How to see hidden folders in file explorer
In today’s digital age, managing files and folders on your computer is an essential skill. However, sometimes you may come across hidden folders that you can’t see in your file explorer. These hidden folders can contain important files or data that you need to access. In this article, we will guide you on how to see hidden folders in file explorer on different operating systems.
Windows
If you are using Windows, follow these steps to make hidden folders visible:
1. Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon on your taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + E.
2. Click on the “View” tab at the top of the window.
3. In the “Show/hide” section, check the box next to “Hidden items.”
4. Hidden folders should now be visible in your file explorer.
If you want to make hidden folders invisible again, simply uncheck the box next to “Hidden items.”
macOS
On macOS, you can follow these steps to make hidden folders visible:
1. Open Finder by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock or by pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder.”
2. Go to the “Finder” menu at the top of the screen and select “Preferences.”
3. In the “Advanced” tab, check the box next to “Show hidden files.”
4. Close the preferences window, and hidden folders should now be visible in your Finder.
To make hidden folders invisible again, uncheck the box next to “Show hidden files.”
Linux
On Linux, the process to make hidden folders visible may vary depending on the distribution you are using. However, here is a general guide for most Linux distributions:
1. Open a terminal window. You can usually do this by searching for “Terminal” in your distribution’s application menu.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: `ls -a`
3. This command will list all files and folders, including hidden ones, in the current directory.
4. To navigate to a hidden folder, simply type its name followed by the Enter key.
If you want to make hidden folders invisible again, you can use the `ls -a` command without the `-a` flag, which will only list visible files and folders.
By following these steps, you should now be able to see hidden folders in your file explorer on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This will help you manage your files and data more effectively.
