Acronis True Image: viewing hidden files in program interface

Hidden files or folders are only displayed in Acronis True Image interface if Windows Folder options are set to show hidden files, folders, and drives

Introduction

Acronis True Image shows hidden files and folders in user interface if the option "View hidden files" is enabled in Windows. This applies both to selecting what to back up and to selecting files/folders for exclusions.

See example below:

	Acronis True Image	File Explorer
"Show hidden files" option disabled	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
"Show hidden files" option enabled	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.

(!) You can exclude all hidden files from a file-level backup by checking the appropriate checkbox in Backup Options (see here) or you exclude them from the backup manually by selecting specific hidden files.

The same applies to macOS: hidden files/folders are shown in product interface only if they are visible in Finder.

	Acronis True Image	Finder
Standard view	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Displaying hidden files and folders	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.	Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.

Solution

If you want to select a specific hidden file/folder for backup or select it for exclusion, enable the option to show hidden files in the operating system itself, so that you see hidden files in Acronis True Image interface. See instructions below.

How to show hidden files/folders in Windows

Windows 8/8.1/10

1. Open File Explorer from Start menu or from the taskbar
2. In the menu, select the View tab
3. Check Hidden items checkbox that is unchecked by default

Windows 7

1. Open File Explorer. From the left side navigation choose Organize and select Folder and search options from the drop down menu.
2. In Folder Options window, select the View tab
3. In Advanced Settings list select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and hit OK

Windows XP

1. Open File Explorer. In the menu, select Tools > Folder options.
2. In Folder Options window, select the View tab
3. In Advanced Settings list select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and hit OK

How to show hidden files/folders on macOS

Method 1:can be used in macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Sierra 10.12,OS X El Capitan 10.11

1. Open the Terminal: open the Finder > Applications > Utilities folder >Terminal
2. Type the following string into the Terminal, then press Enter: 

   defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles true; killall Finder

   This command alters a setting within macOS to automatically show all files and restarts the Finder, refreshing your view to show hidden files. 

3. To reverse the setting, run this command in Terminal again but replace true with false, like this:

   defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles false; killall Finder

Method 2: can be used in macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Sierra 10.12

In latest versions of macOS, a keyboard shortcut can be used to toggle between making the files visible or hiding them again. 

Press the key combination Command-Shift-. (Period) to toggle between hiding and showing hidden files and folders. 

More information

Operating systems store many important settings in hidden files and folders. It is not recommended to modify or delete hidden files as this can lead to unpredictable consequences.