Show Hidden Folders Jun 2026

If you don't recognize a hidden folder, don't delete it! Reveal them only when you have a specific task to perform, and hide them again afterward to keep your workspace tidy and safe.

The primary reason is . Folders like AppData (Windows) or Library (macOS) contain configuration settings for your software. If you delete a folder here, an app might stop working or lose your saved data. show hidden folders

And then the file browser refreshed. Suddenly, a ghost world appeared. Folders with leading dots. Grayed-out icons. Directories with names like tmp , backup , old . A graveyard of digital decisions you’d forgotten you made. If you don't recognize a hidden folder, don't delete it

If you are working in a terminal or command prompt, the standard "list" command won't show everything. Folders like AppData (Windows) or Library (macOS) contain

Others counter that the friction is valuable. That extra click—unchecking “Hide protected operating system files”—has prevented countless accidental deletions. It’s the digital equivalent of a childproof cap: not unopenable, but enough to make you pause.

Just don’t delete anything.

The methods are as varied as the operating systems: