How to Access Hidden Files and Folders on Samsung Galaxy S21 | Android 12

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This post will walk you through showing all hidden directories and contents that are preloaded on the Galaxy S21 internal storage. Read on to learn how to access hidden files and folders on Samsung Galaxy S21.

What you see on the main interface on your device aren’t actually just the only ones it has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy (Android 12) Hidden Directories

Aside from the advanced features hidden inside the Developer Options menu, newer Android phones including the Galaxy S21 series also contain another set of hidden directories containing different hidden files. 

To access these hidden directories, you will need to get to the more advanced section under My Files menu.

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In case you’re wondering how to get this done on your Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone, I’ve mapped out a step-by-step walkthrough as follows.

Easy Steps to View and Access Hidden Files and Folders on Samsung Galaxy S21

The following steps are also applicable when viewing hidden files and folders on other Samsung Galaxy phones running on the same One UI or Android version with the Galaxy S21 series.

Actual screens and menu items may vary between device models and service carriers so expect some slight variations on the graphical user interface.

Feel free to start whenever you’re all set to configure your device.

Step 1: Tap Settings from the Home or Apps screen to open the Settings app.

Step 2: While on the main settings menu, find and then tap Battery and device care.

Step 3: On the succeeding menu, tap Storage. The internal Storage menu opens with a list of storage folders or directories.

Step 4: Tap to select any of the available directories or folders from the Storage menu. For example, Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, Installation files and more.

Step 5: On the succeeding window, tap the Triple-dot icon located on the upper-rightmost corner to view additional items.

Step 6: Then, tap Settings from the menu options to proceed. You will be routed straight to the My Files Settings menu.

Step 7:  Scroll down to the File management section and toggle to turn on the switch next to Show hidden system files.

Step 8: On the My Files settings menu, toggle to turn on the Show hidden system files switch.

With this switch enabled, all hidden system files and folders will become visible in the internal storage menu.

To view the recent changes, tap the Back key or Arrow left on the top-leftmost corner of the screen until you get back to the Internal Storage menu. 

There you should see faded icons of folders with names having a dot before them. These are the hidden folders and directories that contain hidden files on your phone.

To access the hidden files inside the hidden folders, simply tap on the individual folder to open them.

To view and access hidden files from other folders or directories, just go back to the Storage menu, select the desired folder name/directory and repeat the same steps to access the Advanced settings menu where you can turn on the option to Show hidden files.

Hiding Back Hidden Files and Folders

If you wish to hide back all sensitive files and folders, just return to the My Files app settings and then toggle to turn off the switch next to Show hidden files option.

That should prompt the device to remove and hide all files and folders from the internal storage menu.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and other Galaxy phones running on the latest One UI or Android version also allow you to create a custom hidden folder where you can store your confidential files and documents.

Other Ways to Keep Content Private on your Galaxy S21

Alternatively, you can make use of the Galaxy phone’s secure folder to keep everything on your device including private content.

To make use of this feature, you will need to set up a Secure Folder from the Biometrics and security settings menu of the phone.

Once enabled, you can hide your personal data using a special passcode and prevent anyone from seeing them.

The process of setting up the secure folder on the Galaxy S21 is fairly simple as all the instructions are provided in the form of a wizard. That said, all you need to do is answer the given questions and follow the rest of the onscreen prompts to finish the process and get your secure folder ready.

After the Secure Folder is set up, you can start adding apps and moving files from the phone’s internal storage or microSD card.

And should you wish to augment security, you can hide or remove the Secure Folder from the Apps screen using the built-in commands in the Quick Settings panel.

Having Trouble Viewing Hidden Directories on your Galaxy S21?

If for some reason you couldn’t get to access the hidden directories or the My Files app is not working as intended, just reboot or soft reset your phone. Random errors may occur due to some minor firmware issues including those inflicted by errant cache or residual data from the internal storage menu.

And that’s how you make hidden files and hidden system folders visible on your Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone.

Hope this helps!

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