Non-hidden folders not showing in Windows File Explorer after copying files to new laptop

Introduction

When transferring files from an old laptop or external storage to a new one using Windows File Explorer or a command-line tool like Robocopy, you might encounter an issue where some non-hidden folders fail to appear. This article aims to provide a solution to this problem.

Understanding the Issue

The issue occurs when the file permissions of the copied folders do not match the target directory's permissions. In some cases, this can cause the non-hidden folders to become hidden, making them invisible in File Explorer.

Robocopy Command

The command used in this example is Robocopy, a command-line tool in Windows for synchronizing files and directories between source and destination folders. The /MIR (Mirror) option is used to ensure that the destination folder is an exact mirror of the source folder, including all file attributes and permissions.

robocopy   /MIR

Solution

To resolve the issue, you need to take ownership of the copied folders and their contents and then apply the necessary permissions. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Take Ownership

Open Command Prompt as an administrator and navigate to the copied folder using the cd command.

cd C:\X

Run the following command to take ownership of the folder and its contents:

icacls . /grant:r :(OI)(CI)(F) /t

Replace

Step 2: Apply Permissions

To apply the necessary permissions, right-click on the folder and select Properties.

Go to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.

Under the Owner tab, change the owner to your username.

Under the Permissions tab, add the following permissions:

• Full Control for your username
• Read & execute, List folder contents, Read for subfolders and files, and Read for this folder only for Users

Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

After following these steps, the non-hidden folders should now appear in File Explorer. If you still encounter issues, you may need to repeat the process for each subfolder and file within the copied folder.

References

• icacls
• Robocopy