In the digital realm of Windows 10, privacy and security often walk hand in hand. Whether you’re looking to safeguard personal documents, declutter your desktop, or ensure that certain files remain out of reach from prying eyes, the Windows 10 operating system offers you the convenience to seamlessly hide and unveil files and folders. But what could possibly prompt someone to toggle between hidden and visible files? Several scenarios come to mind. Maybe you’re shielding important financial data, stashing away personal memories, or trying to tackle a pesky virus lurking in a specific folder. On the flip side, you might find yourself in a situation where accessing a hidden system file becomes imperative; regardless of the ‘why,’ it’s the ‘how’ that we’re here to decode. In this guide, we will walk you through the straightforward steps to not only reveal those concealed files and folders in Windows 10 but also guide you on cloaking specific ones, ensuring that your data remains under wraps, just the way you want it.
Whether you’re a novice user or someone more acquainted with the ins and outs of Windows 10, this guide aims to make the process of hiding and unhiding files a breeze. Let’s dive in!
How do you show hidden files or folders on a Windows 10 computer?
Step 1. To see the hidden files or folders on your Windows 10 computer, open Windows Explorer by pressing the Windows+E keys simultaneously (Alternately, you can open “This PC” from the desktop shortcut or Start menu).
Step 2. From the “File Explorer” menu, click on the View tab.
Step 3. Check Hidden items under the View tab to show hidden files and folders.
Now all the hidden files and folders will be visible. The files or folders which are slightly transparent were hidden.
The first folder was hidden in the above image as it is slightly transparent, while the other two are normal.
How to hide a file or folder on a Windows 10 computer?
Step 1. Select a file or folder that you want to hide from others.
Step 2. Right-click on the selected file or folder and select Properties.
Step 3. Check the Hidden checkbox on the General Tab.
Step 4. Click on Apply and then the OK button.
Now the selected file or folder will be hidden. You can uncheck the “Hidden” option to make it visible. For your information, some of the system files remain hidden by default.
That’s it.
With the help of the above steps, you can easily hide or show specific files on your computer.
All the best!
Conclusion
With Windows 10, managing the visibility of your files and folders becomes a straightforward task. The inbuilt tools and settings ensure that you can keep your confidential and personal data just the way you want – hidden or visible. Whether you’re looking to declutter, enhance privacy, or troubleshoot, understanding how to hide and reveal files is a valuable skill for any user. Always remember, while hiding is a basic level of security, for crucial files, more robust methods like encryption are advisable.
