Toggle "show hidden files and folders with Powershell - powershell

Question

I have been trying to create a line item within a .bat or .ps script that toggles the "Show hidden files/folders" option ON. I am having no luck so far. I have tried using the get-childitem command in various flavors and it's not working for me. What am I missing? Is this even something that can be done?

Answer 1

There are two things you want to achieve here.
Set the value of a registry key which can be done with Set-ItemProperty.
Refresh any open Explorer windows. We can use a ComObject called Shell.Application to do this.
N.B. This will not take effect until you press F5 in an Explorer Window if you do not have any Explorer Windows open.
That being said, you can write a small function much like the one below that will toggle the Hidden Files value in Explorer.
function Show-HiddenFiles {
[CmdletBinding(DefaultParameterSetName = "On")]
Param (
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true, ParameterSetName = "On")]
[System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter]
$On,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true, ParameterSetName = "Off")]
[System.Management.Automation.SwitchParameter]
$Off
)
Process {
# Set a variable with the value we want to set on the registry value/subkey.
if ($PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName -eq "On") { $Value = 1 }
if ($PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName -eq "Off") { $Value = 2 }
# Define the path to the registry key that contains the registry value/subkey
$Path = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced"
# Set the registry value/subkey.
Set-ItemProperty -Path $Path -Name Hidden -Value $Value
# Refresh open Explorer windows.
# You will need to refresh the window if you have none currently open.
# Create the Shell.Application ComObject
$Shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
# For each one of the open windows, refresh it.
$Shell.Windows() | ForEach-Object { $_.Refresh() }
}
}
Usage is simple.
Show-HiddenFiles -On
Show-HiddenFiles -Off
If you just want to display hidden files in PowerShell you can use either the -Hidden or -Force parameter of Get-ChildItem
-Hidden returns only the Hidden files.
-Force returns Hidden and non-Hidden files.

Answer 2

Working from Ash's fine script,here's a slight enhancement.
This allows a third option of no parameter which will just toggles the current setting.
function Show-HiddenFiles {
Param (
[Parameter(Mandatory = $False,Position=0)]
[String] $Setting
)
# Define the path to the registry key that contains the
# registry value/subkey
$Path = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion" +
"\Explorer\Advanced"
#No argument toggle setting..
If ($Args.Count -eq 0) {
$GIPArgs = #{Path = $Path
Name = "Hidden"}
If ((Get-ItemProperty #GIPArgs ).Hidden -eq 1) {
$Value = 2
}
Else {$Value = 1}
}
Else {
# Set a variable with the value we want to set on the
# registry value/subkey.
If ($Setting -eq "On" ) { $Value = 1 }
Else { $Value = 2 }
}
# Set the registry value/subkey.
Set-ItemProperty -Path $Path -Name Hidden -Value $Value
# Refresh open Explorer windows.
# You will need to refresh the window if you have none
# currently open.
# Create the Shell.Application ComObject
$Shell = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
# For each one of the open windows, refresh it.
$Shell.Windows() | ForEach-Object { $_.Refresh() }
}

Answer 3

Registry Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Name: Hidden
Type: DWord
Settings:
1 = Show
2 = Don't Show