This tutorial will show you how to add a custom Hidden items context menu to make it easy to hide/unhide selected files/folders and hide/show hidden items on demand in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Hidden files, folders, and drives do not show by default in Windows.
Hidden files, folders, and drives are marked with the hidden attribute.
Protected operating system files are marked with the hidden and system attributes.
When you set to show hidden files, folders, and drives and protected operating system files, their icons will appear dimmed (faded) to indicate that they are hidden items.
While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the Hidden items context menu, all users can use the context menu.
The Hide/Unhide selected items item in the "Hidden items" context menu will toggle to set or clear the hidden attribute for the selected file(s) and/or folder(s). If you select a folder with contents, you will be prompted to select to Apply changes to this folder only or Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files, and click/tap on OK to apply.
The Hide/Show hidden items item in the "Hidden items" context menu will toggle Show hidden files, folders, and drives and Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives for the current user.
The Hide protected OS files item in the "Hidden items" context menu will check Hide protected operating system files for the current user. You will see a command prompt quickly open and close, and the screen flicker as the explorer process restarts to apply.
The Show protected OS files item in the Hidden items context menu will uncheck Hide protected operating system files for the current user. You will see a command prompt quickly open and close, and the screen flicker as the explorer process restarts to apply.
EXAMPLE: "Hidden items" context menu
It is required to click/tap on Show more options first by default, then click/tap on Hidden items.
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"MUIVerb"="Hidden items"
"Position"="Bottom"
"Extended"=-
"SubCommands"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\Windows.ShowHiddenFiles]
"CommandStateSync"=""
"Description"="@shell32.dll,-37573"
"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{f7300245-1f4b-41ba-8948-6fd392064494}"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"MUIVerb"="Hide/Show Hidden items"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x1menu]
"MUIVerb"="Hide protected OS files"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"CommandFlags"=dword:00000020
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x1menu\command]
@="cmd /c, REG ADD \"HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced\" /V ShowSuperHidden /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F & taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x2menu]
"MUIVerb"="Show protected OS files"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x2menu\command]
@="cmd /c, REG ADD \"HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced\" /V Hidden /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F & REG ADD \"HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced\" /V ShowSuperHidden /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F & taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"MUIVerb"="Hidden items"
"Position"="Bottom"
"Extended"=-
"SubCommands"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\Windows.ShowHiddenFiles]
"CommandStateSync"=""
"Description"="@shell32.dll,-37573"
"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{f7300245-1f4b-41ba-8948-6fd392064494}"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"MUIVerb"="Hide/Show hidden items"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\Windows.HideSelected]
"Description"="@shell32.dll,-37575"
"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{0947c622-f98a-48a5-9df7-60e5fe202e07}"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"MUIVerb"="Hide/Unhide selected items"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x1menu]
"MUIVerb"="Hide protected OS files"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
"CommandFlags"=dword:00000020
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x1menu\command]
@="cmd /c, REG ADD \"HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced\" /V ShowSuperHidden /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F & taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x2menu]
"MUIVerb"="Show protected OS files"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5314"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles\shell\x2menu\command]
@="cmd /c, REG ADD \"HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced\" /V Hidden /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F & REG ADD \"HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced\" /V ShowSuperHidden /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F & taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe"This is the default setting.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\HiddenFiles]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\HiddenFiles]4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
