Parents are always worried about the activities of their kids, especially on their phones and other devices. That’s because of the richness of good and bad content present in the digital sphere that could take your kids to any side. If kids want to do something suspicious on their devices, they may hide them in their phone, and that makes it important for parents to know how to show hidden files.
Even if kids don’t hide content deliberately, some apps may be hidden by default. This article will explore what hidden files are, their purposes, and how parents can view those files. This will help parents take appropriate action depending on the file to keep their children safe from hidden risks.
What are hidden files?
As the name suggests, hidden files in a computer, a mobile phone, or a tablet are not visible but are still there. Users who don’t have an idea of those files will not be able to see or access those files if they use that device. These files are also capable of staying there in the operating system even if a user deletes the visible files.
There are two main types of hidden files. Let’s discuss them briefly below:
System files: If you have browsed the C drive in your PC’s “My computer,” you may have noticed that there are a lot of files about which you may not have an idea. These files function for the operating system (Windows or Mac OS), and users don’t need to open or access those files. In addition to the visible folders and files that keep the system running, there are additional files that are not visible. These files are intentionally air automatically hidden from users so that they don’t delete or change them accidentally. If you somehow access these hidden files and try to modify or delete them, your system may not work properly.
User-hidden files: In addition to the system files that are hidden by default, users can also hide files they don’t want others to see. This especially happens when many users access a PC or any other device. That’s why some users can hide files so that others can’t see them. Some apps can also hide files on a device, especially on a phone. These apps have a specialty to hide files to provide secrecy and privacy to the person who installed the app. For example, you may notice apps on a play store that look like a calculator ,but in fact, they hide photos and videos on a phone by using a password.
Why files become hidden?
There may be a variety of reasons why files become hidden. In fact, files don’t become hidden automatically (except they are system files). Users hide them accidentally or intentionally.
Let’s find out some reasons why files become hidden:
System protection (OS-critical files):
As we discussed earlier, system files are usually hidden to protect the operating system required to enable the system to work efficiently. If you delete or modify those files, your system may start experiencing faults.
App or software settings:
If your device has software or apps installed, they usually accompany some hidden files to enable that app or software to run properly. You can say that these files are the backend of that software or app.
Malware or suspicious apps:
If your device has malware or a virus, it may also hide some files to create a disturbance in the operating system. In addition to malware, other suspicious or untrustworthy apps may also have hidden files, or they deliberately hide files from the device. You may experience such suspicious files if you download an app or software outside of the official app stores. Such files are harmful to the operating system, and in some severe cases, you may have to reinstall the operating system to make it work properly.
Kids accidentally hide files on shared devices:
If a device is in common use and many users share that device at different times, it is possible that kids accidentally hide some files. This can especially happen if kids are trying to access file managers and storage settings. Just like hiding, they can also delete some files without even realizing what they’re doing.
Protect your family from hidden risks with FlashGet Kids‘ comprehensive monitoring.
How to show hidden files on Windows? (For family & shared PCs)
If you have a shared PC in your family, you must know how to show hidden files on the Windows operating system. This becomes necessary while other people are using the same PC when you’re not around. You can comfortably allow other people, including kids, to use the same PC if you know how to show hidden files.
Let’s discuss some of the practical methods to inside a file on Windows:
File Explorer method (recommended for parents):
You can easily unhide files by just accessing the file explorer on your device. The following are the steps to do so:
- Step 1. Go to the Search option of your Windows and type “File Explorer” and click to open it.
- Step 2. Click “View” and then hover the mouse on “Show”, then click “Hidden items.”
After you follow these simple steps, you may notice that some files and folders have appeared in a faded color that were not visible before. These are the hidden files that you can see and access now.
If you want to unhide those files permanently, you just follow these steps:
- Step 1. Right-click on the faded icon, folder, or file and select “Properties.”
- Step 2. Go to the “General” tab and uncheck the “Hidden” option.
- Step 3. Click “Apply” or just click “Ok.”
Those files will become unhidden for everyone now.
Folder Options (advanced settings)
You can also show the hidden files on your Windows PC by using the folder options. This involves advanced settings, but anyone can do it easily by following these steps:
- Step 1. Go to the “File Explorer”, click the three dots, and then click “Options.”
- Step 2. Change from “General” by clicking “View.”
- Step 3. Select the “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” option.
Now your hidden files will become visible to everyone who accesses that Windows PC or laptop.
Should parents show protected system files?
No, it will not be a recommended option for parents to show protected system files. These files are crucial for Windows’ proper functioning. If you show protected files, you may end up disturbing the whole operating system if a critical file goes missing.
How to re-hide files after inspection?
If you have made a file or folder unhidden, you may want to re-hide those particular files that were hidden. You can do this by following the steps below:
- Step 1. Go to File Explorer > View > Show.
- Step 2. Simply uncheck the “Hidden Files” option.
This will stop showing the hidden files to all users until someone makes them show again.
How to show hidden files on Mac?
If you want to show the hidden files on your Mac, you can do it by following these simple steps:
Go to “Finder and press “Command + Shift +. (Dot)
This simple step will instantly make all the hidden files appear on your Mac.
After you start seeing all the hidden files and folders on Mac, you may want to return it to a child-friendly condition. So, you may want to hide all the files again (which were previously hidden) before a child accesses that Mac. That’s because a child may accidentally delete or modify some critical hidden files.
How to show hidden files on Android (Kids’ phones & tablets)?
So, you may also want to show the hidden files on an Android device (phone or tablet). As parents, it becomes your responsibility to check what files your kids may be hiding on their Android devices.
You can do so by following these options:
Using the built-in file manager
Every Android device has a built-in file manager feature. Follow these steps to show the hidden files using this feature:
- Step 1. Open File Manager on your Android device.
- Step 2. Tap the three vertical dots and then tap “Settings.”
- Step 3. From the options, just toggle on the button for the “Show hidden files” option.
This will show all the hidden files on your kids’ Android device.
Why do some Android files remain hidden?
If you have an idea of why some Android files remain hidden, you may be able to differentiate the system forced files to be hidden and user-hidden files. Some Android files remain hidden by default because they are critical files that are necessary to keep the Android device to run properly. You can say that these hidden files are Android’s system files. For some files, you may need to have advanced permissions to access those files.
Hidden folders created by apps (games, social media, browsers)
Just like the Windows PC, Android also has hidden folders that come with the installation of apps or games on Android devices. Games on Android devices store assets, updates, and downloads. Similarly, social media apps usually save cached images and videos. You may have noticed that your social media app keeps occupying more and more internal storage on your Android device. That’s because of these hidden files accompanied by social media apps. In the case of browsers, they store downloaded media and hide them from accidental deletion.
How to show hidden files on iPhone & iPad?
If you want to show hidden files on your iPad or iPhone, the process is slightly different but easily doable. But just like Windows and Android, you cannot easily access hidden files on iPhone or iPad.
Why does iOS limit access to hidden system files?
Just like Windows and Android operating systems, Apple also restricts users from accessing the system files that work in the backend for smooth functioning. These hidden system files ensure the privacy and security of Apple devices. That’s why they don’t want users to access those files so that their iPhones and iPad keep running for a long time without any issues. But you can see hidden photos and media on your iPhone and iPad.
Just use the steps below:
Step 1. Go to Photos > Albums.
Step 2. Tap Hidden and provide your Face ID or Touch ID
You will start viewing the hidden photos on your iPad and iPhone.
Files app limitations explained for parents
If you explore the options to show hidden files on iPhones and iPads, you may wonder why you can’t freely access the “Files” app just like you do in Windows and Android. That’s because Apple doesn’t allow users to access those critical files that are necessary for its system to run properly. That’s why the Files app only shows the documents that are meant for users. So, you cannot unhide system files manually.
So, for parents wanting to know if their kids have hidden some potentially suspicious data, they shouldn’t be looking at the Files folder. Instead, they can access that particular iPhone or iPad’s iCloud storage drive. There you can find the data that you’re looking for. So, if you can access the iCloud drive, you can have an idea of the stored app-related data. This can hint at your child’s activities on their iPhones and iPads.
Why hidden files can be a problem for children?
Hidden files can be a point of worry for responsible parents who care for their children’s well-being and ensure that they remain involved in healthy and safe activities only. According to an ongoing survey published by Kaspersky in 2025, as many as 48% children aged 11 to 17 hide their online activities from their parents.
Let’s find out the potential harm that hidden files can bring to your children:
Storage of inappropriate images or videos: Kids can use the hidden folders to hide sensitive photos and videos that they don’t want their parents to see. These inappropriate images and videos may be explicit in their nature and are not safe for kids to see at their age. In the worst cases, where parents must take action, kids can also hide their own nude photos and videos to share with other people online.
Downloaded files from unsafe websites: Kids may also download unsafe and inappropriate files or media from unsafe websites. These files and media may be explicit or harmful in nature. They may not know what to do with this data, but they may still keep it out of curiosity to explore. They may also keep such files and data to share with their peers.
App cache from social platforms: Hidden files may also contain cache data from social media that may also include photos and videos. The data in the hidden files may also come from the browsers they use on their devices when they were surfing the internet.
Online harassment evidence: The hidden files can also show some deleted chat history backup, voice notes, or screenshots that may hint towards your child’s involvement in online harassment or cyberbullying. A 2023 Pew Research Survey found that around 46% of teens experienced some form of online harassment but preferred not to share it with their parents. While they may hide this from you, you can take corrective measures and guide them positively if you see such hidden evidence.
Malware files: The hidden files may also include some malware that your kids download unknowingly from untrusted websites. This malware can steal sensitive data from your kids’ devices. If you find such files, you can delete them immediately to keep your kids safe.
Early warning signs parents should watch for:
Parents should become immediately concerned about hidden files in their kids’ phones when they observe that their kids’ phones have started consuming more internal storage than their usual and obvious activities. If your kids start using frequent file manager apps or have downloaded some strange apps like unnecessary calculator apps or folder locks, you should think of intervening and taking appropriate actions to ensure their safe behaviour with their devices.
How does parental control help monitor hidden files safely?
Parental control is of utmost importance when it comes to ensuring the digital safety of their kids. While banning the use of phones and PCs may not be a practical approach, you can always use methods to supervise your kids’ activities in multiple ways. But you cannot obviously monitor your kids physically or manually all the time. They may still find time to engage in file-hiding activity when you’re not around.
So, what’s the most practical way of controlling your kid’s activities on their devices, especially on their phones? The most convenient approach parents can use is to install a good parental control app like FlashGet Kids. It provides you with safer supervision of your kids with minimal effort.
By installing the FlashGet Kids app on your kid’s phone, you will have live reports of their activities. You will have complete information about what they are doing on their phones at any given time. You will get all the information about the apps they download and websites they visit on their phones.
If you notice that they are trying to download a suspicious app that creates hidden folders or files, you can block those apps from being downloaded on their phones using FlashGet Kids. You can also block unsafe websites that create hidden folders so that you can keep your innocent children safe from doing activities that are not appropriate for their age.
Conclusion
If your kids use a digital device, you must know how to show hidden files so that you can be sure that your kids are not hiding inappropriate data on their devices. You can show hidden files on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices by following the simple steps we discussed in this article. But the hidden content can also come from operating systems, apps, and browsers by default. So, responsible parenting calls for proactive supervision of your kids’ activities on their devices. You can do it by installing a good parental control app like FlashGet Kids and remaining aware of their activities at all times. This app enables you to take timely actions to ensure your kid’s safety before it’s too late.
