbox. After that, click on the “Apply” and OK buttons.

Now any invisible folder you can open and view its contents.

How to make a hidden folder normal?

To make individual hidden folder styles visible in Windows 7 Explorer, you can change their attributes without leaving Total Commander. To do this, select the desired directory with the cursor and expand the “Files” menu. Select “Change Attributes” from the list of commands.

In the next window, click the “Load from file under cursor” button (to load the attributes of the selected object) and uncheck the “System” and “Hidden” items. To make changes affect all files and subfolders of this directory, check “Process directory contents”. Click OK

Often, beginners, and sometimes even avid Internet users, cannot always answer some questions. For example, the question regarding hidden folders still remains unclear to many. On the other hand, there is absolutely nothing complicated about this, and once you understand this function, you can enjoy its undeniable advantages.

Thus, I propose to talk about this burning issue, because it worries a huge number of users! Let's figure out how to see hidden folders in Windows 7, and in a few words I'll tell you how to hide them.

How to see hidden folders

In fact, everything is very simple, as you will now see for yourself.

There is another way that allows you to answer the question “how to show hidden folders in Windows 7”? By and large, it is not very different from the previous one:

How to hide folders

Well, we’ve sorted out the main issue, I also want to tell you about how, perhaps, not everyone still knows how this is done.

Right-click on the folder or file you want to save and select “Properties”.
We need the “General” tab, then in the “Attributes” block, click “Hidden” - “OK”.
Now a window will appear asking you to change the attribute, and in it you can choose what exactly you want to hide: just a folder or the data attached to it (folders and files).
Done, the folder is hidden. Please note that it is not completely hidden, but simply looks a little lighter than the rest. To make it completely invisible, go to “Control Panel” – “Folder Options” – “Appearance and Personalization” – “Folder Options” – “View”. In the area " Additional options"Tick the box next to 'Do not show hidden folders, files and drives' - 'Apply'. That's all, you have hidden the folder, now it is not visible at all.

Now you know how easy it is to hide folders and get everything back painlessly.