How to Show Hidden Files in USB? 4 Effective Methods

Recoverit Editorial Team

Oct 23, 2026 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions

TL;DR:

You can reveal hidden files on a USB drive by enabling the hidden items view in Windows File Explorer, executing the attrib command in Command Prompt, or utilizing data recovery software if the files were deleted.
    ● To quickly unhide items through the Windows interface, open your USB drive in File Explorer, navigate to the View tab, and check the Hidden items box.
    ● For files forcefully hidden by malware, open Command Prompt as an Administrator and type attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:\*.*, ensuring you replace G with your specific USB drive letter.
    ● If standard methods fail because the files were actually deleted or wiped by a virus, you must use a third-party tool like Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery, which allows up to 100MB of free file recovery.

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It is not uncommon to find some of the files on your USB drive are missing. You don't see them in navigation, yet you are certain that you didn't delete them. This often means that the files are hidden from view and as long as they are hidden from navigation, you will not be able to open, edit, or even delete them.

If this is what you are dealing with, then the next sections will prove very useful to you.

Why Are Some Files Hidden in a USB Drive?

There are a lot of reasons why the files on your USB drive may be hidden or inaccessible. The following are just some of the most common reasons:

• The files may have simply been "hidden" purposely to keep them from navigation and protect them from unauthorized eyes.
• It is also very likely that the USB drive is infected by viruses and malware that could be interfering with the files on the drive.
• You may also be unable to see the files because they were deleted accidentally or otherwise.

4 Ways to Show Hidden Files in USB

Regardless of the reason why you are unable to see the files on the USB drive, getting them back can be easy. The following are just some of the methods you may want to employ.

Method 1: Show Hidden Files in USB in File Explorer Options

This is an easy method to find files and folders that are hidden and "unhide" them. Follow these simple steps to do it:

1. In the search box, type in "Folder Options" and then click on the "File Explorer Options" when it appears.
2. In the window that appears (it can be "Folder Options" or "File Explorer Options"), click on "View" and then check "Show hidden files, folders and drives" under "Hidden Files and Folders".
3. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to complete the process.

Method 2: Show Hidden Files and Folders in USB using Command Prompt

You can also use Command Prompt to show hidden files on your USB drive. Just follow these simple steps to use Command Prompt:

1. Begin by connecting the USB drive with the hidden files to the computer. Make sure that the USB drive is properly connected to the computer and that the PC recognizes it.
2. Now hit "Windows + X" and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" in the options that appear.

3. When the Command Prompt box appears, type in the following command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:\*.*

Note: Replace "G" with the drive letter for the USB drive.

Method 3: Unhide Files in USB through File Explorer

Another simple way to unhide the files in USB is to use the File Explorer. Follow this way:

1. Go to the File Explorer->My PC.
2. Open the USB drive.
3. Click the View tab from the top of the window, and select Hidden items.

Now you can find all the hidden files in the USB.

Method 4: Show and Recover Hidden Files in USB with Recoverit Data Recovery Software

Sometimes you are unable to find or see the files because they are no longer on the USB drive. It is very easy to lose files on your USB drive without even realizing they are gone. Perhaps you deleted the files accidentally or you lend someone else the drive and they deleted the files. In this case, the only way to get them back is to recover the missing files. We recommend using Recoverit Data Recovery, a highly effective recovery tool that can help you easily and quickly recover the missing data.

Recoverit Data Recovery - The Best File Recovery Software

• Recover more than 1000 different types of data including video, audio, photos, documents, and many more.
• Retrieve data from any drive including USB drives regardless of how the data was lost in the first place. Common scenarios include accidental deletion, system crashes, and even malware and viruses.
• Easy-to-use, allowing users to recover data in just a few minutes and 3 simple steps.

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How to use Recoverit Data Recovery to show and Recover Hidden Files in USB

To use Recoverit Data Recovery to show hidden files in USB, download and install the program on to your computer and then follow these simple steps;

Step 1: Choose a Location

Double-click on the Recoverit icon to launch the program.

In the main window, select the USB drive with the hidden files you would like to recover. Click "Scan" to begin.

Step 2: Scan the Drive

As soon as you click "Scan", Recoverit will begin scanning the drive for the hidden or lost files. The process may take some time depending on the size of the files on the drive.

You can click "Pause" or "Stop" to discontinue the process at any time if you see the files you are looking for.

Step 3: Preview and Recover Files

Once the scan is complete, Recoverit will display the missing files in the next window. Click on the files to the right to preview them before recovery.

When you are certain you're recovering the right file, click on "Recover" to save the file to a specified location on your computer.

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Conclusion

Hidden files are not uncommon especially in external storage devices like USB drives. Thanks to the solutions above, you can easily "unhide" the files and be able to access them easily. If they have somehow been deleted from the device, you can easily use Recoverit Data Recovery to recover the missing files. It doesn't hurt that Recoverit allows you to recover up to 100MB of data for free.