Windows 7 - Libraries - Hidden and Empty Fix

Brink

How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7

Information

When you open your Libraries in Windows Explorer and it is empty or the libraries are hidden, then this will show you how to fix them if clicking on the Restore Default Libraries option did not help.

EXAMPLE: Libraries Hidden and Empty
NOTE: If you see faded library folders, then this also means that they are hidden.

OPTION ONE

Fix Hidden Empty Libraries with a BAT File

NOTE: This does the same thing as OPTION TWO below, but automatically.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the the file below.
Unhide_Libraries.bat

2. Unblock the downloaded BAT file, then run it.
NOTE: You may notice a quick flash of the command prompt opening and closing at it runs.

3. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

OPTION TWO

Fix Hidden Empty Libraries in a Command Prompt

NOTE: This does the same thing as OPTION ONE above, but manually.

1. Open a command prompt.

2. Copy and past the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter.
attrib -h "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\*.library-ms"

3. Close the command prompt.

4. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

JaidynM · 07-04-2011

Great tutorial, Shawn. Well done.

Brink · 07-04-2011

Thank you Jaidyn. I noticed this happening a bit more lately with folks here, and thought it best to have a separate tutorial on it.

Shadowjk · 07-04-2011

Great Tutorial Shawn - Does this affect the C:\Users\*User Name*\ ?

Where all the other Folders are (Like Vista)

Libraries - Hidden and Empty Fix-user-area.jpg

Brink · 07-04-2011

Hello Josh,

Sorry, but no. It only affects the library folders for the current user. You could use the command in step 23 of Option Two in the tutorial below for the user folders instead though.

User Folders - Restore Default Location

LaurieB · 07-04-2011

Thanks for the help, that fixed my hidden (faded) folders. Any idea why the library folders suddenly become hidden? I didn't have this problem before installing McAfee, just wondering if that is causing the issue.

Brink · 07-04-2011

You're welcome Laurie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

There's not an exact cause other than something had changed the libraries attribute settings to be hidden. I would recommend to scan your system for malware using the free program MSE and/or MalwareBytes just to be extra safe though.

rwright42 · 07-06-2011

Thank you so much for posting this simple fix! I had tried restoring to earlier backups, and searched for solutions without success for some time before finding this forum. None of the other solutions I tried worked, but this simple fix worked immediately.

Brink · 07-06-2011

You're most welcome rwright, and welcome to Seven Forums.

TamaraG · 11-04-2011

I am not using McAfee (Symantec Endpoint Protection) like others that I have seen with this problem, but this happened to me, too. It was either while I was trying to view hidden folders, or when I was changing the permissions to "full control" in the same folder properties window. Either way, all files disappeared and "restoring default libraries" did not help. System restore was also useless so it was "undone". I went into the Folder Options in the Control Panel and selected to view all hidden files. I can now see everything but they are all still in "hidden" mode. Thanks to your fix program, I can now see my libraries.

My C:\Users\*User Name*\ is still hidden and so are all my files in the libraries. Can this be fixed?

Could this be indicative of a different/bigger problem??? Thanks for your expertise and help.

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