How To Find Hidden Files On Windows 10

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The issue: files not showing in USB
How to show hidden files using command lines?
Extra tips for fixing hidden files on external difficult drives
Verdict

The issue: files not showing in USB

"I had files stored on a flash drive. They were in folders and some were out of folders. The contents of the folders are showing empty; although the size of the properties describes them as containing files of size consistent with their original content.

I take used chkdsk /f and information technology said that it establish problems and fixed them. That did non restore the missing files. Why are things so complicated? I am using Windows 7 simply I as well have access to a Windows 10 reckoner. Delight help!"

The problem of files not showing in external difficult drive happens now and then. Information technology could exist caused by hidden files, corrupted file arrangement, virus attack and then on. And then, how to show hidden files in Windows 11/x/eight/7? Command Prompt, a built-in tool in Windows, tin requite you a hand.

How to evidence hidden files using control lines?

Really, at that place are 2 kinds of command lines which can help to evidence hidden files: dir control and attrib command. Learn how to show subconscious files in CMD below:

Way 1: view subconscious files with dir command

i. Hit Windows Cardinal + Ten on your keyboard, and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.

ii. Type dir F: /a:h /b /s and printing Enter to show hidden files in bulldoze F. You should modify the drive alphabetic character according to your situation.

Tips:
▪ /a:h—displays the names of the directories and files with the Subconscious attribute; the colon between "a" and "h" is optional;
▪ /b—displays a bare listing of directories and files, with no boosted data;
▪ /s—lists every occurrence of the specified file proper noun inside the specified directory and all subdirectories.

3. Type exit and press Enter to get out Control Prompt.

You lot tin only view hidden files in the Command Prompt window by using dir command. To unhide those files from specific drive, delight learn how to testify hidden files via command from Way two.

Way 2: prove hidden files with attrib control

1. Open Command Prompt as you practice in Way 1.

two. Type attrib -h -r -s /south /d F:\*.* and press Enter to unhide hidden files in drive F. Replace the bulldoze letter of the alphabet with yours.

Tips:
▪ -h—clears the Subconscious file attribute; -r—clears the Read-but file attribute; -due south—clears the System file aspect;
▪ /due south—applies attrib and any command-line options to matching files in the current directory and all of its subdirectories;
▪ /d—applies attrib and any control-line options to directories.

iii. Type go out and printing Enter to leave Control Prompt. You tin then see the hidden files in respective drive.

Extra tips for fixing subconscious files on external difficult drives

Every bit mentioned in the starting time function, corrupted file system can lead to files not showing. If you fail to gear up the upshot via dir command and attrib command, you can check and set up deejay errors with a handy freeware AOMEI Division Assistant Standard. Information technology supports all Windows PC operating systems like Windows 11/10/viii.1/8/vii/Vista/XP. Follow the instructions below to fix a corrupted external hard bulldoze via AOMEI Partition Banana:

Step 1. Connect the external bulldoze to your computer and make sure it is detected. Download, install and launch AOMEI Division Assistant.

Stride 2. Correct click on the division of the bulldoze, select "Avant-garde" so "Check Partition".

Step 3. You lot'll see three check options. Choose the offset 1 and click "OK".

Bank check partitioning and gear up errors in this partition by using chkdsk.exe
Bank check partition for errors past using chkdsk.exe
Check whether at that place is bad sector on the partition

Pace 4. Wait for the process to be completed. Click "OK" when information technology's done. Corrupted file system can be fixed in this mode, so y'all can see subconscious files again from File Explorer.

Verdict

Now you know how to show hidden files using control lines in Windows 11/10/8/7. Y'all can also use AOMEI Partition Assistant to fix corrupted file system, thus retrieving hidden files. Apart from checking and fixing deejay errors, AOMEI Partition Banana allows y'all to permanently assign bulldoze letter and ready unformatted hard drives. Why not give information technology a attempt at once?