There are many files on your computer that are hidden by default from users and for a reason. Sometimes such files can cause you problems once they are modified, maybe your operating system may crash, or they are just system files or even any user files. Windows and Mac maybe only saving you this kind of headache, but you can always show hidden files on Windows and Mac if you want.
To show hidden files on Windows and Mac, you only just need to change a few settings on your computer, which I’m just going to share with you today. Below is the guide of a step to step action on how to show hidden files on Windows and Mac.
Contents
Let’s start with Windows. Here, you need to know that how to show hidden files varies with the version of the Windows operating system you are using. Thus, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, let us see this.
Windows 7
In Windows 7, you can find the Hidden option in the Folder window.
- Open any folder on your Windows 7 Computer
- Navigate to Organize on the horizontal menu, extreme end on your left
- Navigate the toolbar to find the Folder and search option and click on it.
- Click View on the menu bar
- Click on Show Hidden files, folders and drives
- Click Apply, and Ok to show all hidden files
Windows 8 and 10
In Windows 8 and 10, however, you will need to go to the file explorer if you want to show hidden files on Windows. Below are simplified steps to do this.
- Go to File Explorer found on the Taskbar of your Windows 8 or 10 computer.
- Click View on the File Explorer Ribbon
- Click on Hidden Items
- Select Show/hide section
ALSO READ: How to activate windows 10 for free 2020
Hide files on your computer
Knowing all this, it’s the same way important to know that it’s easy to make any file hidden as well on your computer. Below is a brief step-by-step guide to help you hide a file on your computer.
- Right-click on your target File
- Select properties
- Go to the bottom section where there are Attributes
- Check the hidden option
- Click Apply and then Ok. This file shall be hidden
The good news is, you have three different ways of how to show hidden files on Mac. Below is a list of these summarized ways to attempt this action.
- Using Terminal Commands
- Using the Finder option
- Use File Manager
1. Using Terminal Commands
Mac Command line terminal is available to all Mac operating systems by default. You just need to run a script in your terminal in order to reveal all the hidden files on your Mac computer. Below is what you need to do.
- Launch the Terminal (the black screen)
- Copy and paste the command below
- defaults write com.apple.Finder
- [Press Return]
- Killall Finder
2. Using the Finder option
You can be able to check out all your hidden files using Finder potion on your Mac computer. There is not much you need to do in this step, see the steps below.
- Launch your Macintosh HD Folder in Finder
- Press Commad+Shit+Dot
- All the hidden files shall be visible after this step.
3. Use File Manager
File Managers are not only useful to Windows operating systems but also to Mac computers. You can do many tasks with your Machine only by playing around with your File manager. In regards to showing hidden files, File Managers have a hand in this too. Below are the steps in which you can use File Manager to show hidden files in Mac
- In your File Manager click View
- At the bottom, select the View Options
- Check the Show hidden files option.
- All Hidden files shall be visible