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

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After received a few mails about this problem, today I decided to write this small tutorial.

Many Windows users face a problem in Windows Explorer, when they can't see file or folder names under a specific folder. Only file and folder icons are visible but their names are hidden.

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

For Windows XP:

Open the problematic folder, Press and hold SHIFT key, right-click in empty area and select "View -> Thumbnails". It'll toggle the file/folder names.

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

For Windows Vista and 7:

Open the problematic folder, right-click in empty area and de-select "View -> Hide File names". If the option is not available, then press and hold SHIFT key, right-click in empty area and select "View -> Medium Icons".

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

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nanda

Thank u very very much
Aamir

thank man.
Lana

thanks so much, it worked but I had to change the view from thumbnails to another view first and then right click shift to thumbnail view again. It works, yay!
Mukesh

Thanks a lot............
Kalynn

Thank you so much for this small but much needed tut! My Pictures folder decided to hide all the names of my subfolders two months ago. I had tried just about everything I could think of. Finally found your tut, tried it, and low and behold, I can see the names of my folders again! This is a good thing because I do lots of graphic work, and trying to figure out where I stored a particular picture just going by very tiny pictures on the folders was driving me bonkers.
Noel

I just wanted to than you for your solution. I had spent ages trying to get the names back under the folders and had no idea that holding down the shift key and right clicking would solve things. I do wonder why Microsoft don't put this option on the 'Views' menu on the toolbar!
Thanks again!
Riza

Wow, through Google I come here. :D
Just yesterday I saw My Computer with HD and opticala discs with no names. Never this happened to me.
Thanks one more time, Vishal. :)
Noghaltz

yo THANKS a LOT its Worked to me after long search i found a solution.
Rick

GOOGLE brought me here too, and it worked!! THANKS so much!
SUMAN

Thanks for your solution....