Hidden files are turned off by default to reduce clutter, but you can reveal them in seconds
Hidden files exist on your computer but do not show up in your file browser by default. Operating systems hide them to prevent accidental deletion of system files that keep your computer running. Once you know where the setting lives, turning them on takes one click or one keyboard shortcut — and the files themselves do not move or change, they straightforward become visible.
The steps differ slightly between Windows, Mac, and Linux, but the principle is the same: you are not creating anything or moving anything, just changing what your file browser displays.
Key Takeaways
- Hidden files are marked with a dot at the start of their name on Mac and Linux, or a hidden attribute on Windows — the files themselves do not move when you reveal them.
- On Windows 10 and 11, open File Explorer, click the View tab, and check the box next to Hidden Items.
- On Mac, press Command + Shift + Period while a Finder window is open, and hidden files appear when ready.
- On Linux, the method depends on your file manager, but most have a View menu with a Show Hidden Files option.
- Once hidden files are visible, you can treat them like any other file — move them, rename them, or delete them if you know what you are doing.
How to show hidden files on Windows 10 and 11
Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E, or click the folder icon on your taskbar. Navigate to any folder — it does not matter which one, because the setting applies to all folders once you change it.
Look for the View tab at the top of the File Explorer window. Click it. In the ribbon that appears, you will see a checkbox labeled Hidden Items. Click that checkbox. Hidden files now appear in your folders, and they remain visible until you uncheck the box again.
If you do not see a View tab, you may be in a different view mode. Look for three horizontal dots (the menu button) in the top right corner of File Explorer, click it, and select View. Then look for Show hidden files or a similar option.
How to show hidden files on Mac
Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in your dock, or press Command + Space and type Finder. Open any folder, or just use the Finder window that appears.
Press Command + Shift + Period (the period key, also called the full stop). Hidden files appear when ready in that window and in all Finder windows going forward. Press the same key combination again to hide them.
This keyboard shortcut is the fastest method on Mac. If you prefer a menu option instead, click Finder in the menu bar at the top, select Settings, click the Advanced tab, and check the box next to Show all filename extensions. This shows extensions like .txt and .pdf, but does not show hidden files — use the keyboard shortcut for that.
How to show hidden files on Linux
The method depends on which file manager your Linux system uses. The most common ones are Nautilus (used by GNOME), Dolphin (used by KDE), and Thunar (used by Xfce).
In Nautilus, open the file manager, click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right, and look for a Show Hidden Files option. In Dolphin, click the View menu at the top and select Show Hidden Files. In Thunar, click View in the menu bar and check Show Hidden Files. If you use a different file manager, look for View or Settings in the menu bar — the option is almost always there.
You can also show hidden files from the command line by typing ls -a in the terminal, which lists all files including hidden ones. This method does not change your file manager's display, but it shows you what hidden files exist in the current directory.
What hidden files actually are and why they exist
On Windows, a hidden file has a hidden attribute set in its properties. On Mac and Linux, a hidden file is straightforward any file whose name starts with a dot — for example, .bashrc or .config. The dot is not a typo or a mistake; it is part of the actual filename.
Operating systems hide these files because they contain settings, preferences, and system data that most users never need to touch. If you accidentally delete a hidden system file, your computer might stop working correctly. By hiding them by default, the operating system reduces the chance of accidental damage.
Once you show hidden files, you can interact with them like any other file — rename them, move them, delete them, or open them in a text editor. But you should only do this if you know what the file does. If you are unsure, leave it alone.
Common hidden files you might encounter
On Windows, hidden files often include system folders like System32 and Program Files, and configuration files for installed programs. You might also see Thumbs.db, which stores thumbnail previews of images in a folder.
On Mac, you will see folders like .ssh (which stores security keys), .config (which stores program settings), and .Trash (which is the trash bin). You might also see .DS_Store, which stores folder view preferences.
On Linux, hidden files include .bashrc and .bash_profile (which control terminal behavior), .ssh (which stores security keys), and .config (which stores program settings). Most of these are configuration files that programs read when they start up.
If you are organizing your own files and you see a hidden file you created yourself, you can show it or hide it as you prefer. If you see a hidden system file and you are not sure what it does, leave it hidden and do not modify it.
When you might need to see hidden files
You need to see hidden files when you are looking for configuration files for a program you use, when you are troubleshooting a problem and a support article tells you to check a hidden folder, or when you are moving files between computers and you want to make sure you do not miss anything.
You might also need to see hidden files if you are setting up a backup system and you want to back up your program settings along with your documents. Or you might be organizing files in a shared folder and you want to see everything that is there, including hidden files someone else created.
Once you have found what you need, you can hide the files again by unchecking the box (Windows) or pressing the keyboard shortcut again (Mac). Hiding them does not delete them or change them — it just removes them from view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will showing hidden files slow down my computer?
No. Showing hidden files only changes what your file browser displays. It does not load anything into memory or change how your computer runs. The files were already on your hard drive; you are just making them visible.
Can I hide files I create myself?
Yes. On Mac and Linux, rename the file to start with a dot — for example, change notes.txt to .notes.txt. On Windows, right-click the file, select Properties, check the Hidden checkbox, and click OK. The file will disappear from view until you show hidden files again.
What happens if I delete a hidden file?
It depends on the file. If it is a system file, your computer might stop working correctly. If it is a configuration file for a program, that program might lose its settings. If it is a file you created yourself, it goes to the trash like any other file. When in doubt, do not delete hidden files you did not create.
Why do some files have dots in their names on Mac and Linux?
The dot at the start of a filename is a convention that tells the operating system to hide the file. It is not a file extension like .txt or .pdf — it is part of the actual filename. A file named .bashrc has no extension; the whole name is .bashrc.
Do I have to show hidden files every time I restart my computer?
No. Once you change the setting, it stays changed. On Windows, the Hidden Items checkbox stays checked. On Mac, the keyboard shortcut toggles the setting, so if you press it once to show hidden files, they stay shown until you press it again. The setting persists across restarts.