How can I make Get-ChildItem show hidden and system files?
Asked by
MellowPine47
I know that `Get-ChildItem` normally lists regular files, while `Get-ChildItem -Hidden` limits the results to hidden items. In the traditional Windows directory command, `dir /a` displays everything, including hidden and system files. What is the PowerShell equivalent of `dir /a`?
Answers
Use the `-Force` switch:
```powershell
Get-ChildItem -Force
```
This includes items that are normally hidden, such as hidden and system files. It does not bypass file-system permissions.
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`-Force` can be a little unintuitive because it often suggests bypassing confirmations in other commands. For `Get-ChildItem`, its purpose is to include items that are normally omitted, especially hidden and system files. You can check the details with:
```powershell
Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Full
```
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The common aliases work the same way, so you can also use:
```powershell
gci -Force
```
For comparison, `Get-ChildItem -Hidden` shows only hidden items, while `Get-ChildItem -Force` includes hidden and system items along with the regular results.
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