Show - Hide Hidden Files - Add to Context Menu

How to Add "Show/Hide Hidden Files" to Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

   Information

This will show you how to add or remove Show/Hide Hidden Files to the desktop, library, and folder window context menu for all users to be able to toggle "Show" or "Don't show" hidden files, folders, drives, and protected operating system files in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

While you must be logged in as an administrator to be able to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu.

   Note

When you right click on the Desktop and click on Show/Hide Hidden Files, the hidden files (faded files) will instantly show or hide. You will need to refresh (F5) any other opened inactive window to see the hidden files show or hide in them.

When you right click on a blank area in the main window of a library or folder and click on Show/Hide Hidden Files, the hidden files (faded files) will instantly show or hide in that window. You may need to refresh (F5) with any other opened inactive window to see the hidden files show or hide in them.

EXAMPLE: "Show/Hide Hidden Files" and/or "Show/Hide All Hidden Files" Added to Context Menu

OPTION ONE

To Add "Show/Hide Hidden Files" to Context Menu

1. Do either step 2 or 3, and/or step 4 or 5 for what you would like.


2. To Toggle Show or Hide ALL Hidden Files with Notify Sound Played
NOTE: When you click/tap on the Show/Hide Hidden Files context menu item using this option, you will hear the notify.wav file play only if Window Media Player is set as the default program for .wav files. If you do not have Window Media Player turned on in Windows Features, then you will get an error instead of the sound playing.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
NOTE: This includes all "hidden files, folders, or drives" and "hidden protected operating system files".
Add_Show_Hide_ALL_Hidden_Files_to_Context_Menu_with_SOUND.zip


Download


3. To Toggle Show or Hide ALL Hidden Files without any Sound
NOTE: This option is if you did not want to have the Notify.wav play when you use the Show/Hide Hidden Files context menu item, or if you get an error from using step 2 since you have Windows Media Player turned off in Windows Features.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
NOTE: This includes all "hidden files, folders, or drives" and "hidden protected operating system files".
Add_Show_Hide_ALL_Hidden_Files_to_Context_Menu.zip


Download


AND/OR


4. To Toggle Show or Hide Hidden Files with Notify Sound Played
NOTE: When you click/tap on the Show/Hide Hidden Files context menu item using this option, you will hear the notify.wav file play only if Window Media Player is set as the default program for .wav files. If you do not have Window Media Player turned on in Windows Features, then you will get an error instead of the sound playing.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
NOTE: This includes only all "hidden files, folders, or drives" and not "hidden protected operating system files".
Add_Show_Hide_Hidden_Files_to_Context_Menu_with_SOUND.zip


Download


5. To Toggle Show or Hide Hidden Files without any Sound
NOTE: This option is if you did not want to have the Notify.wav play when you use the Show/Hide Hidden Files context menu item, or if you get an error from using step 4 since you have Windows Media Player turned off in Windows Features.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
NOTE: This includes only all "hidden files, folders, or drives" and not "hidden protected operating system files".
Add_Show_Hide_Hidden_Files_to_Context_Menu.zip


Download


6. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

7. Open the downloaded ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) both the .reg and .vbs files to your desktop.

8. Unblock the extracted .vbs file, click/tap on Properties.

9. Right click or press and hold on the extracted and unblocked .vbs file, and click/tap on Copy.

10. In Windows Explorer, navigate to and open the C:\Windows folder. Right click or press and hold on an empty area in the C:\Window folder, click/tap on Paste, then click/tap on Continue and Yes (UAC) if prompted. Close the Windows Explorer window.

11. Double click/tap on the extracted .reg file to merge it.

12. If prompter, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

13. You can now delete the downloaded files left on your desktop if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Remove "Show/Hide Hidden Files" from Context Menu

NOTE: This is the default setting.
1. Do step 2 and/or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Remove "Show/Hide Hidden Files" from Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Show_Hide_Hidden_Files_from_Context_Menu.reg


Download


3. To Remove "Show/Hide All Hidden Files" from Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Show_Hide_All_Hidden_Files_from_Context_Menu.reg


Download


4. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. In Windows Explorer, navigate to and open the C:\Windows folder, right click or press and hold on the file below, click/tap on Delete, and Yes (if prompted).
Toggle_Show_Hidden_Files_On_Off.vbs

OR

Toggle_Show_Hidden_Files_On_Off_with_SOUND.vbs
AND/OR

Toggle_Show_All_Hidden_Files_On_Off.vbs

OR

Toggle_Show_All_Hidden_Files_On_Off_with_SOUND.vbs
8. You can now delete the download reg file if you would like to.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Show or Hide All Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Hide or Unhide a File or Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove "Hidden Files and Folders" from Folder Options in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 87
• How to Add "Show/Hide Known File Extensions" to Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add "Hide" and "Unhide" to File and Folder Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add "List Hidden Files" to Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

 

[pranavjindal999]

I'M GETTING THIS PROBLEM, i followed all steps as written but it shows this dailogbox. this trick toggles the hidden files and folders but i'm getting this annoying dialog box, same is happening in the "show/hide file extensions"

pls help

Hello Pranavjindal, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I have updated the tutorial to have two options for the Show/Hide Hidden Files context menu item. One that will play sound, and one that will not play sound when used to help those that have Windows Media Player turned off in Windows Features.

thank you for helping.. works fine now.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Pranavjindal. Great news.

 

[slang800]

I have noticed that if WMP is running while this vbs is run it will be killed, even if you use the "no sound" version. However, I have managed to fix this by changing the code in "Toggle_Show_Hidden_Files_On_Off.vbs" to:

Hidden = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Hidden"
SSHidden = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\ShowSuperHidden"
Set Command1 = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Check = Command1.RegRead(Hidden)
If Check = 2 Then
Command1.RegWrite Hidden, 1, "REG_DWORD"
Command1.RegWrite SSHidden, 1, "REG_DWORD"
Else
Command1.RegWrite Hidden, 2, "REG_DWORD"
Command1.RegWrite SSHidden, 0, "REG_DWORD"
End If
Command1.SendKeys "{F5}"

(pretty much just cutting out command2)

... hopefully this will cause fewer people to be interrupted while listening to Mr. Scruff (or other music). Also, please reply if you see something wrong with this modification, this is my first time editing vb code.

Edit: Never mind, I must have been using the "with sound" version, or a old version.

 

[Brink]

Hello Slang, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Thank you, but this is the same as the download in step 2 of OPTION ONE though. I provided two separate downloads for one with sound and one without sound.

 

[ibaca]

If you see a console opening an closing every time you show or hide, try to change "cmd.exe" to "WScript" to run the vbs script.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ibaca, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Thank you. Downloads have been updated for this.

 

[winz]

Honestly this is the best tutorial/hack/tweak/option whatever you want to call it, in the world. I have been searching for this option for years and I can't thank you enough for making it. ^^)

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Winz. I'm happy to hear that it was what you were looking for.

 

[Blagger]

Wow what a great little tweak.. love it! thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most weclome Blagger, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[SmithUnwesson]

Thanks Brink! This worked great!

 

[tyler78]

Thank you. It worked.
It's just doesnt show the hidden files, it also shows the hidden system files. How can I make it show just hidden files and not the hidden system files?

 

[Brink]

Hello Tyler,

Yes, that's what they should be doing. I have added steps 4 and 5 in OPTION ONE for you for what you wanted though.

If you already are using the other ones, then use OPTION TWO to remove them, and use the new ones now instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[tyler78]

Thank you very much. Worked out great.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[mkr10001]

How can I add this to the Shift+Right click context menu?

I'd like it there as I won't be using it all the time. I tried using shellExView but can't find it in there

 

[Brink]

Hello Mkr10001,


After you do the tutorial to add it. You could go to the two registry locations below, and do these extra steps to only have it available when you Shift+Right click instead.

• In the right pane of Show/Hide Hidden Files, right click on a empty space, click on New and String Value.
• Type Extended and press Enter.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Show/Hide Hidden Files

and

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryFolder\Background\shell\Show/Hide Hidden Files

 

[mkr10001]

Oh man I love this site....nice one

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Woki]

Thank you. This method saves a lot of time and hassle.