Let's discuss how to open hidden folders on Windows 7. This type of content is not displayed among other folders and files on the disk and flash drive. However, very often the user needs to access hidden data. How to achieve this, we will discuss in detail below.
How to open hidden folders on Windows 7 and why does the operating system make them invisible?
Most often, system files, as well as folders, go into the hidden category. This is because if the owner of a personal computer changes or deletes a similar file, the system may stop working stably at the same minute, or it may completely stop starting. To avoid such consequences, Windows hides the specified files, providing them with a kind of protection.
Some applications can hide their own folders, as well as individual files - most often for the reason described above, so that the user inadvertently does not delete anything important. Sometimes users hide files so that strangers cannot find them. I must say that this is not the best way to protect personal materials.
How to distinguish between hidden file and regular?
Next, we will talk about how to open hidden folders on Windows 7 and what is the difference between familiar and invisible materials. Icons of hidden files are translucent, but only if the display of this type of material is enabled on the computer. Most often it is disabled - if this were not so, the meaning in this function would be lost.
Accessing Hidden Files and Folders on Windows XP
There are two ways to achieve this goal: through the Control Panel or Windows Explorer. First of all, you need to go to the "Control Panel". Go to the "Start" and select the item of the same name. Next, go to the section called “Folder Options”. A special window will open before you. In it, go to the "View" tab, select the item that relates to the display of hidden files and folders.
Finally, click “Apply” and, finally, the “OK” button. If you want to apply the second method, go to the "Explorer". To do this, double-click the “My Computer” icon located on your desktop with the left mouse button or use the “Win + E” combination.
Pay attention to the top menu of the "Explorer", in it you must select the "Service". There, find "Folder Options." Then proceed similarly to the previous case.
Instructions for Windows 7: open hidden folders
In fact, the procedure for activating the display of hidden folders and files on Windows 7 is the same as in "XP", but there are certain nuances that you need to know about. First of all, the necessary section in the Control Panel is named Folder Options. In turn, the item to be specified on the “View” tab in the “Folder Properties” window is responsible for displaying hidden files, folders and disks.
By the way, you can open hidden folders in Windows 8 in a similar way. If you want to enable the display of hidden materials through the "Explorer", please note that in Windows 7, by default, the top menu is not displayed.
In order to enable the display of the menu, press the "Alt" key. After the menu appears, select “Service” there, and then go to “Folder Options”. What to do next, we have already discussed above.
If for some reason you do not want to make hidden materials visible directly in the system, you can find and also open them using any of the file managers - for example, “Total Commander”. To do this, run the selected file manager, go to the top menu, select the item under it called “Configuration”, then go to “Settings”.
So we figured out how to open hidden folders on Windows 7. We hope you find our tips helpful.