How can I display hidden files in Windows XP?

Simple question, Dave: how do I change my settings on my Microsoft Windows XP computer so that I can see every file on the hard disk, not just those that are ordinarily "visible"?

Dave's Answer:

Easy question to answer, but you have to poke around a bit to find the right checkbox to mark. In Windows go to START --> Control Panels and choose "Folder Options":

Microsoft Windows XP (winxp) Control Panels: Folder Options

Now you'll see the basic set of "General" view options for your folders:

Microsoft Windows XP (winxp): Folder Options: General

Note particularly that this is where you can switch back to "Classic" folder views if you don't like the list of common tasks that appears in most folders you open (I generally like them, actually, as they help me figure out how to quickly solve problems, but you might prefer just seeing more files and folders in that window).

What you seek, however, is under the "View" option:

Microsoft Windows XP (winxp): Folder Options: View

I've circled it here so you can see the option, it's "show hidden files and folders". Choose that, click "Apply" and you'll be able to see those mystery files until you switch back.

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Categorized: Windows PC Help (Article 7336, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: hidden files, microsoft windows xp, winxp
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Reader Comments To Date: 169

ravi said, on September 19, 2008 12:40 AM:

ive tried all the solutions given above.But not solved.

Varghese said, on September 20, 2008 2:26 PM:

I had the same problem of hidden files not displayed in windows XP. I tried the reg edit as mentioned "HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001" and it worked. thank you very much

Hadeel Roushdy said, on September 22, 2008 3:04 AM:

please inform me where can i find on my computer the registiry editor? that link that's written to fonish the hidden files virus problem ( HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer \Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL ) where is it?

am new in soft wear problems!

raju said, on October 5, 2008 8:29 AM:

after setting view hidden files in folder option i m unable to view hidden files what should i do

Emmanuel said, on November 21, 2008 9:06 AM:

I have tried to switch "Show Hidden File" but immediately I select, apply and then ok, it goes back on highlighting "Do not Show Hidden Files".I am using XP Pro.

Please help

arrkkaammeed said, on January 5, 2009 3:09 AM:

christmas is more than over

Gill said, on January 28, 2009 8:11 AM:

hv tried everything, nothing worked. wen i edit the registry value, it sets itself back to the same old one. i hv tried MERGING the new registry value that u hv given, but no change. Funniest part is, i hv even reinstalled my windows and hv still the same problem!

pls help

i'd be obliged if u revert back at my personal email. thanx in advance.

IMRAN said, on February 4, 2009 11:54 PM:

I have followed the above steps but am unable to see my hidden files. When i click the folder options again, i see that the option has reverted back to "Do not show".This started happening couple of days back but was working fine before that. How do i see my hidden files again?

azad said, on February 12, 2009 12:15 AM:

my problem is that i can't see my hidden files
and if i click the option 'show all hidden files' after clicking ok .it is unable to view hidden files . When i click the folder options again, i see that the option has reverted back to "Do not show". How do i see my hidden files again?
please give me suggestion for this problem

praveen kumar said, on February 16, 2009 10:44 PM:

I have followed the above steps but am unable to see my hidden files. When i click the folder options again, i see that the option has reverted back to "Do not show".This started happening couple of days back but was working fine before that. How do i see my hidden files again?

vabuk said, on March 26, 2009 8:18 AM:

I followed the way... but it doesn't work with me aftr setting value 1 it again goes o 0

whts the solution?

tsaliki said, on March 30, 2009 2:05 PM:

thnaks to outlaww for the following post.its working

Go to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL

DELETE the value CheckedValue in the right window. (Its type should be REG_SZ and data should be 2.)

Now create a new DWORD value called CheckedValue (same as above, except that the type is REG_DWORD). Modify the value data to 1 (0x00000001).

This should let you change the "Hidden Files and Folders" option.
Thanks to Paul in another forum related to Kaspersky

Sudhir Soni said, on April 11, 2009 12:28 AM:

i have choose show hidden files and folder and hit on apply and ok but i don't see hidden files. so i have check the setting again then i got the default setting as do not shaw hidden files and folders

christon said, on April 16, 2009 11:31 PM:

thanks to The_Outtlaww
now I can see my hidden file again

zahra said, on April 19, 2009 8:31 AM:

I am unable to view the hidden files in xp even when i give "show hidden files in folder options" . When i return to the folder options second time, I see the option "do not show hidden files" is enabled automatically. How to solve this??

Fryzie said, on April 22, 2009 4:57 AM:

Thanks a heap. So much of this forum seems redundant, if people just read the posts there's answers. Though, it may be helpful to a lot of people if you walk them through using the Run tool and regedit to find their way through to fixing their problem. I know it by sheer dumb luck. Anyway, thanks again. And if anyone posts the question again, READ THROUGH THE POSTS! Don't be lazy. Thanks. Peace

Sanjay said, on May 1, 2009 2:31 PM:

I have a BIG Problem,

I need to delete this entry (CheckedValue 0) to change it to (CheckedValue 1) but i can't do that, It says an file already exists and cannot create in the same name, Even after I delete and press the refresh the windows it just appear back .

Please HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your help

Regards,
Sanjay

arulselvan said, on May 21, 2009 6:20 AM:

I am unable to view the hidden files in xp even when i give "show hidden files in folder options" . When i return to the folder options second time, I see the option "do not show hidden files" is enabled automatically. How to solve this??

arul

arulselvan said, on May 23, 2009 5:24 AM:

I am unable to view the hidden files in xp even when i give "show hidden files in folder options" . When i return to the folder options second time, I see the option "do not show hidden files" is enabled automatically. How to solve this??

and also in doos format

Thanks & Regards

arul

Niveditha said, on June 7, 2009 3:03 PM:

Its futile.Even the adding the info to the registry failed.wat now?

tanzir said, on June 7, 2009 11:26 PM:

hi sir...
my problem is ,when i show my hidden files from folder option and click apply it never shows my hidden files.
what is the reason??????
pls help me..

Niyas said, on June 20, 2009 5:06 PM:

hi sir...
my problem is ,when i show my hidden files from folder option and click apply it never shows my hidden files.
what is the reason??????
pls help me..

Rajpal Singh said, on June 30, 2009 11:01 PM:

Respected sir,
I've a problem.I m unable 2 see hidden files even if I changed the registry entries.My perating system is xp sp2.Plz help me, thanx a lot.

ohh said, on July 10, 2009 3:45 PM:

well thank,s my problem solve i install new xp

sannjeev bachra said, on July 30, 2009 7:49 AM:

I am unable to view the hidden files in xp even when i give "show hidden files in folder options" . When i return to the folder options second time, I see the option "do not show hidden files" is enabled automatically

David said, on August 3, 2009 4:42 AM:

for everyone who is not able to change the "CheckedValue" or ay registry entry like me ...just try to restore your system to a date you think it was last good using "System Restore"...go to

Start
All Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore

and it will guide you..

during the process select a date before the virus entered your computer.

hope this works...nothing else worked for me but this..have a great day guys!!!

Vinay said, on August 31, 2009 1:40 PM:

thx bosss

Milary said, on September 4, 2009 10:50 PM:

I have problem to view my file on thumb drive..
I did try folder option but still unable to view my file

Milary said, on September 4, 2009 11:19 PM:

I've problem with my pendrive and i can't view my file even though Folder Option to able to view

omar said, on September 29, 2009 11:46 AM:

when i click on start, control panel...i don;t even have a folder options icon...how can i even find that option

Lan said, on November 17, 2009 12:56 AM:

I'm using Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and unable to see hidden files.If I click the option "show all hidden files" after clicking OK still unable to view hidden files . When I click the folder options again, I saw that the option had reverted back to "Do not show". What I did...

At start, run, open REGEDIT
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advance\folder\hidden\SHOWALL and modify

CheckedValue REG_DWORD from "0x00000000(0)" to "0x00000001(1)

thanks to above guide.

antony said, on November 19, 2009 11:23 AM:

hi.. i can see the hiddend file in command mode.. but i cant display the files windows xp mode.
and also i didnt enter the folder command mode also..

AndyH said, on November 20, 2009 7:34 PM:

Hi just fixing a hp lappy with xp home on it. It has had viruses etc on it and im trying to see hidden files but in Control panel there is no folder options and when i click on it through windows explorer it only gives me a FILES TYPES tab only. Where are the other tabs and how do i get them back???? Help really appreciated...Cheers Andy

sreenatha reddyv said, on November 24, 2009 6:52 PM:

as i have a pen drive infected with viruses scaned it and remove viruses but, very next my files and some important data not appeared but while see memory is being occupied so i get this website help and recovered data files thanks to them

Niher said, on December 24, 2009 7:15 PM:

Dear, my problem is i can show hidden files. But files are shown are in hidden position. that is, by right clicking if i go to properties of that shown hidden file the tick mark in the hidden option cant be removed,it is disabled and tick mark is on. solve it please.
Niher Bakshi

Riyas PC said, on December 27, 2009 8:52 PM:

First up all thanks to Ang Hoe and teams for help me & my pc.

I iam a begginner in this site...

best Wishes..

dharmesh said, on January 6, 2010 11:30 AM:

unable to view hidden files in document settings in windows xp2,help me

Denis said, on January 8, 2010 5:48 PM:

I'm using Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition and had also been unable to see hidden files. When I clicked the option "show all hidden files" and then ticking "OK" I was still unable to view hidden files . When I click the folder options again, I saw that the option had reverted back to "Do not show". What I did was run "regedit" through command prompt (go to start>run then type in "regedit" which opens registry). I edited registry as follows;

At start>run>type "REGEDIT"
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advance\folder\hidden\SHOWALL and modify

CheckedValue REG_DWORD from "0x00000000(0)" to "0x00000001(1)

and this worked, now I can see ALL hidden files and do with them what I wish ;)
thanks to all those posts in the above for the information and guidance.

Darshan said, on January 12, 2010 12:22 PM:

You are just amazing ma. I just went through your resolutions and fixed my issue. Thank you a lot for a the help and support that you provide people with your expertise.
I just want a good anti virus for my home computer. but i dont have money to buy one. so , can u plz suggest me a good one that can come handy

thanks in advance

Shamal said, on January 17, 2010 12:15 AM:

I've had dis problem n i thort thre ws no solution fr it........bt thx to u ol i found one! now i can c ol ma hidden files THANK U SOOOOOOO MUCH :)

ma5654 said, on February 12, 2010 1:22 AM:

can't open my hidden folder. No folder option in Tools of there is no Folder Option on control panel. Need help plz....

manohar said, on February 15, 2010 3:23 AM:

I can not see hidden files even if I clicked on " show hidden files" please help me.

RedDevil said, on February 21, 2010 1:11 AM:

Thnxxx a lot man. Others have become crazy praisin you but i want to praise u even more than that! Just understand Thnkk u very much! :)

vijayakumar said, on February 26, 2010 8:05 PM:

Thank you so much

django said, on March 5, 2010 7:31 AM:

BIG THANKS to 'The_Outtlaww' the solution given really works...my problem with hidden files is resolved....

sandeep said, on April 10, 2010 10:12 PM:

hi Paul,

Thanks now am able to view all my hidden files.
Thanks a lot for the support.

Larry C said, on May 17, 2010 9:10 AM:

Same here (running Xp SP3) as Denis (recent comment, a few months back), in that ... my existing SHOW value was showing as 0 ... I modified it to 0x1 and that finally fixed "Show Hidden ..."

Will run a SEP 11 scan of this system, I can't understand why this reg value would have changed by itself.

On the other hand, I just had to do a forced shutdown this morning (because the system, a ThinkPad T61, wouldn't wake up from standby, not responding to the power button above the keyboard or on the dock) ... maybe that corrupted an Explorer setting. Larry

Chris said, on June 10, 2010 8:43 PM:

Files are affected by malicious software. Then I ran an antivirus scan. I found that the original files were hidden. I went to the file properties to remove the check mark from the "hidden files" property only to find that the "hidden files" property is disabled. How can I enable the hidden property to make this permanent change?

khanzeb said, on June 16, 2010 5:16 AM:

I am unable to view the hidden files in xp even when i give "show hidden files in folder options" . When i return to the folder options second time, I see the option "do not show hidden files" is enabled automatically

sir my externer hdd is not showe after the scanning folder and files
plase help me mailme

Vaibhav said, on August 5, 2010 11:55 AM:

I have this same problem .When i click the folder options again, i see that the option has reverted back to "Do not show".This started happening couple of days back but was working fine before that. How do i see my hidden files again?

Vaibhav said, on August 5, 2010 12:16 PM:

How to do the following procedure,pls tell me in brief. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL

abc said, on August 8, 2010 11:09 PM:

This foloowing link may be usefule for the problem,
http://en.kioskea.net/faq/1549-the-option-to-display-hidden-files-and-folders-has-disappeared
good luck.

mavn said, on October 25, 2010 2:59 AM:

@lamj7

Thanks bro your post really helped me. More power to you!

abhay said, on December 12, 2010 2:12 AM:

Thanks a lot for your help my CheckedValue was of type REG_DWORD with value 0, so i only had to change the value to 1 and it worked.

Actually my problem was that there some bulky hidden files consuming unnecessary hard disc space.
Thanks its all deleted now.

Any reason why this value would have changed from 1 to 0?

Regards,
Abhay

guvi said, on January 29, 2011 4:41 AM:

tnanks it help for me

Sid said, on March 1, 2011 3:58 AM:

i did the registry editor thing, but the Data was already on 0.000000001(1x) and it was REG_DWORD but i cant seem to view hidden files

varun said, on March 4, 2011 3:12 PM:

I have this same problem .When i click the folder options again, i see that the option has reverted back to "Do not show".This started happening couple of days back but was working fine before that. How do i see my hidden files again?

bharat said, on April 24, 2011 2:05 AM:

they are visible but not completely they are looking like a cro in fug

shyamlal said, on May 1, 2011 1:02 AM:

thank u....................

LocalMachine said, on May 11, 2011 2:03 PM:

I have noticed that many defraggers mess with the hidden files and folders.
Auslogic, is one of them.
Some even go further on and enable access to some system folders such as System Volume Information.

Msandric said, on May 25, 2011 9:22 AM:

If you still see your folders like "a cro in fog", just right click on the folder and uncheck the hidden box, apply. That would do the trick.

atiq said, on May 31, 2011 10:13 PM:

plz hepl my hidden files in usb are not showing,i tried by folder option but link(hidden
) is not working,

shiv kumar said, on June 29, 2011 12:46 AM:

The files hidden in one computer are being shown in another computer. How can I view in both the computers. I am using a pen drive to access these files. please explain me how I can view in other computers also.

santhosh said, on July 20, 2011 8:51 PM:

I am unable to view the hidden files in xp even when i give "show hidden files in folder options" . When i return to the folder options second time, I see the option "do not show hidden files" is enabled automatically. How to solve this??

dave said, on February 14, 2012 10:12 PM:

Due to changes in the registry or virus infection, you may no longer be able to access the options to display hidden files and folders (Tools > Folder Options). Here's a simple tip that will help

To find these options, simply do this:
Click on Start menu, then click Run (or Windows key + R).
Type cmd, a command prompt window (DOS) will open.
Type regsvr32 /i browseui.dll then press the Enter key, wait for a confirmation window.
Type regsvr32 /i shell32.dll then press the Enter key, wait for a confirmation window.
Close the command prompt.

Open Windows Explorer, click on Tools > Folder Options.

nagi said, on February 27, 2012 12:23 AM:

Sir,

Most of the files in one floder is not visible even after I did the unhide process. Finally I have tried to search the files whichever I remember but not able to find them in XP.
I have copied the Folder to other system which has Windows7 I can able to find the files by the search method by typing file name.

Can you please suggest me how to get all files in XP.

lungani said, on March 12, 2012 6:11 AM:

Where can I find that HKEY_LOCAL_MECHINE please help me how to find it

brad said, on February 16, 2013 11:33 PM:

this worked great! thanks you for the help! it even deletes the files you couldn't before!!

brad said, on February 16, 2013 11:37 PM:

for windows xp. you can view all hidden files and folders by this site http://www.askdavetaylor.com/display_hidden_files_in_windows_xp.html?page=last do this first before using unlocker!

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

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How can I display hidden files in Windows XP?

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