[Fixed] Folder Shows Empty But Files Are There on Windows 10/11

Why my folder shows empty but files are there?

You are not alone! Many Windows 10/11 users have encountered this common error, especially when you need files urgently.

This issue is similar to the desktop Recycle Bin shows empty but it’s not. There are some main reasons:

✦ Hidden Files: The files are hidden due to system or user settings.
✦ File System Corruption: Errors in the file system can prevent files from being displayed.
✦ Access Permission Issues: You don’t have the correct permissions to view the files.
✦ Malware or Virus: Malicious software may hide or alter file visibility.
✦ File Attribute Settings: Files might have incorrect attributes, such as being marked as "hidden" or "system."
✦ Indexing Problems: The operating system’s indexing service might fail to list the files correctly.

How to fix folder empty but contains files on Windows 10/11

According to the above factors, this part lists five feasible ways to fix your folder shows empty but files are there.

▶ Fix 1. Show hidden files, folders, and drives via File Explorer

As mentioned above, files can be marked as hidden, which can prevent users from accessing them in File Explorer. Please refer to the following steps to show hidden files, folders, and drives using File Explorer.

Step 1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer > click View > Options.

Step 3. When it comes to Folder Options, click View > Show hidden files, folders, and drives > Apply. Please remember to click “OK” to close the window.

If your Windows 10 shows hidden files are not working, the attrib/dir command also can change the hidden file attribute.

▶ Fix 2. Use the Attrib command to show hidden files

Alternatively, you can use the attrib command to modify file properties and display hidden files in File Explorer because the attrib command aims to set the file attribute of a file/folder. Apart from the attrib command, you can also use the dir command to show hidden files.

Read-only (R): No written permission to change or alter the read-only file.

Hidden (H): Besides Windows apps like File Explorer, MS-DOS commands like dir are not allowed to show hidden files/folders to users. 

System (S): You can modify the priority of the file/folder.

Archive (A): If the hosting file has been changed since the last backup, the backup tool will inevitably erase it after a full/incremental backup.

Step 1. Enter “cmd” in the search bar on your PC and “Run as administrator” to open it.

Step 2. Copy “attrib –h –r –s /s /d G:\*.*” in the command prompt window. In this case, the letter G is the drive letter of your hard drive that saves your hidden files. You can replace G based on your needs.

Step 3. After the process, you’ll find a new folder with your desired files saved on your Windows PC. You can also change their formats and store them in another path.

▶ Fix 3. Use the Disk Check utility to check & repair disk errors

If your folder shows empty but files are there Windows 10, which indicates there exist disk errors. Then you cannot read files from the disk. At the moment, you can perform a disk check using the Disk Check tool. This tool identifies and automatically corrects file system errors, ensuring the proper loading and writing of data from the hard disk.   

Notes:✎...

If the disk check could not be performed, you can find fixes on another page.

Step 1. Open This PC or My Computer > right-click on your local hard drive > select Properties.

Step 2. Under the Tools tab, click the “Check” button.

Step 3. Click the “Repair drive” button.

▶ Fix 4. Run the troubleshooter in Hardware and Devices

Windows provides a built-in utility called Troubleshoot for diagnosing and resolving common computer issues. The Hardware and Device troubleshooter specifically detects hardware changes and resolves hardware-related problems, including driver issues.

If you are experiencing your folder shows empty but files are there Windows 10, run the Hardware and Device troubleshooter to help you identify and fix hardware problems.

Step 1. Press “Win + I” to open Windows Settings and go to Update & Security.

Step 2. Click “Troubleshoot” on the left, then Run the troubleshooter under the Hardware and Devices tab.

▶ Fix 5. Run a full scan to remove detected viruses

Sometimes, a virus can be responsible for this problem. Have you disabled Windows Defender or received a warning from antivirus software? If so, running a full scan to remove ransomware viruses is recommended.  

Following the appropriate steps, you can overcome this frustrating problem and regain access to your valuable data. If your SD card is blank or has unsupported file systems, you can also adopt this way.

Step 1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the “Win + I” buttons, then go to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.

Step 2. Click the “Scan options” button.

Step 3. Select “Full scan” and click “Scan now” to start the scanning process. Please wait patiently.

▶ Fix 6. Recover hidden files with data recovery software

If the attrib command is not working or the above fixes are useless, it implies your desired folder has been deleted or removed from your computer hard drive. So how to recover missing folder in Windows 10 or 11 PCs?

Users who’re diligent in creating regular backups can easily retrieve their required folders from the backup copies, eliminating the need for data recovery software.

In the absence of backups, you may need to rely on third-party tools like MyRecover for file retrieval.

Supported by advanced technology, MyRecover can help you recover deleted & lost folders from internal and external hard drives within three steps.

★Key features of MyRecover:

All-inclusive: Apply to a variety of data loss scenarios such as deletion, disk formatting, system crashes, or virus attacks.

High-efficiency: Recover 200+ types of files such as folders, Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, and WPS files, compressed files, photos, audio, songs, videos, and websites from internal & external HDDs, USB sticks, SD cards, etc.   

Advanced scanning method: MyRecover runs Quick Scan & Deep Scan automatically to search all the recoverable files. Specify the filename, saved path, date, or size to filter your needed files.   

Convenience: Retain the original filename, path, and format for the deleted files.

Excellent compatibility: Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.

Download MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Server PC to get your folder back!

Step 1. Launch MyRecover > Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. MyRecover will automatically scan your drive and detect all the recoverable folders and files.

Filter your needed Documents folder or saved files according to Document Type, Name, Date, or Path.

• Name: Type the relevant filenames in the search bar to locate your desired deleted/lost files quickly.
• Date modified: Set a customized date (today, yesterday, last 7 or 30 days, etc.)
• Size: Filter the file size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~512MB, etc.)

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Recycle Bin/Other Missing Files folder and select your desired folder or files. Then click “Recover x files” to start the document recovery process. 

Note:✎...

After recovery, please store your retrieved folder or its files in another drive instead of the original hard drive.

▶Fix 7. Try another USB port and restart the computer

If the external drive is not displaying files, but the files are still there, then the USB port may be the culprit. In this case, you can try either of the following two methods:

• Connect the external storage device to another USB port on the same computer or other work system.
• Or connect another storage device to the same USB port and check its contents.

If nothing changes, try rebooting the system.

Relevant Q&A about folder recovery

Are you wondering how to solve a folder shows empty but files are there? How to recover missing folder in Windows 10 or 11 PCs? Please get the corresponding fixes to resolve these issues. Besides, there are related tips about folders.