[Solution] File & Folder Names are not Visible in Windows Explorer

After receiving a few emails about this problem, today I decided to write a solution for this annoying problem.

Many Windows users face a problem in Windows Explorer, when they can’t see file or folder names in a specific folder. Only file and folder icons are visible but their names are hidden as shown in following screenshot:

File_Folder_Name_Hidden_Not_Visible_Windows_Explorer.png

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Here is a small step-by-step tutorial to fix this problem:

For Windows XP:

1. Open the folder which has this invisible name problem.

2. Now select “Details” from View menu.

3. Press and hold SHIFT key, right-click in empty area and select “View -> Thumbnails“.

4. It’ll toggle the file/folder names.

Actually its a feature to show/hide file names while in Thumbnails mode.

For Windows Vista and Later:

1. Open the folder which has this problem.

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2. Right-click in empty area and uncheck “View -> Hide File names” option.

3. If this option is not available, press and hold SHIFT key, right-click in empty area and select “View -> Medium Icons” option.

NOTE: If above solution doesn’t work, enable “Show hidden files and folders” option in Folder Options and then delete “Desktop.ini” file present in the folder which has this invisible name problem. Thanks to our reader “Adiman” for this tip…

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. I tried the right click, hold shift, select view/medium icons trick but that didn’t work. How I got my folder names back…….I right clicked in the folder with the missing file names and selected refresh! That’s it!

  2. I wish this helped me, but unfortunately I see no text in the window.
    All I see is this:
    24.media.tumblr.com/7445a4e01827700f8674c23d7d92d06d/tumblr_n4sxdvzE2k1rdq9f1o1_500.png

    So I have no idea where the options are 🙁

  3. Hello sir….
    Its urgent…
    A folder in my removable disk not showing any file or folder that it contain.
    on exploring this particular folder “this folder is empty” is shown in the explore area.
    even other folder and files are showing their titles and icons.
    plz give me solution for the problem
    Thinking you

  4. ^^ Did you try to enable “Show hidden files” and disable “Hide protected system files” options in Folder Options?

  5. Thank you so much, I work with over 10,000 photos and not seeing their catalog numbers made the job nearly impossible.

  6. Thanks for this article.

    I have an issue where just a few files “disappear” from certain folders (happens most often with word files, but maybe I just notice this because I use word a lot). I’ll open windows explorer, go to the folder in question, and a file I know is there won’t be listed (I tend to list by name and organize by date saved), even if I was just working on it the day before. A search of the folder does not yield any results. I always back up my writing projects, so if I go to my external drive and attempt to copy the backed up version file back to my documents folder, I’ll get a message that the file in question exists, and do I want to copy and replace blah, blah, blah. If I do so, the file may appear for a while, or it may be “missing” again the next time I open it.

    Seems to be completely random. I have Windows 7 professional, 64 bit version, and I’m using word 2003 (old, I know, but aside from this issue it works fine, and I hate the ribbon in newer versions of word). Next time this happens, I’ll have to see if your solution makes the folder re-appear.

  7. Thankyou, but what makes it automatically change the folder details in the first place?

  8. a few minutes before i lost all the names of one of my folders and i was so confused but im so relaxed now. Bundle of thanx. this is really informative and useful.
    Jazak Allah Hoo Khaira (arabic language translation is as May Allah reward you the Best of His)

  9. I have two computers, one using Windows 7 and the other windows 8. When I create a folder using Windows 8 I cannot see it from Windows 7 unless I reboot the computer. Then I can see the folder but cannot open it as it says it cannot open it and the files or directory is corrupted. But when I go back to the folder from Windows 8 it is fine. Help!

  10. Had this issue in a removable disk with music. Tried everything until I read the tip from Jan : refresh !
    Nothing more was needed !

  11. For Windows 10
    Right Click on desktop —- Personalization– Color—Choose your recent color the choose any color.
    now problem has been resolved.

  12. The path you entered, is too long. Enter a shorter path
    File Name could not be found. Check the spelling of the filename,
    and verify that the file location is correct.

  13. Thank you so so soooooooooooooo much, you saved me a lot of time! =3
    It works perfectly fine on my XP.

  14. I have a usb external drive. everything was fine when looking at it in File Explorer.
    Was copying files off it and then “users” and “Documents” diapered from File Explorer.
    What did i do? How do I get them back? (different computers = the same)
    Thanks
    Norm

  15. I have a slightly different problem
    In Dark theme, the file names are visible, BUT are black in certain folders, therefore are not readable
    How can I change the color to WHITE?
    thank you

  16. I have a more extensive problem. ALL folders have blank file names including the settings, etc. of file explorer. The problem also appears in notepad; I can’t see anything I type. plz help

  17. Sir,
    I have a problem , m/s access files invislible, txt files invisible
    please guide if some solutions,
    I have tried all solutions given above but non worked
    I use windows 7porefssional 64 bit

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