How to Remove Virus That Hides All Files and Folders – USB Show

Does your USB flash drive show that it’s full of data, but when you open it you don’t see your files? Then a virus, often called the “shortcut virus”, has probably hidden them. Don’t worry: in most cases nothing is deleted and the files are still on the drive. Here is how to get them back.

In the video I use USB Show, a small free program that makes hidden files visible again with one click. It doesn’t need to be installed: it’s a single .exe file. Below I also show a second method with Command Prompt that needs no download at all.

In this article

1. Before you start
2. Method 1: Recover hidden files with USB Show
   1. Step 1: Download and open USB Show
   2. Step 2: Choose your language and start
   3. Step 3: Select your USB drive
   4. Step 4: Wait until USB Show has finished
   5. Step 5: Open the folder with no name
3. Method 2: Unhide your files with Command Prompt (no download)
4. After the recovery: clean the USB drive
5. Related guides

Before you start

• Don’t double-click any shortcuts on the infected drive. The virus often creates a shortcut with the name of your drive or your folders, and opening it can run the virus again.
• Scan the USB drive with Microsoft Defender or your antivirus before and after you recover your files. In File Explorer, right-click the drive and choose Scan with Microsoft Defender (on Windows 11 it is under Show more options). USB Show makes all hidden files visible, including hidden virus files.

Method 1: Recover hidden files with USB Show

Step 1: Download and open USB Show

Download USB Show with the button below, extract usbshow.zip and double-click USB Show.exe.

Download USB Show

Other download page (Softonic): https://usb-show.en.softonic.com

Step 2: Choose your language and start

Choose your language (English or Español), then click Recovery the hide files.

Step 3: Select your USB drive

In the Browse For Folder window, select your infected USB drive (in my case Verbatim (G:)) and click OK.

Step 4: Wait until USB Show has finished

If you have many files, this takes a few minutes. You can follow the progress in the Wait please window.

When it’s done, you see the message USB Show has finish. Click OK.

Step 5: Open the folder with no name

Open This PC (My Computer) and double-click your USB drive. You will see an extra folder with no name. Double-click it: inside are all your files and folders.

Copy your files to your computer right away.

Method 2: Unhide your files with Command Prompt (no download)

Windows can do the same job with the built-in attrib command.

1. Open This PC and note the letter of your USB drive, for example G:.
2. Open Command Prompt as administrator: search for cmd and select Run as administrator.
3. Type the command below and press Enter. Replace G: with the letter of your USB drive.

attrib -h -r -s /s /d G:\*.*

The command removes the hidden, read-only and system attributes from all files and folders on the drive, including the subfolders. When it has finished, open the drive again. Your files are visible again, often inside a folder with no name.

After the recovery: clean the USB drive

1. Copy all your files to your computer.
2. Delete the fake shortcuts on the USB drive, for example the shortcut with the name of your drive (in my screenshot: Verbatim (30GB)).
3. Scan the drive and the recovered files with Microsoft Defender or your antivirus.
4. To be completely sure that the virus is gone, format the USB drive and then copy your files back.

Related guides

• Were your files really deleted, not just hidden? See how to recover deleted photos and files from a USB drive.
• USB connection not recognized in Windows? Here is how to fix it